Thursday, July 5, 2012

BECOMING ONE

While travelling throughout Europe or Latin America, whether it is in cities or country sides, one will encounter a never ending supply of aesthetic churches and cathedrals.  While meandering through bustling city streets or traversing deserts of Africa and the Middle East one will find a seemingly infinite supply of elaborately beautiful mosques. Central and East Asia are no different in that the major tourist sites consist of dramatic temples, artistically splendid in their nature.                                                                            
Narrow-minded travelers will tell you after you have seen one temple you have seen them all. However a more fervent and vigilant traveler will find each one to be unique and gorgeous in its own entirety. Heinsa is no exception and as one of Korea’s largest temples and is nestled deep in the mountains of Gayasan National Park serving as the home to the Tripitaka Koreana. The best way to truly experience the Buddhist life is by undertaking a temple stay.

The temple stay at Heinsa, although infiltrated by numerous other foreigners looking for the same opportunity, proved to be a real eye opener into a way of life unknown to most. One starts by surrendering your clothing and putting on the clothes of a laymen, similar to a bell boys clothing yet strangely comfortable and pleasing. Then the teachings begin on how to act within the temple, obey the codes of silence, bow correctly, walk diligently and behave as the monks do.



The day ends with the harmonious beating of the drums done with such skill and precision from a first, second and third year monk in rotation.  Followed by this is prayer time in the main temple with the essence of burning candles and the silent serenity of the fast approaching night. A tour around the facility with a kind-hearted and humorous monk truly gave insight into what Buddhism philosophy is rooted in.
The monks of this temple endure a rigorous year of silence and meditation. To truly mediate is to clear ones’ mind of all things past and present and truly live for the moment. To appreciate each breath you take, embrace the sounds of nature that surround you, and to ponder such questions as “Who am I?” To be able to forget about all things past and not think about the future rids yourself from ill though and suffering and allows true enlightenment.
Sleep becomes underappreciated until you wake up at 3am to commence your day with the beating drums whose boisterous sound resonates throughout the surrounding mountains and wakes up the still dreaming wildlife. A silent procession then relocates to the main temple to pray and is followed by prostration. Prostration involves partaking in a grueling 108 submissive bows in order to clear the mind and show respect to all things, primarily oneself. This process is followed directly by mediation in which all thoughts cease to exist in your head as your breathing becomes attuned with your body and the sounds of the encroaching morning.
Upon completion and followed by an early morning mountain hike visiting the quaint life in pristine hermitages, you are left with a better understanding of the universe in which you exist and become one with all things. You become aware of the things within yourself and the things that surround you. One is given a true appreciation for the secret life contained within the confines of the temple walls.