Source: Seonunsa
Have you ever paused for a moment in your busy daily life? When you wake up in the morning, the day has already begun, and it is only at night that we can finally catch our breath. Sometimes, we feel the urge to put everything down for a while. The '2nd Short-Term Monastic School' prepared by Seonunsa is a special invitation for those people.
Starting on April 3rd at Seonunsa in Gochang, Jeollabuk-do, this program conveys the true meaning of rest to modern people under the theme 'Rest and Start'. This program goes beyond simple temple stays or healing trips; it is a unique journey that allows participants to experience the daily life of actual monastic practitioners.
At 4 AM, Facing Myself Before the World Awakens
A day at the short-term monastic school begins at 4 AM. At a time when the city lights have not yet gone out, a new day opens in the mountain temple. The morning, starting with 108 bows of repentance, may feel unfamiliar and difficult. However, by the time the sweat begins to trickle down your forehead, you will start to feel the burdens of your heart gradually lightening.
Morning prayers, bowl offerings, work, meditation, and chanting. The daily schedule filled with unfamiliar words is actually very simple. Yet within that simplicity, we can untangle the complex threads of our thoughts one by one. Until bedtime at 9 PM, each day becomes a meditation practice in itself.
The True Taste of Monastic Practice, Different from Temple Stay
When many think of experience programs at temples, they think of temple stays. While temple stays are indeed meaningful healing experiences, the Seonunsa Short-Term Monastic School takes a step further. It is a true path of practice conducted with the same intensity as actual monastic practitioners, rather than a typical experiential program.
The first program held last November included participants of various ages, from 15-year-old teenagers to middle-aged adults. After the head-shaving ceremony and the initiation ceremony, those who journeyed together for 10 days learned the practices of morning prayers, temple etiquette, understanding precepts, and basic scriptures such as the 'Chobalsimjagyeongmun', 'Cheonsugyeong', and 'Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra'. They experienced the essence of Buddhist practice through Seon meditation and chanting, as well as visiting Dosolam and Chamdangam, and paying respects at the Jizang Sacred Site, all through body and mind.
An Open Space for Practice Welcoming Everyone from Youth to Middle Age
The Seonunsa Short-Term Monastic School is not just for those wishing to become monks. Any adult interested in Buddhist practice can participate. A total of 12 participants, 6 men and 6 women, who are healthy in body and mind and can live in a community, will be recruited.
Hosted by the Jogye Order's General Affairs Office and organized by Seonunsa, this program is part of the 37th administration's core project to encourage monastic life. Various guiding monks, including Monk Gyeongu and Monk Jeongmu, will assist participants in their proper Buddhist practice and guide them on the path of self-reflection and inner growth.
A Place of Peace for the Heart That Comes with Each Season
Starting with this second session, Seonunsa plans to regularize the short-term monastic school twice a year in spring and autumn. They aim to strengthen their role as a place for education and practice, continuously providing opportunities for the younger generation and the general public to learn the teachings of Buddhism and foster inner growth.
As the saying goes, "It's not running away, but a monastic life", the short-term monastic school is not simply about escaping from daily life; it is a courageous first step to meet your true self. A time to escape the house of suffering and design the freest life. That beginning awaits you at the foot of Seonunsa.