“Attention to the young”
“Release all citizens! Release fatigue!”
“Kind drinking for staying healthy”

Those words are from TV and newspaper advertisements for an energy drink. We all are very tired in our lives just like the saying that there is no one who is not tired in Korea. This society is very competitive so if you stand still for a minute you will soon be behind,thus we have to motivate ourselves with positive energy.In this competitive society, encouraging a challenge and challenging to the limit are the only virtues. Seoul has many mountains so that’s the reason why there are many temples. Recently, many people have become interested in a temple stay through a temple stay is coming for 10years. Many people find the temple stay as a way of an exit from daily life in order to find their real selves. There are places where one can feel like he/she is going far away from his/her daily life,designed for those who want to go somewhere but can’t due to their daily commitments. To Kookmin people who can’t go far, I want to introduce those places where you can lighten your mind during the semester. I will introduce temples where a temple stay is available in Seoul, and where there is ascattering sound of the wind blowing through the scenery.

1. Jongno-guGeumsunsa

Geumsunsa located in Mt. Bukhancan make us wonder if we’re really in Seoul.We can hear the beautiful soundsof the forest such as wind and water more than any music. Geumsunsa’s living breath of tradition has three kinds of temple stays so you have many choices. An experiencetemple stay called ‘ask a way in the forest’ follows a monk’s day. You have a Buddhist service in the morning, religious service and refreshments with a monk in the afternoon, and also have time to remove the breath from your daily life and take in a new breath from among the trees. Also, you can bow 108times at the temple to empty your useless ideas and wash 108times worth of anguish.  If the experience temple stay seems burdensome for you, you can choose a relaxing one instead and just spend free time in the temple. Your time is filled with looking only within yourself.

You can join aBuddhist service. If you want to have refreshments with a monk, you can have it. Throw away your negative ideas. Both programs are running for one day and two nights. However, if someone can’t stay there for one day, the temple can work it out for them. That is the temple life. You can experience the traditional Buddhist culture of Korea for a short time. You can choose 2~3 programs from among various activities like noticing a temple, bowing 108times, having tea with a monk, and making lotus while staying at the temple for about 3 hours. Even though it is very short, you can enjoy many things.

- Entry fee for a Buddhist culture experience: Adults $5
- Entry fee for relaxing temple stay: One for $7, two for each $6, over three for $5
- Entry fee for temple life: $3
- How to participate :http://www.geumsunsa.org

2. Bongeunsa

Because this place is surrounded by tall buildingswe can easily tell that this is Seoul, but one would never suspect that a temple is located here.Bongenusatemple is located in the middle of the city amongst crowding buildings. No matter how much noise surrounds the temple, the temple is calm. This temple also has two kinds of programs like the previous temple.Bongeunsa’s temple stay is perfectly suited for a person exhausted from daily life. The temple’s goal is that people get a chance to see their life’s direction and the relationship between themselves and the people around them.

There are some activates like looking around the temple while drinking tea to relax the mind, and making a Buddhist rosary. Also they give you training clothes so you don’t need to be prepared. The temple life is running programs like a temple tour, tea ceremony, making lotus, meditation including making a Buddhist rosary, conversation with a monk, bowing 108times etc. A basic program takes only 2 and half hours so you don’t need to stress.

- Entry fee for temple stay: One day and two nights, adults -$7
   Individual- every Sat., 4thSun. of the month, from 10 to 30 members
- The way of process: All programs are run only in English
- Entry fee for temple life: Adult, college student: $2 for a day
- Target of participation: If you are over 5members per group, you can reserve a specific time. (Over 30 groups can run concurrently).
   Also you can choose and add programs you want. (You should pay extra charge depending on the program.)
- How to participate: Call or email/ reservations 1week in advance, payment 5days in advance.
- http://www.bongeunsa.org.

3. Kilsangsa

Kilsangsa is a famous place where a Beopjeong monk stays, and is located close to Kookmin University.The temple has a large area so when they have an event like Buddha’sBirthday, many people go there to celebrate. There is a weekend train, group temple stay, and temple life including season training. The weekend train runs twice a month. The feature of the weekend train is that you must do a silent performance. While doing a silent performance, you will have time to listen your internal voice. It runs one day two nights every3rd and 4th weekend of the month.And certainly the temple has particular targets to participate like at the other temples. The target is the person who is possibly bowing 108times and who believes in Buddhism, maybe because they have to bow 108times early in the morning.
Like other temple stays, they run meditations, drink tea and have a Buddhist service. Also the temple life has some activities like making lanterns, making a Buddhist rosary, tea ceremony, and a conversation with a monk. I also want to recommend their library and lecture on Buddhist culture. Even though books are only related to Buddhism, common people can borrow the books. Also there are various lectures like arranging flowers, a tea ceremony, calligraphy and painting Buddha. You can have those activities apart from a temple stay.

- Temple stay: Every 3rd and 4th weekend
- How to participate: Homepage, email or reservation by phone
- Entry fee: $5
- September schedule 
- 176-Sep.15th~ 16th
- 177-Sep.22nd ~23rd
- http://www.kilsangsa.info

4. Myogaksa

Myogaksa is located in Jongroin Seoul. It is surrounded by fallen leaves on natural bedrock. This temple stay gives us an experience which one can see the world not using another person’s view. The way to finding my mind is in Myogaksa. The temple is also separatedinto two programs like a temple stay for one day and two nights and experiencingtemple life for a day. In the temple stay, they are going to introduce Buddhism of Korea, bowing 108times and making a Buddhist rosary. When you hit a bell, you can release all of your worries in dawn that everyone falls asleep.
Looking at my mind is good through meditation.You can earnestly encounter yourself. Let’s listen to the sound of our mind walking up the way of Myogaksa. The most interesting thing is that all members do national gymnastics together after finishing climbing. The temple has a tea ceremony and a conversation with a monk. As special activities, they give the experience of painting, making lanterns, etc. Bowing 108times and the tea ceremony are the main programs for temple life.

- Temple stay How to participate
   : homepage, email or reservation by phone Entry fee: $5
- Temple life How to participate
   : Same as temple stay Entry fee:$2
- http://www.myogaksa.net

When you drive your car without looking in the mirror, one day you will be in danger. Sometimes you should look to your side and behind so you can prevent an accident. Let’s ask ourselves a question. Am I operating by looking at only toward the front? If you answered yes, I would like you Kookmin people to go a temple stay. I would even like to push you in the back to go there. If you have many worries and noise in your mind, a temple stay would treat it. Actually, if you can’t concentrate on anything, you’d better go somewhere to release your worries or bad thoughts. If you could hear the sound of your mind, you could find the way for treatment.