In conjunction with the coming Vesak celebration, 11 young boys were ordained as novice monk in a temple in Seoul, Korea on April 25, 2011. In this annual ceremony, the boys will lead a monastic life for 20 days.
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Showing posts with label country - south korea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label country - south korea. Show all posts
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Korean Buddhist Protest
Korea’s largest Buddhist denomination has staged a “1080 bow” protest against an alleged religious bias by the government.
On Jan. 10, some 230 Buddhist monks and lay staff from the Jogye Order bowed 1080 times in a three hour protest at Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul.
“The government, which must be fair to everyone, is dominated by specific groups or powers based on a specific religion and educational background, and it carries out its purpose by pushing ahead with its power,” the group said in a statement issued prior to the protest.
The group criticized the ruling Grand National Party for rushing the 2011 budget through parliament.
The budget included cuts to social welfare while increasing allocations for the government’s controversial Four Rivers Project.
The budget also reduced the allocation for a temple stay program by 7 billion won ($US 6.2 million) causing anger in Buddhist circles.
“The passing of the budget with the power of the majority shocked us as a regression of democracy,” the group said.
Kim Young-il, assistant deputy director of the Jogye Order Department of Planning and Coordination told ucanews.com that the 1080 bows reflected repentance for past faults.
“In Buddhism, ‘108 bows’ is an ordinary way of praying and training,” Kim explained.
“1,080 bows has a wider meaning signifying repentance for 10 Buddhist misdeeds with 108-bows for each misdeed.
“It also signifies a protest against the government which is continually discriminating against Buddhism,” he added.
The order is planning worship ceremonies at 3,000 temples on Jan. 11 to denounce the government’s actions.
Local Buddhist groups have continued to protest against the government’s alleged bias against Buddhism and in favor of Protestantism since President Lee Myung-bak, a Protestant, assumed office in 2008.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Temple Stay For Korean Youths
Temple stays often thought of as a unique experience for foreigners that helps them understand Korean Buddhism better are currently being reshaped.
The Jogye Order of the Korean Buddhism Cultural Corporation says various summer programs have been prepared in over 40 temples across the country this year in order to meet the growing demand among Korean youths for an academic and practical experience of Buddhism.
In some temples, with histories dating back over one-thousand years students will get a chance to learn ancient buddhist studies, participate in ceremonial services with chanting and to take some time to reflect upon themselves through meditation.
In addition to the religious practices various other educational programs including English classes, horse riding and archery will be offered.
Miwhang temple in South Jeolla Province, one of the most renowned temples in the country provides one-week summer programs twice a year which consist of Buddhist ceremonial services, Chinese character learning periods and a traditional tea ceremony known as 'Dado'.
Dongwha temple in South Gyeongsang Province has created a weekly English camp for elementary students to help children learn about Buddhism and English simultaneously.
The Buddhism Cultural Corporation says a few days of experience in a temple under the supervisions of respected monks will not only enlighten them religiously but also help them find their true selves.
The Jogye Order of the Korean Buddhism Cultural Corporation says various summer programs have been prepared in over 40 temples across the country this year in order to meet the growing demand among Korean youths for an academic and practical experience of Buddhism.
In some temples, with histories dating back over one-thousand years students will get a chance to learn ancient buddhist studies, participate in ceremonial services with chanting and to take some time to reflect upon themselves through meditation.
In addition to the religious practices various other educational programs including English classes, horse riding and archery will be offered.
Miwhang temple in South Jeolla Province, one of the most renowned temples in the country provides one-week summer programs twice a year which consist of Buddhist ceremonial services, Chinese character learning periods and a traditional tea ceremony known as 'Dado'.
Dongwha temple in South Gyeongsang Province has created a weekly English camp for elementary students to help children learn about Buddhism and English simultaneously.
The Buddhism Cultural Corporation says a few days of experience in a temple under the supervisions of respected monks will not only enlighten them religiously but also help them find their true selves.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Yeongsan Jae
Yeongsan Jae is a performance art, which contains various art genres such as music, dance, drama, literature and philosophy. It is rooted in Buddhism and has merged with diverse Korean traditions.
Yeongsan Jae is one of the most important, traditional Buddhist rituals in Korea. This ceremony is held in hopes of leading both the living and the dead into the joy of enlightenment and perpetual peace.
Yeongsan Jae is one of several kinds of memorial services, which might be performed on the 49th day after one's death, its purpose being to guide the soul of the deceased to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss (Buddhist paradise). Sometimes it is performed in seven-day intervals up until the 49th day after one's death.
Basically, this ceremony is a reenactment of a significant event in the life of Sakyamuni Buddha, which is called the Vulture Peak Assembly. It is here that he first preached ``The Lotus Sutra’’ and gave the teachings to Kasyapa, one of his disciples, who responded with a subtle smile. The main objective of this ceremony is to soothe the souls of the dead and lead them to be reborn in the Pure Land, but sometimes this ceremony is also held to invoke blessings for the security and development of the nation.
The ceremony is performed as follows: in preparation, a scroll painting of the Vulture Peak Assembly with the image of Buddha is hung and an altar is presented in front of it. This is called the ``upper altar’’ where offerings of incense, tea, flowers, fruit, lanterns and rice are prepared. To the left of this altar, a middle altar is prepared where the meal service will be conducted, and to the right, a lower altar is set up where the actual ceremony for the soul of the deceased will be conducted.
After assembling these altars, the large temple bell is rung as a signal to begin the ceremony, and the Buddha, Bodhisattvas, Devas and guardians are beseeched to come down from heaven and participate while those attending call on a parade ground and invite the soul of the deceased. At the same time, a verse of praise for Buddha’s great virtue is sung, and musicians play various musical instruments, such as the Korean fiddle, the drum, the ``janggu” (a smaller Korean drum) and the ``geomungo” (Korean lute). In time with the music, such Buddhist ritual dances such as the ``Bara Chum” (Symbal dance), ``Nabi Chum” (Buttlerfly dance) and ``Beobgo Chum” (Dharma dance) are also performed. All these dances are intended to express the true Dharma (teaching) of Buddha.
After the soul of the deceased is enshrined, the other parts of the ceremony such as the reception, the donation, Dharma talks and the blessing are carried out, and the participants pray for good fortune, happiness and health. Lastly, as a final farewell to the deceased, all the participants form a queue and circle the altar chanting sutras.
In the past, the whole ceremony took three days and nights, but now it is usually finished in a single day. Through this ceremony, the deceased and the participants become one for the purpose of awakening the true Dharma of Buddha and leading the way to free everyone from earthly suffering and delusion.
The origin of the Vulture Peak Ceremony is not clear, but the ``Joseonbulgyo Tongsa” (The Entire Buddhist History of Joseon Kingdom), written by Lee Neung-hwa (1869~1943), provides evidence that it was performed in the first half of the Joseon Kingdom.
This ceremony was designated by the Korean government as a major intangible cultural property (No. 50) in 1987. Since then, the Taego Order (太古宗) of Korean Buddhism has taken the initiative to revive it by establishing the ``Yeongsan-jae Bojon Wiwonhoe’’ (Vulture Peak Ceremony Preservation Association) and by performing the ceremony in Korea as well as over 20 foreign countries.
Bongwon Temple, the main temple of the Taego Order, is now the official preserver and teaching center for this ceremony and conducts annual performances on Korean Memorial Day, June 6. The order also has arranged international seminars with the aim of introducing this ritual to other countries.
In addition, the Jogae Order has established the ``Bulgyo Eosan Jakbeop Hakgyo’’ (Eosan Buddhist Ritual School) with the aim to teach and transmit other Buddhist rituals and ceremonies, including the Vulture Peak Ceremony.
Currently, the Vulture Peak Ceremony Preservation Association consists of 240 instructors. A monk, Kim In-sik (Buddhist name: Guhae), is the primary ceremony expert on Buddhist music, following the ranks of Jigwang, Byeokeung, Songam and Ileung. Assisting him are Ma Myeong-chan, Lee Su-gil, Oh Chan-yeong, Lee Byeong-u, Lee Jo-won and Han Hui-ja, who are all teachers of Buddhist music and dance and the making of ornamental paper flowers used in the ritual.
On Sept. 30, 2009, the Vulture Peak Ceremony and four other Korean cultural assets were listed as ``Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity’’ by UNESCO.
In view of the special status bestowed by UNESCO, the Vulture Peak Ceremony is clearly one of the most valuable heritages in Korea's Buddhist traditions
Yeongsan Jae is one of the most important, traditional Buddhist rituals in Korea. This ceremony is held in hopes of leading both the living and the dead into the joy of enlightenment and perpetual peace.
Yeongsan Jae is one of several kinds of memorial services, which might be performed on the 49th day after one's death, its purpose being to guide the soul of the deceased to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss (Buddhist paradise). Sometimes it is performed in seven-day intervals up until the 49th day after one's death.
Basically, this ceremony is a reenactment of a significant event in the life of Sakyamuni Buddha, which is called the Vulture Peak Assembly. It is here that he first preached ``The Lotus Sutra’’ and gave the teachings to Kasyapa, one of his disciples, who responded with a subtle smile. The main objective of this ceremony is to soothe the souls of the dead and lead them to be reborn in the Pure Land, but sometimes this ceremony is also held to invoke blessings for the security and development of the nation.
The ceremony is performed as follows: in preparation, a scroll painting of the Vulture Peak Assembly with the image of Buddha is hung and an altar is presented in front of it. This is called the ``upper altar’’ where offerings of incense, tea, flowers, fruit, lanterns and rice are prepared. To the left of this altar, a middle altar is prepared where the meal service will be conducted, and to the right, a lower altar is set up where the actual ceremony for the soul of the deceased will be conducted.
After assembling these altars, the large temple bell is rung as a signal to begin the ceremony, and the Buddha, Bodhisattvas, Devas and guardians are beseeched to come down from heaven and participate while those attending call on a parade ground and invite the soul of the deceased. At the same time, a verse of praise for Buddha’s great virtue is sung, and musicians play various musical instruments, such as the Korean fiddle, the drum, the ``janggu” (a smaller Korean drum) and the ``geomungo” (Korean lute). In time with the music, such Buddhist ritual dances such as the ``Bara Chum” (Symbal dance), ``Nabi Chum” (Buttlerfly dance) and ``Beobgo Chum” (Dharma dance) are also performed. All these dances are intended to express the true Dharma (teaching) of Buddha.
After the soul of the deceased is enshrined, the other parts of the ceremony such as the reception, the donation, Dharma talks and the blessing are carried out, and the participants pray for good fortune, happiness and health. Lastly, as a final farewell to the deceased, all the participants form a queue and circle the altar chanting sutras.
In the past, the whole ceremony took three days and nights, but now it is usually finished in a single day. Through this ceremony, the deceased and the participants become one for the purpose of awakening the true Dharma of Buddha and leading the way to free everyone from earthly suffering and delusion.
The origin of the Vulture Peak Ceremony is not clear, but the ``Joseonbulgyo Tongsa” (The Entire Buddhist History of Joseon Kingdom), written by Lee Neung-hwa (1869~1943), provides evidence that it was performed in the first half of the Joseon Kingdom.
This ceremony was designated by the Korean government as a major intangible cultural property (No. 50) in 1987. Since then, the Taego Order (太古宗) of Korean Buddhism has taken the initiative to revive it by establishing the ``Yeongsan-jae Bojon Wiwonhoe’’ (Vulture Peak Ceremony Preservation Association) and by performing the ceremony in Korea as well as over 20 foreign countries.
Bongwon Temple, the main temple of the Taego Order, is now the official preserver and teaching center for this ceremony and conducts annual performances on Korean Memorial Day, June 6. The order also has arranged international seminars with the aim of introducing this ritual to other countries.
In addition, the Jogae Order has established the ``Bulgyo Eosan Jakbeop Hakgyo’’ (Eosan Buddhist Ritual School) with the aim to teach and transmit other Buddhist rituals and ceremonies, including the Vulture Peak Ceremony.
Currently, the Vulture Peak Ceremony Preservation Association consists of 240 instructors. A monk, Kim In-sik (Buddhist name: Guhae), is the primary ceremony expert on Buddhist music, following the ranks of Jigwang, Byeokeung, Songam and Ileung. Assisting him are Ma Myeong-chan, Lee Su-gil, Oh Chan-yeong, Lee Byeong-u, Lee Jo-won and Han Hui-ja, who are all teachers of Buddhist music and dance and the making of ornamental paper flowers used in the ritual.
On Sept. 30, 2009, the Vulture Peak Ceremony and four other Korean cultural assets were listed as ``Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity’’ by UNESCO.
In view of the special status bestowed by UNESCO, the Vulture Peak Ceremony is clearly one of the most valuable heritages in Korea's Buddhist traditions
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Korean Zen Martial Art
Golgul-sa is also famous as the main teaching center for Sonmudo a Zen martial art secretly handed down for over 2,500 years. The name comes from the three words Seon (known in Japanese as "Zen"- the Buddhist method of attaining enlightenment through mdeitation), mu (martial), and do (art or method), and was given to the practice by the Venerable Chok-un, a monk who popularized it at Golgul-sa during the 1970s.
The training method of Sonmudo involves an 8-fold path divided along 4 noble truths into a series of body movements. It is a way to achieve enlightenment by harmonizing the three parts of karma: body, speech, and thought, first by accomplishing samadhi, then ultimately, nirvana. Sonmudo combines yoga, chakra breathing, exercise, martial arts, and weapons practice.
Essence range from "骨 窟 寺" (Golgul Temple), His own stock is the oldest treasures in Buddhist history and the cave was built in Korea. images of four meters high Buddha carved into cliffs Yue Ham Son, this hillside is called twelve meditation caves, created by mystical Indian Century th 9. This is the Zen Center of Budo (Sunmudo) also known as Vajrayana subject (Kumkangmun).
The training method of Sonmudo involves an 8-fold path divided along 4 noble truths into a series of body movements. It is a way to achieve enlightenment by harmonizing the three parts of karma: body, speech, and thought, first by accomplishing samadhi, then ultimately, nirvana. Sonmudo combines yoga, chakra breathing, exercise, martial arts, and weapons practice.
Essence range from "骨 窟 寺" (Golgul Temple), His own stock is the oldest treasures in Buddhist history and the cave was built in Korea. images of four meters high Buddha carved into cliffs Yue Ham Son, this hillside is called twelve meditation caves, created by mystical Indian Century th 9. This is the Zen Center of Budo (Sunmudo) also known as Vajrayana subject (Kumkangmun).
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Korean Templestay
Korean Air and sister company Hanjin Travel are for the first time offering visitors the chance to experience a traditional Korean “Templestay.” The 24-hour overnight visit and two- to three-hour visit to the five most renowned Korean temples allows participants the opportunity to relax, reflect and revitalize themselves in peaceful temple surroundings. Over the course of 24 hours, visitors can experience and understand inner temple life and discover the 4ay-to-day activities of a Korean Buddhist monk. They will take part in a “Dado” -- an ancient ritual tea ceremony that has taken place for thousands of years -- as well as a “Chameson” Zen meditation session.
Guests also will be able to view all aspects of the temple life including the ceremonial chanting service “Yebul,” meditation and tea sessions, and a formal Buddhist monastic meal, “Baru Gongyang,” a silent communal dining experience where not a single grain of rice is wasted. Korean tourists are familiar with Templestays, but these have only recently been made available to groups from around the world. Hanjin Travel will for the first time be taking international visitors into the temples in close cooperation with the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism Cultural Corps of Korea Buddhism.
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