Templestay is a unique cultural program which lets you experience the life of Buddhist practitioners at traditional temples which preserve the 1700 year old history of Korean Buddhism. Here is a templestay list in Seoul.
- GeumsunsaTemple
- A relaxing fantastic night near Seoul
- With 600 years of history as a traditional Korean Buddhist Temple and the Great King Jeungjo’s place to pray for the birth of a prince, Geumsun-sa is famous for its beautiful natural scenery in the Mt. Bukhan(Mt. Samgak)National Park, and it belongs to Bumea-sa, the 14th parish of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It specializes as a concentrated SEON(Zen) meditation temple. Geumsunsa is located in Gukidong, Jongnogu, in front of Mt.Inwang, near the Blue House and Kyoungbok Palace, and only fifteen minutes away from Kwanghwamoon. A mountain stream flows from Beebong and Hyangrobong in the Mt.Bukhan National Park, passes under Hongyaekyo(Bridge of Nirvana) at the temple, and gives you the feel of the natural beauty of a temple, yet it is located in the center of Seoul.Programs
Relaxation Templestay
First Day15:00~16:30 : Registration and temple tour
17:30 : Dinner
18:30 : Evening chanting service
19:00~ : free schedule & sleepSecond Day )05:00 : Mornning chanting service
06:30 : Breakfast
07:00~ : free schedule
12:00~12:50 : Lunch
13:00 : check outGeumsunsa Regular templestay
First Day
14:30~15:00 : Arrival and Registration.
15:00~15:30 : Orientation and Temple Manners
15:30~17:00 : Temple Tour and Learning Buddhist chanting script
17:30~18:00 : Dinner
18:30~19:00 : Evening Buddhist Chanting Ceremony
19:00~20:00 : Meditation and 108 prostrations
20:00~20:40 : Sharing
21:00~ : SleepSecond Day
04:30 : Wake up & Wash
05:00~05:20 : Mornning Buddhist Chanting Ceremony
05:20~06:00 : Meditation
06:00~07:00 : Free time
07:00~08:00 : Baru Gongyang(Traditional monastic meal)
08:30~09:30 : Communal Work
09:30~11:00 : Conversation with the monk over tea
11:00~11:50 : Trekking Mt.Bukhansan (If the weather is not agreeable,alternative program will be run.)
12:00~12:50 : Lunch & writing comments
13:00~ : Closing Ceremony
Location and Reservationkozaza.com/gss
Gukidong Jongnogu, Seoul, Korea
Call for reservation (+82) 1544-5665 or email at ask@kozaza.com
- The International Seon Center
- Share the value of Korean Buddis culture
- The International Seon Center is a Seon (Zen) meditation and Buddhist propogation training center as well as a learning facility for Buddhist cultural practices. The overall aim of the center is to promote awareness of the inherent value of Korean Buddhism and its practices to the global community. The center contains a templestay facility, a large prayer hall, and a culture and education center, and provides temple-stay programs, Seon lectures, traditional Buddhist temple cuisine cooking classes, tea ceremonies, and many other programs and activities which aim to provide a living experience of traditional Korean Buddhist culture. To cater for the needs of international visitors, Korean to English interpretation is provided throughout many of the center’s activities. The center is continuously developing a residential temple stay and temple life program to offer direct experience of Korean Buddhist culture for both Koreans and international visitors. In order to further promote the practice of Seon meditation throughout the world, the center holds academic seminars, exchanges ideas with different religions, facilitates international study exchanges, and regularly holds forums on Buddhist studies.
With a mission to raise awareness of traditional Korean Buddhist culture, the first floor Buddhist Restaurant in the center offers traditional Buddhist temple cuisine. The restaurant teaches traditional recipes, the art of tea meditation and gives lectures on various aspects of Buddhist culture, therefore introducing new and innovative ways for the contemporary person to experience and learn more about Buddhism.
Here at the International Seon Center, the staff is fully committed to spreading the teachings and practices of Buddhism. Connecting with Buddhist centers globally, the international seon center is building a diverse and interconnected network in order to communicate and exchange ideas throughout the world.Programs
=== Saturday Evening Dharma School ===
Participants: Open to all
Program Schedule: Every Saturday Evening
-19:00 ~ 19:20 : Introduction to Buddhism; Evening Chanting
-19:20 ~ 20:00 : Sitting Meditation (30 mins); Walking Meditation (10mins)
-20:20 ~ 20:50 : Dharma Talk; Q&A Session
Location: International Seon Center: Temple Stay Dharma Hall, 5th Floor
Cost: Free (Donations are gratefully welcomed)Apart from Templestays, the Seon Center also offers Saturday evening meditation classes year-round with the purpose of helping individuals find peace within the hectic modern world. The program is conducted entirely in English and is open to beginners and advanced students alike.=== Two day program ===
First Day
13:00~13:30 : Registration & Orientation
13:30~15:00 : Temple Manners & Opening Ceremony
15:00~16:20 : Self- Introduction
16:30~17:30 : Learn Traditional Buddhist Meal
17:30~18:20 : Dinner-TBM
18:30~19:00 : Evening Service
19:00~20:30 : Make 108 Prayer’s Beads 20:30~21:00 : Ready for Sleep
21:00~ : sleepSecond Day
03:00~03:30 : Wake up & Wash (in silence)
03:30~04:00 : Dawn Service(in Silence)
04:00~04:30 : 108 bows
04:30~06:00 : Seon Mediation (in silence)
06:00~07:30 : Breakfast-TBM Clean Bowls
07:30~09:00 : Tour to a Hermitage
09:00~10:00 : Dharma Talk
10:00~10:40 : Community Work & Survey
10:40~ : Closing Ceremony
Location and Reservation
Sinjeong 6-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, Korea
kozaza.com/izen
Call for reservation (+82) 1544-5665 or email at ask@kozaza.com
- Myogaksa Temple
- Laying down my mind through heartwarming experience of monastic life.
- Myogaksa Temple is located in downtown Seoul, in the Sungindong area of the Jongnogu district. The temple is situated in the foothills of Naksan Mountain, so you can see the entire urban area of Seoul at once, and feel both the busy city below and the leisurely temple environment. Myogaksa was founded in May, 1930 by Ven. Taeheo. It has been said that, according to the rules of geomancy, constructing a temple in this spot would put the city of Seoul at ease. The temple area is not very large, but the Daebulbojeon (Main Buddha Hall) and other smaller Dharma Halls are all situated very harmoniously together. The figure of Gwanseumbosal, carved into the natural stone of Naksan Mountain, looks ready to reach out and grasp the hands of those who pass by the stone ledge. Programs
- 2 Days/ 1 Night program (Program is subject to change.) 2:30pm – Filling out application & preparing for Opening Ceremony
- Assigning individual lockers & distributing name tags
3 pm – Learning temple etiquette
- Opening Ceremony & Introduction of Sunims
4:30pm – Making 108 prayer beads
6 pm – Evening bell-striking & evening Buddhist ceremony
7 pm – Dinner
8 pm – Meditation with the title ‘Laying Down My Mind’
9:30pm – Sleep3:30am – Getting up & Preparing for Predawn Buddhist service
4am – Bell-striking & Predawn Service
5am – Early Morning Meditation
6am – Taking a walk in Naksan Park
7am – Breakfast
8:30am -Group Work (Cleaning the temple)
10:30am – Tea Ceremony & Closing Ceremony
Address and Reservation
- Sungin-dong Jongno-gu Seoul
kozaza.com/mgs
mogaksa web page- Call for reservation (+82) 1544-5665 or email at ask@kozaza.com
- 2 Days/ 1 Night program (Program is subject to change.) 2:30pm – Filling out application & preparing for Opening Ceremony
- Jogyesa Temple
- Stay in a temple located at the center of Seoul
- A temple where you can experience traditional culture in the middle of the city…. Jogyesa Temple, which can be considered the face of Korean Buddhism, is situated in the very heart of Korea’s capital city Seoul. The administrative headquarters of the Korean Buddhist Jogye Order is located on the temple grounds, also Insadong, Gyeongbuk Palace, Changdeok Palace, and other famous sites are close by, comprising a cultural district that’s enjoyable for most westerners. The temple now known as Jogyesa was founded in 1910 on the site of the former Jungdong High School, and was originally called Gakhwangsa. During the period of Japanese occupation, when much of Korea’s traditional Buddhist heritage was destroyed, Gakhwangsa preserved the original spirit and history of Korean Buddhism.Programs
Location and Reservationkozaza.com/jogyesa
Call for reservation (+82) 1544-5665 or email at ask@kozaza.com
- Hwagyesa Temple at Samgaksan Mountain
- The Power of Now
- Hwagyesa Templestay is a place where you can experience traditional Korean buddhist culture and monastic life. Located in the beautiful Bukhansan, away from the hustle and bustle of city life, our Templestay program will help you find peace and your true self.
Hwagyesa was built in 1522 by Zen Master Shinwol and has been home to many Zen Masters. Amongst them, world renowned Zen Master Seung Sahn. Hwagyesa has been used for many years as an international Zen center, receiving people from around the world. We invite you to join us in continuation of this spiritual practice and gain clarity of mind in this inspiring environment!Programs
1st Day
PM 12 : 00 Arrival / Lunch
12 : 40 Room Assignment
1 : 30 Orientation and Temple Tour
2 : 30 Hiking and Forest Meditation
4 : 30 Dinner
6 : 00 Evening Chanting
7 : 00 Zen Meditation
9 : 00 Lights Out2nd Day
AM 4 : 00 Wake Up
4 : 20 Morning Chanting
5 : 00 Meditation
6 : 00 Breakfast
6 : 30 Work Period
8 : 00 108 Bows
9 : 00 Tea Ceremony / Q&A
9 : 45 Clean Your Room
10 : 00 Departure
Location and Reservationkozaza.com/jogyesa
Hwagyesa website
Call for reservation (+82) 1544-5665 or email at ask@kozaza.com
- Kilsangsa Temple
- Stay in a temple located at the center of Seoul
- Gilsangsa Temple belongs to the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. Located on the southern side of Mt. Samgaksan, the buildings originally belonged to a high-class restaurant named Daewongak but were donated to Monk Beopjeong Sunim by the owner, Kim Yeong-han (Buddhist name is Gilsangwha). The temple was first registered on June 13, 1995 under the name of Daebeopsa as a branch temple of Songgwangsa of the Jogye Order, and was renamed Gilsangsa on December 14, 1997. While some of the buildings have been remodeled, most of them are preserved in their original state. The major temple buildings and monuments include Geungnakjeon (Hall of Amitabha), Jijangjeon (Hall of Ksitigarbha), Seolbeopjeon (Preaching Hall), Gilsangseonwon, Yumaseonbang, the House of Silence, Beomjonggak (Bell Pavillion), Iljumun (One Pillar Gate), the temple office, a statue of Avalokitesvara, and a monument to the deceased Gilsangwha. Enshrined in Geungnakjeon, the main hall of the temple, is a statue of Amitabha Buddha flanked by the bodhisattvas Avalokitesvara and Ksitigarbha. As the base temple for the volunteer organization Malgo Hyanggiropgae (Clean and Fragrant), Gilsangsa also operates a Buddhist college, seon (zen) meditation center, and temple stay, and every May holds a charity concert to raise funds for the disabled, hungry children, poor children around the world, and North Korean refugees. Master Beopjeong Sunim, who was also a well-known essayist, conducted Buddhist services at the temple from December 1997 to December 2003.Programs
Schedule
▶ First day
Time Program
15:00~15:30 Arrival & Registration
15:40~16:20 Learning temple etiquette and about Buddhism
16:30~17:00 Opening ceremony
17:00~17:30 Dinner
17:40~18:00 Learning about Buddhist services
18:00~18:40 Evening Buddhist service
18:50~19:50 Learning sitting meditation and religious practice of Buddhists
20:00~21:00 Learning about candle meditation
21:10~22:00 Candle meditation/Sitting meditation
22:00 Bed time
▶Second day
Time Program
03:45~04:00 Wake up
04:10~04:50 Pre-dawn Buddhist service
05:00~06:00 108 bows/Sitting meditation
06:00~07:00 Breakfast
07:00~07:50 Ulyeok (community work) / Walking meditation
08:00~08:50 Learning Buddhist doctrine / Sitting meditation
09:00~09:50 Sitting meditation
10:00~10:40 Seon exercises
10:50~11:30 Tea ceremony / Sitting meditation
11:30~12:20 Lunch
12:20~13:20 Sitting meditation
13:20~14:40 Teatime & conversation with the guide teacher
14:50~15:10 Writing
15:20~15:50 Closing ceremonyMore information about Templestay at Kilsangsa
Location and ReservationKilsangsa website
kozaza.com/kilsangsa
Call for reservation (+82) 1544-5665 or email at ask@kozaza.com
- Bongeunsa
- The head temple of the Seon Buddism. A thousand-year-old temple in the heart of a modern city
- Welcome to Homepage of Bongeunsa Buddhist Temple.
Bongeunsa, one of the sacred temples in Korea where the aspiration of Venerable Bou who exerted himself with his utmost efforts to keep the dying Buddhism alive and the spirit of Venerable Seosan and Samyeong who saved the country from the national crisis of Japanese invasion permeated deeply, is now creating a new history of Korean Buddhism through its practice-centered temple management system operation.
Monks participating in the early morning ceremony, Baru offering(monasterial formal meal), group work and continuing efforts of practicing in order to build practicing spirit right, temple finance being opened to public, lay people taking part in the temple operations positively as a member of the key management team, Buddhists are developing their religious and volunteer activities all together more actively than ever before.
Then, these result in the practicing fever such as Seon(Zen) meditation, praying, dharma assembly or education among the lay people and the education site is also filled with fever of Buddhists learning Buddha’s Teachings.
Inheriting the continuous history of thousand years and the spirit of previous Patriarchs in the history of Buddhism, Bongeunsa will keep cultivating it as the top tier place for real practice and volitional action of Bodhisattvas(persons seeking for Buddha’s enlightenment and living for the welfare of others) and as the central place for enlightening the new millennium of Korean Buddhism.
I wish all of them who visited Bongeunsa homepage, together with their families, full of power and blessing of Buddha and Bodhisattvas.
With two palms put together,
Jin Hwa
Head Venerable of Bongeunsa
Korean Buddhism of Jogye OrderPrograms
Period: Two days (overnight stay). The program begins at 2:00 p.m. on the first day and ends at 9:30 a.m.
on the second day.
Number of participants allowed : group of 10-30 people,
individuals every fourth weekend of each month.
Fee : 70,000 won per person
Basic schedule: temple tour, tea ceremony (Da-do), monastic meals (Baru gongyang), chanting services
(Yaebul), making Buddhist rosaries, meditation, conversation with a monk over tea, 108 prostrations
Policies: Please wear socks and do not wear sleeveless tops or shorts when visiting the temple during the summer season.
Location and Reservationkozaza.com/bongeunsa
Bongeunsa website
Call for reservation (+82) 1544-5665 or email at ask@kozaza.com
- Gwanmunsa Temple
- The head temple of the Seon Buddism.
- The Korean Buddhist Chentae-Order. Built in 1997. Modern style temple with various kinds of Buddhist statues made of gold and jade. The Buddhists hold a lantern procession on the Buddha’s Birthday every year, which is sacred and fantastic.Programs
Location and Reservationkozaza.com/gwanmunsa
Gwanmunssa website
Call for reservation (+82) 1544-5665 or email at ask@kozaza.com
- Jinkwansa Temple
- The head temple of the Seon Buddism.
- Jinkwansa is a famous temple that was previously known for being one of four great temples in the outskirts of Seoul, together with Bulamsa in the east, Sammaksa in the south, and Seunggasa in the north. It’s not more than 10 minutes or so from the main street of Yeonshinnae in western Seoul, but once you pass the forest of apartments, the expansive mountain and deep valley unfold before you.Jinkwansa is located in the entrance to the valley, in an area of suitable proportions. It’s not certain, but Ven. Wonhyo (617-686C.E.) may have originally founded a temple called Shinhyeolsa in this location. During the Goryeo Dynasty, King Hyeonjong (1011 C.E.) founded the temple and named it Jinkwansa, in order to repay the kindness of a monk named Ven. Jinkwan, who saved his life.In 2009, while repairing the Chilseongjeon (Hall of the Seven Stars), some precious materials which are related to the Korean independence movement, were found. This incident brought sincere examination on the role the temple played during the dark period in the history.Programs
Jinkwansa’s Templestay Program The temple is convenient for people in the city to get to, and has such incredible scenery that there have been countless inquiries about the Templestay program here. There are a variety of programs offered, including a freestyle program, a program that lets one experience the daily life of practitioners in the temple, as well as Buddhist cultural programs, and others designed for groups and those with regular jobs. The programs feature chanting services, 108 prostrations, tea and conversation with a monk, meditation, monastic formal meals, and the preparation of temple food. There’s also a short Temple Life program designed for people who have busy schedules. Location and Reservationkozaza.com/jinkwansa
Jinkwansa website
345 Jinkwandong Eunpyeonggu, Seoul
Call for reservation (+82) 1544-5665 or email at ask@kozaza.com