A Templestay Account from South Korea
July 4th 2007 15:33
As our group of fifteen students unloaded the bus at Unmunsa in a light rain, the University of Georgia was far behind us, but when student nuns came rushing out to escort us to our rooms with umbrellas and insisted on carrying our bags, our universal title of student seemed like our only common ground. We came from studies of such subjects as economics, journalism, and the sciences, at a University so large that most of the faces we see everyday are new to us—but at Unmunsa an atmosphere of community and peaceful compassion among the students and teachers pervaded the campus throughout daily work and study. During our time at Unmunsa, we were able to observe or take part in most of the daily activities of the nuns, beginning with the morning ritual at 3:00 a.m. Despite our initial fear of waking up so early, our jet lag allowed us to adjust with relative ease, and we were assisted by the ritual instruments played before every morning and evening ritual. Much harder than waking up was doing the 108 bows that the nuns do every morning as a part of the ritual—while the nuns’ beautiful chanting provided a calming inspiration, ours and the nuns’ patience were both tested by the presence of Korean reporters shooting photographs and videos of the unusual visitors and winding their way through the rows with extension cords.
After the morning ritual, we had time to walk around and witness the pre-dawn serenity of the campus and the misty ring of mountains in which it rests. Later in the morning, we were able to observe several classes, and were struck by the interest and attentiveness of the nuns as they engaged in class. Additionally, we were allowed to tour the libraries, and were very impressed with all of the facilities, including the rooms in which we slept—we especially enjoyed sleeping on the heated floors, which we missed later in the week when we were again staying in a hotel.
While the nuns have ritual proceedings for every meal that they eat, we appreciated their kindness in feeding us extravagant amounts of Korean food in a cafeteria facility for all but one of our meals—and we appreciated it much more after we actually participated in our one ritual meal. After learning the intricate procedure for the ritual meal, we promptly forgot everything and relied entirely on the guidance of each of the nuns sitting next to us as we struggled to set out our bowls, get our food, eat, and wash our bowls correctly.
During our stay, not only did we observe the daily life of Unmunsa, but we also had the priceless opportunity to spend time getting to know the senior students, first as they taught us how to make paper lotus lanterns, and later as we shared with them the joy of frisbee. Perhaps the best experience, though, was our afternoon hike—a chance to chat with the nuns while going on an exhilarating hike to a beautiful mountain hermitage.
Our stay at Unmunsa inevitably impacted our impressions of Buddhism and monastic life, as well as the world in general. We saw the contemplative and peaceful nature of Buddhism unobscured in monastic life—we saw the personal value of study and discipline—and we saw the attitude of oneness and universal compassion that the nuns carried with them everywhere and at all times. We hoped that the nuns were able to benefit from our visit as well, even if only in the amount of amusement we provided in our attempts to say “Hello” and “thank you.” Our only regret leaving Unmunsa was that we couldn’t stay longer—and that we hadn’t helped with any of the chores. The morning of our departure was rainy like the afternoon of our arrival, and again the nuns escorted us with umbrellas, this time to the bus. But we left as different people from those who arrived at Unmunsa two days before—we had arrived as strangers, but we left as friends.
Unmunsa Temple, South Korea
While the nuns have ritual proceedings for every meal that they eat, we appreciated their kindness in feeding us extravagant amounts of Korean food in a cafeteria facility for all but one of our meals—and we appreciated it much more after we actually participated in our one ritual meal. After learning the intricate procedure for the ritual meal, we promptly forgot everything and relied entirely on the guidance of each of the nuns sitting next to us as we struggled to set out our bowls, get our food, eat, and wash our bowls correctly.
During our stay, not only did we observe the daily life of Unmunsa, but we also had the priceless opportunity to spend time getting to know the senior students, first as they taught us how to make paper lotus lanterns, and later as we shared with them the joy of frisbee. Perhaps the best experience, though, was our afternoon hike—a chance to chat with the nuns while going on an exhilarating hike to a beautiful mountain hermitage.
Nuns having fun!
Our stay at Unmunsa inevitably impacted our impressions of Buddhism and monastic life, as well as the world in general. We saw the contemplative and peaceful nature of Buddhism unobscured in monastic life—we saw the personal value of study and discipline—and we saw the attitude of oneness and universal compassion that the nuns carried with them everywhere and at all times. We hoped that the nuns were able to benefit from our visit as well, even if only in the amount of amusement we provided in our attempts to say “Hello” and “thank you.” Our only regret leaving Unmunsa was that we couldn’t stay longer—and that we hadn’t helped with any of the chores. The morning of our departure was rainy like the afternoon of our arrival, and again the nuns escorted us with umbrellas, this time to the bus. But we left as different people from those who arrived at Unmunsa two days before—we had arrived as strangers, but we left as friends.
Buddhist nuns help UGA students make paper lanterns for a celebration
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