By Michael Ha
Staff Reporter
Getting up before the crack of dawn, participating in hour-long mediation sessions, and eating no-frills vegetarian meals might not be everyone's idea of a fun vacation. But it's a great way to discover Korea's rich Buddhist heritage, and perhaps even enlightenment.
Temple stays represent a unique opportunity for foreigners in Korea, offering them a chance to live like a Korean monastic and experience Korean Buddhism firsthand.
The Korea Tourism Organization says more than 40 temples nationwide offer programs for visitors.
Major temples with visitor programs include Mihwang Temple in South Jeolla Province; Golgul Temple in North Gyeongsang Province; and Musang Temple in South Chungcheong Province. Musang (musangsa.org) is especially foreigner friendly with a large number of foreign monastics.
Most of these temples are located near mountains, but with Korea being one of the most wired nations in the world, several have set up Web sites to allow online reservations.
The sites include www.mihwangsa.com and www.golgulsa.com. Visitors can stay for a day or up to several weeks depending on their budget and enthusiasm for the programs. Most temples provide comfortable Buddhist clothing for participants.
Those not quite ready to wake up at 4 a.m. should beware, however. Visitors are expected to strictly follow the temple's daily routine including early wakeup, pre-dawn rites and meditation, ceremonial services involving chanting and prostrations, and communal meals.
Eating also takes on a religious aspect in the temples. Every meal is accompanied by meditation. Everyone also receives the same vegetarian meal consisting of rice, soup and side dishes.
Visitors must also assist monks and nuns with daily chores, including cleaning up after each meal and performing community work around the temple grounds. Participants also cannot stay up late; lights usually go out at 9:30 p.m.
During the day, however, participants are allowed time to explore the mountainside. Most temples offering these programs are located in national or provincial parks featuring picturesque natural environments. A number of temples, including Golgul, Gap and Jikji temples, also offer instruction in Buddhist martial arts.
Another highlight of a temple stay is the tea ceremonies. Making and drinking tea is part of the daily routine practiced by a monastic. These programs also offer a number of other activities including lantern making, printing with ink and paper, and folk games.