Saturday, November 24, 2012

The Founders Face Book Page, Whats Really Going On???

Mind Blowing!!!!
http://shobogenzozencenter.wordpress.com/2012/11/24/the-founders-face-book-page-what-really-going-on/

Friday, November 23, 2012

Butter Sculpture Festival


Every year a butter sculpture festival is held in Tar monastery, located in the northwest province of Qinghai in China to celebrate the Tibetan New Year. During the this period which normally runs from mid February to early March , Tibetans and tourists alike throng the Tar temple to witness butter sculptures of various shapes and colours and skillful embroidery arts.

Butter sculpture originated from Tibet and was introduced to the Tar Monastery, also known as Kumbum Monastery, in the early 17th century. Many monasteries in China make butter sculptures, but those of Tar excel in technique and scale.

Legend says that in 641, when Princess Wencheng arrived in Lhasa to marry Songtsen Gampo, king of Tubo, she brought a statue in the shape of Sakyamuni, founder of Buddhism.

Following the Buddhist tradition, flowers must be offered as a tribute to the Buddha statue. But it was deep winter and no fresh flowers could be found. So people made a bunch of flowers with butter as an offering.

In 1409, founder of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, who was born in today's Huangzhong County where the Tar Monastery was founded, held the Grand Sermons Ceremony in Lhasa.

He dreamed of thorny bushes turning into bright lanterns, weeds bursting into blossom amid numerous shiny treasures.

When he woke up, the great master immediately asked his followers to make the treasures and flowers as he had dreamed and offered them to the Buddha.

With pure yak and goat milk butter as the raw material, the sculptures are painted with mineral dyestuff. Often the sculptures are part of a series which depict a story, such as the life of Sakyamuni.

As the butter sculpture art entered the Tar Monastery in 1603, two academies devoted to its creation and study have been established. Every year, when the Grand Sermons Ceremony is held here during the Lantern Festival, the two academies bring out their best works




How the scultpures are made

The making of butter sculpture is a daunting task. As butter made from yak or goat milk melts in warm weather, butter sculpture has to be made in the coldest months of the year.

To sculpt butter, lamas must dip their hands in icy water. Only with numb hands can they begin the sculpting.

Over the past centuries, the art of butter sculpture has become very specialized: Making people, animals and flowers has each become a tradition requiring different techniques.


In sub-zero temperature rooms, the elderly lamas and their students first prepare the frame of sculpture with bamboo sticks, ropes and others. Then they mix old butter sculptures with wheat ashes to form black mud, which is used to make the primitive body of the sculptures.

After modifying the base, the lamas will apply colourful butter onto it. The figurines are outlined with gold and silver powder. Finally the small parts are fixed onto the frame with iron wire.

As the creation lasts some three months in winter, many lamas have found their fingers deformed by the time a grand display is prepared

Buddhist Retreat In Vietnam

More photos on the religious camp in Vietnam. At night a mass candle lighting ceremony was held, presided by prayer by monks. The most senior monks lighted the candles of the other monks before being passed on to each and every candles held by the close to 3000 students participants.
















Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Who is Paul Lynch, What Name Is The REAL One?


Now we are a little confused here, as Sweeping Zen stated, how can a Korean so called Zen Master as he calls himself, ordained under a Vietnamese Dharma Hier, and take on yet another name and tradition? How many names can one person have? Who, and in the short time I was involved it changed 3 or 4 times is this man?  If he received true Dharma Transmition as he claims, why wasn`t his original teacher here at this ceremony  and does his original teacher approve of this merging of Orders? Where is Paul’s REAL Dharma teacher through all this? And what does the Korean linage he represent say about this? There has been NO word from his self claimed ties to the Korean linage in any of this and this is a major moment in the history of both lineages. There would have to be a Korean linage sponsor to okay this action if it is to be real and authentic. I wonder why we have heard nothing from Paul’s teacher in the Korean linage? Even when one of the monks ordained in another tradition with another teacher the Ven. karuna was present and they (The Monk) had her full support.
It has been my understanding that in the past when a tradition or another Zen School  and Tradition remains quiet, it is a sign of disapproval. And Paul did walk away from them, meaning he has no real transmition nor teacher on the Korean side. This was a very good topic that was brought up to me with Sweeping Zen. I wonder what is and who is being payed for all this. the school is the object and prize here it would seem, but there is more o this that is for sure. I wonder why with all the phones calls from stopping me in telling the true story why doesn`t Paul just come out with his own what is going on statement?
Some pictures of Paul in action:

Paul Lynch Has been Making many Phone Call To Clean-Up His Actions From The Public


Paul Lynch has had everyone from Sweeping  Zen to my own blogger community of the Bearing Witness Blog on the phone trying to stop the truth of his actions. In the MANY phone calls and emails including interviews I have been under after leaving FMZO I wish to say to Ari and Bearnie from ZPM that I am truly sorry you have had to deal with Paul Lynch and his crying about the truth of his actions being un-Earthed to the public.And want to say I do understand and thank you for your continued support .and friendship over the years.
An email i received:
”  Wanji did notify me about the post.  i’m not interested in hearing his side of the story or in taking sides because, as i said, i don’t think disputes should be on the blog.  if they have been there in the past, than it was a mistake.  i’m sorry you don’t feel as such, but we do appreciate your work.  if you would like to keep posting, you can post the links you have.  if you don’t want to, i understand.  
Ari   “

  Paul, Paul. Paul, crying to the world? Would you like to see the 40 min. interview i had with Sweeping Zen fro your own back yard that doesn`t even believe you? But as he was quoted to say to me to be careful they are all martial artist and I fear the hell out of them do to James Foster and a crew of his clicked up monks cornering the editor pf Sweeping Zen one day and threatening him after finding out Fosters involvement with the freemassons
The last few words of our 40 min. talk, the editor for Sweeping Zen that fears Lynch, Foster, and all the martial artist clicked-up monks of FMZO. I told him I would not disclose the whole talk do to his fear of safety that he made very clear to me, and that I should be careful as well.
“ 
  •  You know I don’t know. This whole thing makes me feel a bit weird. I sent you a request earlier to see what was going on between you and Paul and all that.
     
  •  take car, and dont worry
     
  • Please be well Mujin.
     
    Paul, your whole is getting deeper, the phone call to the Ven. Chitta didn`t stop nothing as well. Just dug your whole deeper too.
     
    Goodmorning by the Paul, hows your health? The coding of this schools site, where did you get the money for this, it is very well done I must say after I have gone through many of the coded pages. You have been using money from somewhere that for sure.

Monday, November 19, 2012

The Question of The Zen School

 It has part of the come up in many emails to me in how Paul Lynch and the FMZO has in fact taken over the Zen School of Study. First I am an IT tech and go to school for it, so i went to the property settings and copied every part of the html coding as we do in formatting a site with the bearfootwithoutthought verification code that belongs to Paul Lynch. Now Paul states he has no money, but to make this sort of site cost big bucks and no one of his students are smart enough to do any of the depth of coding involved here to form this schools site. it was done by a IT  specialist and paid for out of his as he stated, no money having and being broke. now while i have sat and gone through the html coding of this site, there is no sign of it ever belonging to the IBMC, except the title coding of the name of the school. So this isn`t even the original online html coded site of the IBMC and a new html coding in place with information intertwined here and there. Where did the money come from for such a site, who paid who for the rights and where  does the money go in regards to the PayPal when you purchase a class and register? Where are these payments being routed to seeing PayPal has froze Pauls accounts for nonprofit fraud.
  However i do know that he does receive these fund personally in his own two greedy hands. everyone says he has done so much to help so many, he has not even done any street work for humanitarianism, nor any one of his centers in the FMZO, only focused on themselves and their growing little click of a kingdom, always worried about money. Paul ask us for money to pay for his living, and he does so quite well, live. Hell he even has a pool and told me to start getting into marrying people it`s good way to make money, that they do two or so a week. Paid in cash as dana, nice move if the dana was properly being used when we know it isn`t. People ask me why i got involved, well it was his contacting me via email one day out of the blue, i never liked his Order from the start back in 2010 when Foster was running the freak show there. but he wanted me to make his vestments for him and even sent me the specs to use seeing the man in China turned away from him. It cost me $83 USD to make and he sells them for $250 at my cost to him per unit $130, $6 less than the Chinese connection he had and a faster turn around. but the problem of PayPal loomed over head as he asked the community to help with the cost of nonprofit paperwork to show to PayPal, the state of even Nevada in sin city turned him down , now you must be in some shit if even they turn you away of all states, LOL. So we are left with many question on this school during a time when my Dharma sister as we sat down per-se and talked last night is in a 3 year retreat out of country and is in the dark and doesn`t  want to be involved with Paul at all and the FMZO. This is very strange to say the least. And to date Paul has not come forward on how he obtained the rights to this school, not to even mention his transmition as a teacher and his and how he obtained the label "DR." as he himself has not even finished this original school. From what i have pulled on him in this school to date is as followed:


Founding Teacher and Site Administrator.
Country: United States
City/town: Las Vegas, NV
Email address: wonji@fmzo.org
Web page: http://www.facebook.com/dochong
Skype ID: dochongjdpsn
Courses: COM000 - Site Commons, ADM001 - Administration Commons, RET002 - National Fall/Winter Retreat, BHP121 - The Life of the Buddha , BPH122 - Foundational Buddhism , SUT323 - Diamond Sūtra, ARCHIVE-Q2-12-LIT302 - Basic Buddhist Ceremonies, ARCHIVE-Q2-12-BPH314 - Buddhist Precepts
First access: Wednesday, 31 August 2011, 05:24 PM (1 year 79 days)
Last access: Saturday, 17 November 2012, 05:44 AM (18 hours 29 mins)
Roles: Student,Administrator

  A little short here Paul i would say, where does this "DR." come into play here? thout ese are from the original school program as well. (1 year 79 days) ago you entered the school when the Ven. Chitta was in charge of it still before her 3 year retreat. There are IBMC brothers in place and still at temple. how does a Korean linage take control over a Vietnamese lineages school? These are questions put to me even by Sweeping Zen during a 40 min. interview I would say that i don`t trust at all.
  So the plot gets deeper as we un cover this amazing move by Paul Lynch and the FMZO. Maybe I will uncover-some truth in the html coding? Or maybe a statement from Paul himself on how he purchases the rights and did he pay for those rights in a legal way? I am going to inquire of where my funds did go when i speak next with with PayPal about my transaction and receive a tracking # and account funding name.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Not Leaving Myself Out Of The FMZO Un-Covering Facts


After a somewhat of a tactical letter I awoke to an email this morning from Mr. Paul Lynch as he conformed to the 48 hours I had to give him as a grace period prior to taking action on my College courses and grades he alone had possession of. So I do in some what of a way thank you for your promptness in replying to my said email, we will leave it as that.
  Moving along, I am not going to leave myself out of the FMZO exposing of detailed information of who is qualified and to what degree within the Zen College and Traditions. So with all my personal information already public there is no need for adding that, you can just visit my new web site to obtain said info..Below is my, (Ven. Mujin Karuna) academic reports of achievements that has been verified by a number of teachers within this college of Zen study to include Mr.Lynch or Ven. Wonji, or whatever new name he is going by today?  We will have to leave out the koan study I played with the Mr.Paul Lynch do to the fact that it is not legit do to his not being formally approved to teach koans by any means in way of any formal transmission or documentation of fact. And with that I will just add, that he is not even aloud to teach without supervision and he has been doing so unsupervised, this is documented fact. Do to his health issues he still falls short and I will share this email do to him not being able to keep up as stated in the letter asking him to take leave as a teacher do to his health problems that he walked away from as stated by his own teaching Sangha.
NOTE:This email is from the teacher of the FMZO at this time course material, “The Diamond Sutra”. 
“From: larkin willis <larkinwillis@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Nov 17, 2012 at 8:37 AM
Subject: Re: I don`t know what is going on, Wonji …
To: Do not reply to this email <buddhistcollege@beforethought.com>
I understand this decision, Mujin. I am, unfortunately, 1,000 miles away from Wonji so I can’t help him with any of these IT glitches (not that I have any skill in IT at all). Good luck with all of your projects.
Gasho,
P’arang
On Fri, Nov 16, 2012 at 3:17 PM, Mujin Cíbēi Sunim <buddhistcollege@beforethought.com> wrote:
I don`t know what is going on, Wonji, he hasn`t graded courses in his class sense course 2 and your courses have no quizzes posted. No one returns my emails so until someone MOVES I have more pressing involvements to tend to.


NOTE: These was at the time of course #6, this is how far back he slide in his own work as a teacher in the Zen College. And this is not the first time, always with an excuss of being sick or something.
Mujin Karuna:
Verified College Transfer and Prior Monastic Work Credit Print Date: September 26, 2012 Student: Travis Mujin Adams
College or University Subject Course Level Title Grade Credit Hours
Teacher or Verifier
CZBS Credits
Ancient Asian Classic Institute REL COURSE 1 UG The Principal Teachings of Buddhism, Level 1 of The Steps to Buddhahood (Lam Rim) P 4 Transcript 3
Ancient Asian Classic Institute REL COURSE 2 UG Buddhist Refuge, Level 1 of The Perfection of Wisdom (Prajna Paramita) P 4 Transcript 3
Ancient Asian Classic Institute REL COURSE 3 UG Applied Meditation, Level 2 of The Steps to Buddhahood (Lam Rim) P 4 Transcript 3
Ancient Asian Classic Institute REL COURSE 4 UG The Proof of Future Lives, Level 1 of Buddhist Logic and Perception (Pramana) P 4 Transcript 3
Ancient Asian Classic Institute REL COURSE 5 UG How Karma Works, Level 1 of Higher Knowledge (Abhidharma) P 4 Transcript 3
Ancient Asian Classic Institute REL COURSE 6 UG The Diamond-Cutter Sutra, Level 1 of Middle-Way Philosophy (Madhyamika) P 4 Transcript 3
Ancient Asian Classic Institute REL COURSE 7 UG The Bodhisattva Vows, Level 2 of Middle-Way Philosophy (Madhyamika). P 4 Transcript 3
Chuang Yen Monastery REL 1 UG Fundamentals of Buddhism P 4 Transcript 3
Chuang Yen Monastery REL 2 UG Mindfulness in Plain English A 4 Transcript 3 
27
The above stated information issues, 27 equivalent units of seminary credit, to Travis Mujin Adams in the College of Zen Buddhist Studies based upon official transcripts and records reviewed by College Personnel.
Ven. Paul Wonji Lynch, President
Verified College Transcripts Print Date: November 18, 2012 Student: Travis Mujin Adams College or University Subject Course Level Title Grade Credit Hours Teacher or Verifier CZBS Credits College of Zen Buddhist Studies Buddhism BPH311 UG Mirror of Zen P 3 CZBS 3 College of Zen Buddhist Studies History HZM412 UG Bodhidharma – the Man, the Myth, the Legend P 3 CZBS 3 College of Zen Buddhist Studies Liturgy LIT101 UG Chanting Practicum One P 3 CZBS 3 College of Zen Buddhist Studies Liturgy LIT102 UG Chanting Practicum Two P 3 CZBS 3 College of Zen Buddhist Studies Sutras SUT321 UG Platform Sutra P 3 CZBS 3 College of Zen Buddhist Studies Sutras SUT323 UG Diamond Sutra P 3 CZBS 3 
The above stated information issues, 18 units of seminary credit, to Travis Mujin Adams in the College of Zen Buddhist Studies based upon official records reviewed by College Personnel.
Ven. Paul Wonji Lynch, President
NOTE: Next we will look into the whole Sagha`s academic achievements within the newly taken over school they say they have credited themselves with finishing to award themselves their degrees they have not nor yet to come close to finishing. in the post to follow you will see the entire Zen College course material needed for the degrees they have clammed to fame, and have fallen miles short of.

Dear Students of the Golden Wind Zen Group and the Public at Large:



 It is with a great deal of sadness and wistfulness that I write this letter is to inform you that Paul Lynch was permanently suspended on July 13, 2008 as a Ji Do Poep Sa Nim in the Golden Wind Zen Teaching Order. I originally asked Paul to take a leave of absence as a teacher during which time he could begin to practice regularly once again and make an effort to deal with his severe health problems and personal issues. When informed of this leave-of-absence from teaching, Paul decided to walk away from the sangha entirely.

A Ji Do Poep Sa is permitted to teach only under the direct supervision of their supervising Zen Master according to the Korean/American Zen tradition.

Any teaching done by Paul (under the rubric of a “Before Thinking” organization or in any other forum) is, therefore, presented without the consent or approval of Zen Master Ji Bong. Consequently, Zen Master Ji Bong accepts no responsibility for any of Paul Lynch’s words or actions currently or at any time in the future. Paul Lynch is not in any respect to be considered the Dharma heir of either Zen Master Seung Sahn or Zen Master Ji Bong.

If a student -JDPS is unwilling to follow his/her teacher, that student gives up all rights to any claims of lineage. One has authentic lineage or one has nothing – that is the majesty of the Zen Tradition.

Ironically, this experience has become a good teaching experience for all of us. We must watch our steps in each moment – remember there is always a banana peel close by.

Zen Master Ji Bong (August 17, 2008)

The Real Courses of Study and Accomplishments By FMZO


Guiding Teacher

Picture
Founder and Guiding Teacher of Beyond Walls Zen, Wanji Dharma is a fully ordained Monk in the Vietnamese Zen Tradition of Ven. Dr. Thich Thien-An, having taken the 250 Dharmagupta Precepts with Ven. Dr. Suhita Dharma. Further he is an authorized teacher in the Korean Zen lineage, holding the title of Sabunim.

Having experienced a wide range of religious traditions since his childhood (spending ten years in Christian ministry training) Ven. Dr. Wanji has adopted a very pluralistic approach to engaging the dharma, and thus strives to foster an atmosphere where truly all are welcome to explore and integrate Buddhist teachings.
 

Ven. Dr. Wanji has been practicing meditation formally since age seven, and traditional life protection (“martial”) arts for slightly longer, having attained the title of Master in several martial arts (along with black belt level in a few others), and having founded his own method of Buddhist Life Protection Arts called Bupmudo, which he actively instructs through programs at in Kansas City.
 

Currently, in addition to his duties at Beyond Walls Zen, Ven. Wanji is serving as the National Abbot of the 
Five Mountain Zen Order, as Provost and Dean of the Buddhist Studies Institute - Los Angeles (which he graduated from with a D.Dh in 2012) and maintains an interesting blog at Errant Abbot.

"fully ordained Monk in the Vietnamese Zen Tradition of Ven. Dr. Thich Thien-An", Take 10 years just to be a Dharma Teacher in MY Order Mr. Lynch, did you forget that one to with the screw up on the papers you gave me, you did check the dates. You never did what you declared in 2010, I was with my mother in Sarasota Florida.



He states all this but however the truth is found her for real in his stats of academic achievements. He hasn`t done a thing but talk about This AND That. He made a big deal about my showing of records and what do you know he hasn`t even started and is not a Bodhisattva monk under the FMZO own requirements. LOL Can you believe it? Paul Lynch couldn`t or has yet to cook these stats to make him look good, but sure changes paperwork when  it comes down to it. i guess as one of his close friends told me today he couldn`t buy me. Only 5 classes, hell i have more in that school then you do, guess i didn`t click up. and Lynch couldn`t buy me out. One more thing if you guys threaten me one more time I will catch the next flight to check that martial arts crap out and give you a class. Foster and his click with the freemassons, your posing as monks, why is their a certain person that came to me today to warn me and tell me how he fears you guys do to something that went down with Foster and his click, that it happen to him first hand and fears you guys do to the martial arts crap that was pulled on him I take it? That this certain person talked to me today for about 40 min., all recorded too, warned me about how you guys can be and are dangerous to be careful? If your like that, let me sponsor your tickets over here to my retreat. i don`t play that crap, and i`m putting all out in the wind. I told this person to give you a message about that message per-se, hope you get it? Let me know if we need to all sit down, I`ll fly to Vegas tomorrow Mr. Lynch, don`t ever threaten me 3rd party again. First and Last warning. i have more than enough info on your operation and scam. I heard you come to china a lot and no one knows where the money is coming from for your trips as well? Next time you this side of the world lets have tea. By the way the way, this is public knowledge in red.

National Abbot of Five Mountain Zen Order
Country: United State
City/town: Kansas City
Email address: kidosool@gmail.com
Web page: http://www.beyondwallszen.com

Skype ID: hwashindoju
Courses: COM000 - Site Commons, ADM001 - Administration Commons, SUT323 - Diamond Sūtra, ARCHIVE-Q2-12-LIT302 - Basic Buddhist Ceremonies, ARCHIVE-Q2-12-BPH314 - Buddhist Precepts, ARCHIVE-Q3-12-BHP121 - The Life of the Buddha, ARCHIVE-Q3-12-BPH122 - Foundational Buddhism
First access: Wednesday, 7 September 2011, 12:54 AM (1 year 72 days)
Last access: Monday, 15 October 2012, 12:54 PM (33 days 11 hours)
Roles: Administrator,Student

Saturday, November 17, 2012

The Truth You All Have Been asking Me About Here You Go

http://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?f=69&t=7613&p=137989#p137989

READ ALL ABOUT IT......

Leaving The FMZO do to Nonprofit Fraud

Do to resent activities of the FMZO involving the wrongful running of nonprofit and being busted by PayPal and the IRS. I have moved to leave the FMZO for the well being of my students and the Center.

Monday, November 12, 2012

The Women's Light Pajamas I designed on CafePress.com

The Women's Light Pajamas I designed on CafePress.com

The Custom Long Sleeve T-Shirt I designed on CafePress.com

The Custom Long Sleeve T-Shirt I designed on CafePress.com

The Custom White T-Shirt I designed on CafePress.com

The Custom White T-Shirt I designed on CafePress.com

The Custom Zip Hoodie I designed on CafePress.com

The Custom Zip Hoodie I designed on CafePress.com

Obama plans historic trip to Burma


Originally posted by The Buddhdharma.
No sitting US president has ever visited Burma or Cambodia………
On his first international trip since being elected to a second term, US President Barack Obama will visit Burma later this month. The White House announced Thursday that Obama would attend an international economic summit in Cambodia, then stop in Thailand and in Burma, where he’ll meet with Aung San Suu Kyi (whom he met when Suu Kyi visited the US earlier this fall) and  President Thein Sein.
No sitting US president has ever visited Burma or Cambodia. Some human rights groups, including the US Campaign for Burma, expressed concerns that Obama’s visit to Burma might be premature as the country transitions to democracy, and urged Obama to cancel the visit. Ethnic violence is prevalent in Burma, and many political prisoners are still being held. Read more at the New York Times.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Templestays: Korea’s Buddhist Retreat Centers


Templestays: Korea's Buddhist Retreat Centers
Guests at Beomeosa Temple try to emulate martial arts moves.

I
 was only a pace or two behind the monk when my crepe paper lotus lantern burst into flame. Oh good grief! What the devil was I to do with this blazing ball of fire in such a sacred setting — an ancient Buddhist temple in Korea — where reverential silence and solemn tread were the watchwords during this dark night pilgrimage. My Templestay was becoming a hazardous experience.Templestays are all the rage in South Korea, where locals and tourists alike can tuck up into the forest-shrouded environs of hip-and-gable–roofed temples. These places are storehouses of Korean cultural treasures, as well as bastions of traditional Zen meditation and a 1,600-year-old Buddhist philosophy unique to the Korean Peninsula.There are an astonishing 73 temples dotted throughout South Korea that offer temple stays for Koreans and foreigners; about 18 of them offer stays for individuals. No less surprising is the program’s prosaic beginnings.
In 2002, when Korea hosted the World Cup soccer matches, housing was at a premium, and some temples, noted for their hospitality to those seeking shelter, put up a number of avid fans. Thus Templestays were born, and they have become quite popular, especially with Koreans.
Foreign visitors are most welcome, too, and that’s what I and my gaggle of fellow travelers were doing at the 1,300-year-old Beomeosa Temple. Located outside the port of Busan, in southeast Korea, it’s situated in a lush wisteria-tree forest north of the city.
Monks instruct visitors on temple etiquette.
Monks instruct visitors on temple etiquette.
The word “temple” is deceptive, for the sprawling grounds house numerous temple buildings, as well as 11 hermitages, perched on the hillsides of Geumjeong Mountain.
After we warily trudged up numerous stone stairs and went through three beautifully carved and painted gates, we were welcomed by a dozen volunteers. They cheerfully guided us along a circuitous route to our sleeping/lecture quarters where we would snooze (not much!), participate in various ceremonies, and converse — with the aid of an interpreter — with Chief Instructor Hye Su, the monk who heads the Templestay program at Beomeosa.
The volunteers helped us into the fine gray broadcloth vests and pants also worn by the monks, giggling as they tied strips of the fabric round our ankles to secure the pants and a larger cloth round our waists, lapping the top of the trousers over the wide band. (Disrobing for a bathroom break was quite an event.)
We were then given an etiquette lesson by one of the novice monks: You always take off your shoes before entering any temple building; walk in single- or double-file, as instructed; try to keep silent, imitating the monks; and male and female guests always sleep apart, in separate buildings.
The monks have several sparse meals a day. Next on the agenda was our own monastic repast, rife with instructions and admonitions from Hyu Su, as we sat on cushions around the sides of a long rectangular room with a few volunteers in the center dispensing the food. The fare was vegetarian and very mild, as spices of any kind could act as an aphrodisiac — obviously not the thing in a Buddhist temple.
We each had four dark-brown plastic bowls of varying sizes into which we placed rice, simmered or fried vegetables and seaweed, soup and water. There was a good deal of ritual about which bowl held which item, whether a spoon or chopsticks should be used, silence — the spoken word and the clanking of utensils against dishes were no-no’s — and how you did your own washing up before the bowls were again placed one inside the other, ready for your next meal.
There was little time for contemplation as we were moved along to our next activity, participating in an evening worship service with the monks.
I found it hard to tear my eyes away from the lustrous gold Buddha seated in the lotus position upon the temple’s altar, surrounded by flowers and flickering candles. And, all around the room were intricately carved and painted flowers — abundant in the decor of many temples because of the belief that flowers fall from heaven when the Buddha instructs.
A gentle jab from a volunteer alerted me that I was to follow the actions of the monk in front of the altar who kneeled, slid forward on his face, raised his arms, palms up, to heaven, slid back on his knees, stood and then clasped hands to breastbone.
This went on a number of times, a sonorous chanting filling the elaborate room with a ringing spiritual accord from the monks, and accompanying creaks and groans from my group’s strained ligaments, backs and knees as the constant bobbing and weaving took their toll.
It was a relief to emerge into the crisp night air, slip feet into shoes and stretch cramped muscles.
We trundled, in the usual two-by-two lineup, back to our assigned abode, where a craft session was to take place which could include prayer-bead making, woodblock-print making, stone rubbings, and — for us — the manufacture of delicate lotus lanterns.
Beomeosa’s Budo Garden has 29 stone pagodas that contain the cremated remains of deceased temple monks.
Beomeosa’s Budo Garden has 29 stone pagodas that contain the cremated remains of deceased temple monks.
Seated on the floor — volunteers at the ready with helpful advice, crepe paper petals, glue sticks and paper cups — we commenced fashioning what would become colorful lanterns when a candle was inserted through the bottom of the cup.
I watched our monk, who was extremely adept at making lotus lanterns.
Abruptly, we were told to put on our coats and shoes and follow the monk outside while clutching our prized craft projects, which were then lit. In silent procession we shuffled down a rocky hill in the dark and headed, up and down steps, to a courtyard surrounded by temples barely visible save for our lantern light and masses of sparkling stars above.
That was when my creation went up in flames. The monk paced back toward me, indicated I should throw my lantern on the ground, raised his robes, and vigorously stomped it out. The serene expression on his face never changed as he quietly handed me his “perfect” lotus lantern, then returned to the head of the line and moved on. (I prayed I wouldn’t set my new lantern alight and disgrace myself further, and this time my luck held.)
We circled the courtyard three times at the behest of the monk, doing something he delightfully called “learning in the moon.” Whatever it was, it was magical as our monk’s clothes slapped against our legs, and magenta and yellow and burnt-orange crepe paper lanterns slanted shafts of light on the hoary old temples surrounding us.
But there was more to come. Back at our place of residence, we found tea-making paraphernalia had been placed round the room in front of our mats and cushions. “Tea break and talk” proved illuminating, as the monk led us through the intricacies of making the tea, holding the delicate cups and sipping the fragrant brew.
He also engaged us in conversation, espousing a sort of “know thyself” philosophy. “If you can’t find your mind, you will be deceived by your desires,” he postulated.
Finally it was time for rest and repose, the men sent off to another building to snatch a few winks before we would be awakened — as are the monks — at 3 a.m. We women (as did the men) dug out the snacks our guide had advised us to bring, and dipped into such unholy edibles as Oreos, Snickers bars, potato chips and chocolate-chip cookies. Alas, the flesh — our flesh — was weak.
Though the night was cold, the heated floor under our thin mats kept us toasty till the lights abruptly went on at three o’clock and we groggily arose, knowing there was precious little time to use the nearby restroom and brush a tooth.
Stumbling out into the dark, we joined the men and tromped double-file to a courtyard which housed the handsome two-storied, open-sided bell tower containing an ancient temple bell, drum, bronze gong and wooden fish-shaped gong. Three able monks attacked these musical instruments with gusto, making the mountain ring with their joyful noise.
We then repeated the prayer ceremony of the night before, returning to our quarters by four o’clock for Zen meditation. Our monk spoke in parables and finally told us, “The beginning of life and death is not controlled by God or Buddha, it is controlled by you, yourself.”
By now, though interested in his discourse, I could not control my cramped legs and thighs, and squirmed while endeavoring to enjoy this very early morning exchange of ideas.
Finally, we were asked to face the wall and “try and find ourselves” through meditation and contemplation.
Then, in the early dawn, we followed the monk to several temples, where we prayed or sat in contemplation, finally able to glance about at the Buddha figures sheathed in gold with their Mona Lisa smiles and knowing eyes that seemed to follow you wherever you moved, stood or sat.
I was glad to be decanted into the out-of-doors at 6 a.m. for a walk to our second monastic meal — a replica of the first evening’s, yet a little more comfortable, as we knew the ropes.
Back at our quarters we found a monk awaiting us who was the master of martial arts at Beomeosa. This form of Buddhist martial arts, practiced by monks in Korea, is called bulmudo. Their skills are legendary, and we were lucky enough to have two martial artists on hand who, following the monk’s instructions, demonstrated some of the forms, with us following along as best we could.
The author’s group poses with the martial arts master (bottom, center) and a visiting Tibetan monk at Beomeosa.
The author’s group poses with the martial arts master (bottom, center) and a visiting Tibetan monk at Beomeosa.
Our instructor monk, Hye Su, finally bade us goodbye, and we climbed back down the stone stairs leading under the temple’s three gates to our bus. We were touched to learn that the monks, fearing we had not had enough to eat (I sheepishly recalled the Oreos), had supplied our driver with a box of bananas and milk to tide us over on our journey back into the secular world.
I clutched the monk’s perfect lotus lantern and hoped that it would inspire me to “try and find my life.” Well, one of these days.
If You Go
Eighteen of the 73 Templestay programs are open to individuals; of these temples, several have English translators. Upon request, other temples can also accommodate individuals. The required minimum stay is one night/two days, with the exception of Jogyesa, in Seoul, which allows for half-day stays on the second and fourth Saturday of each month.
At present, the half-day Templestay costs approximately $25; temples generally charge around $70 for one night/two day stays, which includes meals. Reservations are required. Children are welcome, and there are family programs, as well.
Templestay Information
www.templestaykorea.com
Korea Tourism Organization
www.tour2korea.com