mind on the present moment.” -Buddha
Not quite yet satisfied with culture on Saturday, Steve and I decided to press on and find a nearby Buddhist temple. We just so happened to luck out when asking for directions-we were standing exactly where the bus would pick us up to take us to the area we needed to be in.
Once we got off the bus we made a decent climb up Ahn Mountain. Although it was a tough walk, it really didn’t feel as if we were going up that high until we reached the top. The temple and the view were both astounding!
Bongwonsa is a Buddhist temple that was originally founded in 889 by Master Doseon. It moved to its current location in 1748. During the Korean war, part of the temple was destroyed in 1950. Other oddities about the temple include a fire that destroyed the main Buddha hall, and the discovery of over one dozen bodies that a serial killer had buried in the temple grounds. There are now 50 monks who live there; all of whom do social and welfare work.
Once we reached the temple-it was immediately obvious that it had been worth the hike. I don’t even think we initially realized how much there was to see. We were immediately greeted by the 16 Arahats; all of which were a bit strange.
We then climbed another flight of stone stairs to see various buildings that are used for meditation and worship. Each of the buildings were similar, yet completely unique. The detailed paintings and sculptures were amazing.
One building was filled with so many ornate items, my eyes didn't know where to look. There were paper lilies, golden Buddhas, painted statues, etc. One of my favorite buildings was the Maitreya hall, which appeared much newer than the others, but hosed an enormous Buddha figure and thousands of lit candles-silent prayers still burning on the wick and in the hearts of those who lit them.
Steve and I spent a great deal of time just roaming around, gazing at the statues, and sitting in silence.
The temple itself was amazing, but it’s location added to the serenity. I felt as if I were on top of Seoul looking down. The air was a bit cleaner, and my surroundings were slower, quieter, and more peaceful. I could see the tall buildings of Seoul, and I knew there were 10 million people, not too far away, but for a few moments I was able to escape it all. It was like being on the outside looking in.
We were even able to drink FRESH MOUNTAIN WATER! It trickles down from the mountain tops. There were small plastic cups provided for us to sample.
Buddha once said, “Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life.”. After my peaceful afternoon on Ahn mountain, I couldn’t have agreed more.
No comments:
Post a Comment