A festival inviting people to meditate as they stroll through temple grounds with their dogs will be held at Bongseonsa Temple in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province. The Namyangju Buddhist Association will host the 2026 Seon Meditation Festival with Dogs at the temple on Saturday the 17th. Now in its third year since launching in 2024, the festival will feature walking meditation led by Venerable Hosan, dog yoga and a health talk by a veterinarian.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., open to dog owners and the public
The festival, organized by Bongseonsa Temple, the 25th district head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The program is designed to welcome both people bringing their dogs and members of the general public. It is sponsored by Gyeonggi Province and Namyangju City.
The opening ceremony will take place at 10:10 a.m. on the Great Lotus Pond stage. About 1,500 dog owners and other visitors attended the inaugural festival in 2024.
An hour of mindfulness walking with the district head monk and dogs
The first program is walking meditation. From 10:40 a.m., Venerable Hosan, head monk of Bongseonsa Temple, will lead an hour of mindfulness meditation while walking with dogs.
Walking meditation can be an approachable introduction for people who find it unfamiliar to sit still and observe their breathing. Paying attention to the feel of the ground beneath your feet and the steps and breathing of the dog walking beside you can naturally give you a moment to look away from your phone. For people who walk their dogs every day, the session offers a chance to practice turning an everyday walk into meditation.
Dog yoga to breathe and move together, plus a talk on canine health
At 1 p.m., Yoon Jung-won, president of the Korea Dog Yoga Association, will lead dog yoga therapy. The program brings dogs and people together to breathe, move and connect. At 3 p.m., veterinarian Choi In-young will give a talk on life with pets and their health. The talk will cover how to read health signals dogs send through their bodies and practical ways to care for them at home.
Hands-on activities will run throughout the event at booths beside Padma, by the Great Lotus Pond. Offerings include pet tarot readings to reflect on the relationship with your dog, body decoration and making a rosary necklace for your dog to wear.
Bringing meditation and pet culture together
This year’s festival focuses on bringing meditation and pet culture together to share the values of respect for life and coexistence. An official from the festival office said they hoped it would be an opportunity for people and their dogs to care for their well-being together and share those values.
By opening its grounds to dogs, the festival shows that meditation does not have to mean sitting alone in a quiet room. Walking, breathing and connecting physically with a companion can also offer a path into meditation. For anyone who still finds seated meditation difficult, or wants to make time with their dog more meaningful, this weekend’s festival at Bongseonsa Temple offers a chance to find a style of meditation that feels right.
Event inquiries: 02-2231-2013