Latest news with #Jogyesa
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- General
- Korea Herald
8 artifacts relocated to National Palace Museum in wake of Jogyesa fire
One designated cultural heritage, seven nondesignated artifacts moved in precautionary measure prompted by fire Some eight Buddhist artifacts at the Central Buddhist Museum building next to the temple Jogyesa in central Seoul have been moved to the nearby National Palace Museum of Korea in a precautionary measure prompted after a fire broke out. According to the Korea Heritage Service, eight artifacts requiring urgent relocation were transferred to the National Palace Museum of Korea for assessment and will be temporarily stored at the state museum located inside the main palace Gyeongbokgung. The artifacts include one designated cultural heritage item and seven nondesignated artifacts that were on open display at a special exhibition at the Central Buddhist Museum. The agency added that a decision on relocating the remaining 25 items is to be made later, depending on the situation. The precaution comes after a fire broke out at the international conference hall on the second floor of the Buddhist History and Culture Hall at 10:22 a.m., causing some 300 people to evacuate, according to fire authorities and the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. The fire was extinguished at 11:57 a.m. At the time of the fire, the Central Buddhist Museum was hosting an exhibition titled "Hoseon Euigyeom: The Buddha Revealed at the Tip of the Brush." The special exhibition, which opened April 9, had on display cultural heritage items collected from temples across the country. Thirty-three items were on display, including nine state-designated National Treasures, such as the "Yeongsanhwesangdo" and "Palsando" paintings from Songgwangsa, a Buddhist temple in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, and nine state-designated Treasures, including an 18th-century Buddhist painting from Heungguksa in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province. The pieces were placed inside glass cases, protecting them from physical harm, dust and environmental damage. "We sincerely apologize for causing concern to the Buddhist community and the public due to the sudden fire. We will promptly address the situation and take swift action to ensure public safety," the largest Buddhist sect in Korea said in a statement.
Korea Herald
29-05-2025
- General
- Korea Herald
Seon templestay: Know thyself through meditation
Jogye Order's seon meditation retreats woo young people seeking emotional fortitude Meditation has long been a source of spiritual and mental comfort — when practiced properly. 'How to do just that is a question I've been asked numerous times,' said the Ven. Bogak, the templestay director at Jogyesa, the chief temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, the largest Buddhist sect in Korea. Buddhism is the mother of all meditation, Bogak said. That thinking, long shared within the Jogye Order, has prompted it to roll out a new templestay program focusing on 'seon meditation,' or repeatedly questioning one's inner self and surroundings until the mind reboots. Of the 158 temples offering templestay programs, 13, including Jogyesa in Seoul, currently offer programs featuring seon meditation. Meditation at Jogyesa The two-day meditation program at Jogyesa starts at 2 p.m., with guests changing into the gray robes of Buddhist practitioners and sitting down on the floor for an introduction to Buddhist courtesies like touching the palms together when bowing to monks. Then begins the 108 prostrations ceremony, a Buddhist ritual in which practitioners chant 108 mantras and perform deep bows 108 times. 'You're encouraged to clear your mind while doing it,' said Cha Kyung-suk, a volunteer at Jogyesa who demonstrates deep bowing. Cha acknowledges that the ritual is physically challenging, requiring over 20 minutes to complete. Following the prostrations, the participants — averaging between 10 and 15 per session — prepare to lie on their backs with eyes closed to await instructions from Bogak, the Jogyesa templestay director. The nun starts playing resonant instruments like singing bowls and chimes. The tones and vibrations are meant to wash away emotional burdens and soothe the mind, she said. Immersion in sound, often called a 'sound bath,' is a quick way to declutter the mind and it enables templestay participants to initiate their own introspection, she explained. The seon meditation session includes a regular Buddhist service that takes place at 6 p.m. every day. The service, held at Jogyesa's main hall, Daeungjeon, involves chanting mantras and bowing before the seated Sakyamuni Buddha flanked by two bodhisattvas, one representing wisdom and the other spiritual practice. Dinner at the temple — made without meat, fish, dairy, garlic, spring onion, chives and leeks to avoid stimulating the libido — wraps up the first day. Participants have to go to bed by 9 p.m. Buddhist routines The second day starts at 4 a.m., as the sound of monks beating on 'moktak,' a handheld wooden percussion instrument, wakes up participants. They are led to 'Beomjongnu,' a pavilion where monks play, in turn, four Buddhist instruments to 'save souls.' Beating a leather drum called 'beopgo' is believed to save the souls of four-legged creatures, while a fish-shaped wooden drum called 'mogeo' is said to do the same for underwater creatures. 'Unpan,' a cloud-shaped bronze plate, is linked to liberating anything flying from suffering. 'Beomjong,' a Buddhist bell, overpowers all because it 'saves all the souls.' A morning Buddhist service follows, in which participants chant mantras and bow before the Buddha and bodhisattvas. Bogak leads an early morning stroll around the Jogyesa compound, occupied by no one but the templestay participants. The walk is done in silence. The 7 a.m. breakfast essentially concludes the two-day Jogyesa stay. Participants have to check out by 10 a.m. after cleaning up their rooms and leaving a review of their time at the temple. First-timers, many of whom joined out of curiosity, expressed general satisfaction with the program. Kim Ye-ji, 25, said she was drawn to the program by online postings about it. 'The reason I chose Jogyesa was that this main temple had the best reviews,' said Kim, an office worker from Gyeonggi Province. But Kim wasn't entirely without regrets, noting she had hoped for more direct engagement with the chief monk overseeing the program. 'Meditation by definition should be done alone, but beginners have more questions than answers. They want a personal touch that leads to something they can take home,' Kim added. Seon templestay is offered at many temples throughout the country, including Naksansa in Gangwon Province; Magoksa in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province; Baegyangsa in South Jeolla Province; and Tongdosa in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province.
