travel | photography | observations
There’s something interesting that occasionally happens where I’ll somehow hear about a temple and soon after happen to find my way there without really planning to. This was the case with Daeseungsa, a few weeks ago, as my friends are I were having a playful chat about best or strangest temple names. I mentioned the... Continue Reading →
I’ve “borrowed” this list directly from Professor David A Mason, but it’s one that we’ve discussed and debated several times. Opinions begin to vary and become subjective once you extend the list, as there are dozens of temple that are equally deserving of even a few more spots on the list. These seven are definitively... Continue Reading →
There are over twenty-thousand temples in Korea. About nine hundred to eleven hundred of those are considered traditional temples, meaning they were established prior to the Twentieth Century. Then, there is a list of 108 important Buddhist monasteries compiled by Master Seonmok Hyeja Seunim. Not all of them are well known, but if you’re planning... Continue Reading →
A few years ago, a friend posted a photo of a small hermitage, explaining that it was were Seung Sahn Daesa was staying when he had his enlightenment experience. I was in Canada when the post was made but knew if I returned to Korea that I’d like to search it out. Once I got... Continue Reading →
Around the South and West coasts of Korea, there are a few islands that are famous for becoming accessible at low tide, as land bridges form when the tide recedes. Ganwoldo, Seosan’s contribution to these phenomena, may be less dramatic than others that I’ve visited but is special for the hermitage, Ganwolam, that takes up... Continue Reading →
Rock-carved Buddha Triad in Yonghyeon-ri서산 용현리 마애여래삼존상瑞山 龍賢里 磨崖如來三尊像National Treasure The fun thing about moving to Seosan was that it was one of the few areas in Korea that I hadn’t explored. I’d been to Boryeong, an hour to the south, Suwon, an hour to the north, and Daejeon, an hour to the east, so... Continue Reading →
It's almost time to start packing for the long trip back to Korea. I'm always glad to be going back to Korea, even though I'm always glad to have a break from it when the time comes to leave. It feels like home now just as much as anywhere else. When I left Korea, I'd just started... Continue Reading →
I listened to Hyun Hyun Gak Sunim speak once at Hwa Gye Sa a week before Buddha's Birthday celebrations in Seoul. Towards the end of the talk, an old man asked what "true experience" was. Hyun Gak Sunim raised his cup of coffee to his lips, took a long and noisy sip, then replied, "This coffee... Continue Reading →
In university, I took an introductory philosophy class with Dr. Nick Webb. It was one of the few classes outside of my studio classes that I really enjoyed, and probably influenced my way of thinking better than any other class I'd taken. One class, he briefly brought up the topic of common sense and asked... Continue Reading →
On Sunday, we finally took the opportunity to visit Sandima, the Burmese monk I'd met a few weeks ago, at his temple in a country town just east of Seoul. We traveled along the express way looping the city for about 30 minutes, then after a couple quick turn-offs, got dropped off in a small... Continue Reading →
The northern edge of Old Seoul is watched over by BukHanSan; the North Korea Mountains. Seoul is only 55km from North Korea, so I presumed the name referred to the North, but its actual significance is that the mountains dwell north of the Han River, the largest river in Korea. This river also cuts through Seoul, dividing Old Seoul from its recent developments. I’ve yet to... Continue Reading →
In Korea tomorrow, April 8th on the Lunar Calendar, it is Buddha's "O-shin-nal", the day Buddha came. It's hard to say when, exactly, the Buddha did arrive, but there might as well be a day to celebrate! The Buddhist Calendar will enter the year 2553, but this number could be off by as... Continue Reading →
Somewhere in Dhamma 