Droplet after droplet of rain tickling the roof tiles, simple yet nutritious bowls of rice and vegetables, working strange muscles, closed eyes, open hearts, the meditative bark of a Moktak, breath, chanting, bowing, and equalizing.
This past weekend we spent two days/one night at Golgulsa Temple about 2 hours from Busan. This temple was tucked back in a gorgeous mountain valley, as most temples are, but is special in the fact that it is known for teaching/practicing a Buddhist martial art called Sunmudo (Sun=zen, mu=martial art, do=way to enlightenment). Buddhist martial art, you ask? Aren't Buddhists supposed to be the peaceful ones of the religions? Yes, they are peaceful. But Sunmudo began as a form of protection when the Japanese invaded Korea during the Silla, Goryeo and Joseon dynasties. During that time, monks were responsible for protecting people spiritually and physically. Currently, there is no sparring during Sunmudo training. Instead it is simply another form of meditation, connecting one's mind, body, and breath through movements. I would compare it to yoga in a way, but with a bit more jumping and kicking.
 |
| A pictorial representation of Sunmudo painted on the main shrine. |
When we arrived to the temple on Saturday afternoon, it had been raining since the middle of the night (and it didn't stop until Sunday afternoon). As a result, most of the afternoon activities had been cancelled. We were encouraged to rest and simply absorb the sounds of the rain. So after a glorious nap, we had a simple dinner of soup, rice, and vegetables. We were forewarned that there should be no food waste, so we must eat everything we take. The food at the temple is not about taste, but simply providing just enough energy for the day.
After our meal, we had an evening chanting service. Four monks stood in the front, facing away from us, and, with their wooden percussion instrument (the Moktak) in hand, led the chants in varying rhythms. The chants were extremely meditative, and I found myself able to relax quite easily. We did a lot of standing and full body bowing during this service. However, the service is not intended to worship or praise anything. Buddhism is very individualistic. No one monk will ever give you any straight answers when it comes to your own beliefs, philosophies, or path to enlightenment. It's about looking inward and finding a connection within yourself.
 |
| A monk demonstrating his Sunmudo skills. |
After the service, we began our Sunmudo class. It was 90 minutes of stretching, squatting, flowing, kicking, and reaching. We used muscles I wasn't sure I even had. Then, lights were out by 10:00pm in preparation for our morning chanting service at 4:00am.
We zombily made the steep, 10 minute climb up to the main temple at 4:20am. This service occurs everyday as part of their daily routine. The chanting and bowing lasted for about 30 minutes. Following the service, there was a 50 minute meditation time. This was certainly the longest I'd ever gone "attempting" to meditate. I say "attempting" because although no monk will ever really tell you how to meditate as it's all personal, I deem visualizing my grocery list, calculating how many times my legs had gone numb in the past 15 hours, and dreaming about french toast as a loose "attempt". Nonetheless, I did find it incredibly relaxing and had moments of wholeness throughout the experience.
 |
| Trying to stay awake at 5:30am for Barugongyang. |
Following the meditation, we performed a very important Buddhist ritual done only on Sunday mornings called Barugongyang. It is a ceremonial meal which focuses on appreciating, meditating on, and being fully present with your food. It was quite the process. It involved using four different bowls (one for rice, one for vegetables, one for soup, and another for clean water), eating out of each bowl and not mixing your food, cleaning the bowls with hot water and a leftover piece of kimchi, and drinking the water with which you clean the bowls. You leave no leftovers, no waste, and do all of this in complete silence. It really was one of my favorite parts of the experience as this is something I need to focus on more in my life.
Finally, we ended our experience with a short nap, tea with a monk, and doing 108 bows. Yes, 108 full body bows meaning standing, knees to the ground, hands to the floor and back up. It took about 40 minutes to do. I have to admit, with my knees I was a bit apprehensive, but it turned out to be one of the highlights of my time there. Each bow has a specific purpose. I included the explanation of each below. I think each purpose is worth meditating on and I really enjoy the various meanings. During this experience, I finally felt as though I could really feel my mind, body, and breath as one. It was quite humbling and a ritual that I may repeat often in my life.
Before bowing, I prepare the proper mindset:
1.
Bowing is one way to purify myself.
2.
Through bowing, I learn how to humble myself and
how to have a healthy body and mind.
3.
I bow to realize that others’ lives
are just as valuable as mine.
4.
I bow to get rid of my selfishness.
5.
I bow because it is the desire of my true self.
6.
I bow for all living things, and for peace in
the universe.
108 Bows
1. I
bow to wonder where I came from and where I am going.
2. I
bow to appreciate my parents for giving birth to me.
3. I
bow to think about who I am.
4. I
bow to find my true self.
5. I
bow to always appreciate my body and spirit.
6. I
bow for the well-being of my body and spirit.
7. I
bow to think about my true desires.
8. I
bow to find myself and to learn how to control myself.
9. I
bow to appreciate the life I live today.
10. I
bow to give thanks for being alive.
11. I
bow to think about how much I love myself.
12. I
bow to be able to always love my family.
13. I
bow to feel happiness and peace of mind through love.
14. I
bow to look for happiness only through love.
15. I
bow to know that unchangeable love is flowing through the universe.
16. I
bow to the teacher who has shown me the right way.
17. I
bow to feel that love originates inside me.
18. I
bow to reflect that my teacher’s lessons are inside me.
19. I
bow to feel that all living things, and the universe, are inside me.
20. I
bow to remember that my ancestors and gods are inside me.
21. I
bow to ask for forgiveness from the people I have hurt, because it hurts the
whole universe.
22. I
bow to take care of myself and not to do bad things.
23. I
bow to rid myself of arrogance.
24. I
bow to rid myself of false humility, even if I am in bad circumstances.
25. I
bow to call attention to the good in others, but not the bad.
26. I
bow to keep others’ secrets.
27. I
bow to rid myself of hatred of others.
28. I
bow to rid myself of anger against others.
29. I
bow to not repeat anything I have not heard.
30. I
bow to not repeat anything I have not seen.
31. I
bow to always be ready, but not to expect things to be easy.
32. I
bow to avoid expecting obedience from others.
33. I
bow to avoid expecting difficulty in my life.
34. I
bow to make the best of each moment in my life.
35. I
bow to live a righteous life.
36. I
bow to repay even the smallest debt of gratitude.
37. I
bow to not put my own needs over the needs of others.
38. I
bow to not be stingy to others.
39. I
bow to not harm others in order to get ahead.
40. I
bow to try not to obtain valuable things with little effort.
41. I
bow to have the power to control my desires.
42. I
bow to reflect that life is more valuable than anything else.
43. I
bow to know that suffering comes from an attached mind.
44. I
bow to avoid making foolish mistakes out of ignorance.
45. I
bow to try to attain deep wisdom.
46. I
bow to learn to be nice to people, even if I have negative feelings toward
them.
47. I
bow to avoid clinging to the strong in order to hurt those who are weaker than
me.
48. I
bow to be honest with myself, and also to avoid flattering others.
49. I
bow to be true and honest with myself above all others.
50. I
bow to know that happiness, unhappiness and desire are all within my mind.
51. I
bow to know that happiness does not come from others, it comes from me.
52. I
bow to realize the value of living a smooth, peaceful life.
53. I
bow to avoid looking back at the past, and to not worry about the future.
54. I
bow to own possessions, but not to be controlled by them.
55. I
bow to know that I can find peace by being patient.
56. I
bow to know that having a repentant mind is the best mind.
57. I
bow to find freedom through wisdom.
58. I
bow to control my mind, not to be controlled by it.
59. I
bow to be diligent in my efforts to improve myself.
60. I
bow to be thankful for the hard times I have had, because they have made me
strong.
61. I
bow to keep my original pure mind, even when time passes.
62. I
bow to pray with a thankful mind for everything.
63. I
bow to be thankful that I can find myself in silence.
64. I
bow to reflect on the value of living a pure, honest life.
65. I
bow for the people who are working in bad conditions.
66. I
bow for the people who are starving, poor and living hard lives.
67. I
bow for the people who work to provide me with healthy food.
68. I
bow to have a generous mind, even if I don’t have enough for myself.
69. I
bow for the precious lives of my children, who I have brought into the world.
70. I
bow for my partner, who became one with me through love.
71. I
bow for all disabled people.
72. I
bow for friends who have been beside me, sharing my laughter and tears.
73. I
bow for moderation, even when I have enough to waste.
74. I
bow for a humble mind.
75. I
bow for humility, so that I can always put others first.
76. I
bow to realize that nature is being destroyed.
77. I
bow to realize that all lives are interconnected.
78. I
bow for all the lives destroyed by the greed of humanity.
79. I
bow for all the ecosystems that are recovering after being hurt by humanity.
80. I
bow to listen to the sounds of life that are all around me.
81. I
bow to realize that my life is the movement of my soul.
82. I
bow to realize that the object of love and longing is life.
83. I
bow to feel my soul being purified when I hear the sound of a clean, clear stream.
84. I
bow to give thanks for being able to hear and enjoy the beautiful songs of
birds.
85. I
bow to be refreshed by the feeling of a cool breeze.
86. I
bow to be thankful as I breathe in fresh air.
87. I
bow to be thankful for the sight of beautiful wildflowers that are always
present.
88. I
bow to give thanks for the mountains and landscapes that speak to me through
wind and snow.
89. I
bow to the Earth, which feeds all living things.
90. I
bow to the sky, which gives life to all living things.
91. I
bow for my own peace.
92. I
bow to hope for peace in everything around me.
93. I
bow for the peace of my neighbor.
94. I
bow for peace within countries that have been separated for no reason.
95. I
bow for peace between countries arguing for political reasons.
96. I
bow for peace and harmony among all religions.
97. I
bow to hope for peace in all dead and living things.
98. I
bow to hope for peace between human beings and nature.
99. I
bow for a mind that is enlightened and peaceful.
100. I
bow for harmony between the poor and the rich.
101.
I bow for harmony between the sick and the
healthy.
102.
I bow for harmony between those who have learned
and those who have not.
103.
I bow for those who have fallen into darkness.
104.
I bow to accept all of the things I have done.
105.
I bow to be thankful for all of the people who
love me and take care of me.
106.
I bow to be thankful for all of the good and
beautiful things in my life.
107.
I bow to be thankful for my life and to reflect
on the lives that are yet to be.
108.
I bow for myself, realizing that my own precious
life is like the universe.
I'm sure we'll be sore tomorrow, I'm sure we'll keep eating meat, ice cream, and coffee, but I do feel as though this experience changed each of us a bit. It revealed new aspects of ourselves, our world, and each other. And this we will keep with us for a very long time.
