Practice now before it is too late.
Reflections after a Pilgrimage.... across Korea
First of all, I would like to say that I am glad I have gone this pilgrimage. Although at times, it was tough on my body condition but I learned not to give up and made my way to Soraksan mountains finally. As I have heard and read of many times before: A pilgrimage can change you - whether this is true for me, time will tell.
Meanwhile, I tend to have a different view on some things; other things turn out to have a different meaning than before the pilgrimage. I am somewhat overwhelmed by the feelings at the moment which are indescribable. Although South Korea is only a small part compared to other countries on earth, yet it is still unique and incomparable. It has so much to offer, so much to give. Streams of tourists fill the cities with new impulse and life everyday although life itself for its citizens remained unchanged. It's people are one of the most warm-hearted, generous, friendly and helpful species I have ever encountered.
An indescribable feeling of happiness overcame me as I reached the destination of my path. It was contentment and inner peace that I felt, which made me wanted to cry when I think of the many many footprints that has been there before me – such as my beloved Daddy. When he passed away suddenly 22 years ago, it was the end of the world for me. For three years, I have been holding a picture of him taken in front of a Korean temple. Asking whoever crossed my path where this could be.... It has taken me three years to find the temple my Daddy visited some time between 1954 and 1966 during his stay in South Korea. Thanks to a line of coincidence and happenings that I finally was able to track the temple in the picture to be Sin-heung-sa temple in Soraksan mountains. Thanks to one of the scenes in 23rd episode of the TV drama Hwang Jini, where the image of "my daddy's" temple appear. Immeditately, my guts turned upside down while I made my whole family go crazy at once. This led me to come in contact with the KBS production company. Thanks for the help of a friend at the Korean Buddhist Television Network who finally managed to confirm the temple of this scene. A special thanks here to my family Baja, my children Walter & Waldemar, my friends Bo Kwan Sunim, Emi, Hyon Gak Sunim, Producer Kim, Sookyeon and many many more who has helped me throughout the years, and encouraged me not to give up when everyone else thought I was crazy.
During the first few days of this pilgrimage, the feeling of wanting to relax and take everything easy were strong. The enjoyment of life over good food and to talk about life's philosophy with encounters seem to be put in the front row. But as every day passes, and the longer I was on my journey in solitude, I had the feeling of being “left behind”, a feeling towards the end. Perhaps even comparable with the ending of a life – each one of us on our individual journey of life, and sooner or later, we will reach the destination which we have achieved what could have been achieved, which we have done what could have been done – no matter how.
More and more I missed the friends, the teachers, the co-workers in my surroundings and especially the family members whom I have shared many different episodes of my life with – all of them were suddenly not within reach any longer! It was comparable with the acquaintances made on the journey – people whom I talked, ate and laughed with and in the end parted; and each one of us went on our own way. Each encounter was unique and individual and can never be replaced or repeated – ever. Just as the Buddha's teaching that everything in life is impermanent. Everything - no matter good or bad - will come to an end.
No matter how nice the current environment, scenarios or conditions were, it always had to come to an end, and it was always a time to go.... to leave.... where to? To another life or another city or town or to the end of the world? Where is really the end of this world? Does the end of the world means the end of our lives? When a door opens in which we might find a bridge to cross over to uncertainty, perhaps this embodies a new beginning?
But one thing was certain, each one of us will walk our own journey, choosing our own paths. In the end, we walked for ourselves and as we look back today and reflect, we will realize how lucky we have been along the journey of life, until we finally reach our destination. For the people who came into our lives and for those who had to leave, we should be grateful for each and every one of them. Yet we must not neglect the present. Human beings like you and me tend to be too busy living in the past and in the future. As for me, I vow to start to appreciate what I have at the present moment.
Whether our experiences turn out to be sweet, sour or bitter – a lesson is always hidden behind it.
A short summery of my route:
1.Seoul → Busan:
- Haeunjeong-sa temple → German Red Cross Memorial Site → Beomeo-sa temple
2.Busan → Yangsan:
- Poepmyeong-am hermitage → Tongdo-sa temple → Naewon-sa nunnery
3.Yangsan → Cheongdo:
- Unmun-sa nunnery & college → Munsu-seon-won nunnery → Sari-am hermitage/nunnery
4.Cheongdo → Gyeongju:
- Chilbul-am hermitage/nunnery
5.Gyeongju → Uljin:
- Bulryeong-sa nunnery & college
6.Uljin → Gangneung → Yangyang:
- Naksan beach → Naksan-sa temple
7.Yangyang → Soraksan:
- Sinheung-sa temple → Anyang-am hermitage/nunnery
8.Soraksan → Odaesan:
- Seongwon-sa temple
9.Odaesan → Seoul → Yesan:
- Sudeok-sa temple
10.Yesan → Suwon:
- Bongryeong-sa nunnery & college
11.Suwon → Seoul
- Daewonjeong-sa Tea Meditation Center
Meanwhile, I tend to have a different view on some things; other things turn out to have a different meaning than before the pilgrimage. I am somewhat overwhelmed by the feelings at the moment which are indescribable. Although South Korea is only a small part compared to other countries on earth, yet it is still unique and incomparable. It has so much to offer, so much to give. Streams of tourists fill the cities with new impulse and life everyday although life itself for its citizens remained unchanged. It's people are one of the most warm-hearted, generous, friendly and helpful species I have ever encountered.
An indescribable feeling of happiness overcame me as I reached the destination of my path. It was contentment and inner peace that I felt, which made me wanted to cry when I think of the many many footprints that has been there before me – such as my beloved Daddy. When he passed away suddenly 22 years ago, it was the end of the world for me. For three years, I have been holding a picture of him taken in front of a Korean temple. Asking whoever crossed my path where this could be.... It has taken me three years to find the temple my Daddy visited some time between 1954 and 1966 during his stay in South Korea. Thanks to a line of coincidence and happenings that I finally was able to track the temple in the picture to be Sin-heung-sa temple in Soraksan mountains. Thanks to one of the scenes in 23rd episode of the TV drama Hwang Jini, where the image of "my daddy's" temple appear. Immeditately, my guts turned upside down while I made my whole family go crazy at once. This led me to come in contact with the KBS production company. Thanks for the help of a friend at the Korean Buddhist Television Network who finally managed to confirm the temple of this scene. A special thanks here to my family Baja, my children Walter & Waldemar, my friends Bo Kwan Sunim, Emi, Hyon Gak Sunim, Producer Kim, Sookyeon and many many more who has helped me throughout the years, and encouraged me not to give up when everyone else thought I was crazy.
During the first few days of this pilgrimage, the feeling of wanting to relax and take everything easy were strong. The enjoyment of life over good food and to talk about life's philosophy with encounters seem to be put in the front row. But as every day passes, and the longer I was on my journey in solitude, I had the feeling of being “left behind”, a feeling towards the end. Perhaps even comparable with the ending of a life – each one of us on our individual journey of life, and sooner or later, we will reach the destination which we have achieved what could have been achieved, which we have done what could have been done – no matter how.
More and more I missed the friends, the teachers, the co-workers in my surroundings and especially the family members whom I have shared many different episodes of my life with – all of them were suddenly not within reach any longer! It was comparable with the acquaintances made on the journey – people whom I talked, ate and laughed with and in the end parted; and each one of us went on our own way. Each encounter was unique and individual and can never be replaced or repeated – ever. Just as the Buddha's teaching that everything in life is impermanent. Everything - no matter good or bad - will come to an end.
No matter how nice the current environment, scenarios or conditions were, it always had to come to an end, and it was always a time to go.... to leave.... where to? To another life or another city or town or to the end of the world? Where is really the end of this world? Does the end of the world means the end of our lives? When a door opens in which we might find a bridge to cross over to uncertainty, perhaps this embodies a new beginning?
But one thing was certain, each one of us will walk our own journey, choosing our own paths. In the end, we walked for ourselves and as we look back today and reflect, we will realize how lucky we have been along the journey of life, until we finally reach our destination. For the people who came into our lives and for those who had to leave, we should be grateful for each and every one of them. Yet we must not neglect the present. Human beings like you and me tend to be too busy living in the past and in the future. As for me, I vow to start to appreciate what I have at the present moment.
Whether our experiences turn out to be sweet, sour or bitter – a lesson is always hidden behind it.
A short summery of my route:
1.Seoul → Busan:
- Haeunjeong-sa temple → German Red Cross Memorial Site → Beomeo-sa temple
2.Busan → Yangsan:
- Poepmyeong-am hermitage → Tongdo-sa temple → Naewon-sa nunnery
3.Yangsan → Cheongdo:
- Unmun-sa nunnery & college → Munsu-seon-won nunnery → Sari-am hermitage/nunnery
4.Cheongdo → Gyeongju:
- Chilbul-am hermitage/nunnery
5.Gyeongju → Uljin:
- Bulryeong-sa nunnery & college
6.Uljin → Gangneung → Yangyang:
- Naksan beach → Naksan-sa temple
7.Yangyang → Soraksan:
- Sinheung-sa temple → Anyang-am hermitage/nunnery
8.Soraksan → Odaesan:
- Seongwon-sa temple
9.Odaesan → Seoul → Yesan:
- Sudeok-sa temple
10.Yesan → Suwon:
- Bongryeong-sa nunnery & college
11.Suwon → Seoul
- Daewonjeong-sa Tea Meditation Center
Add a Comment
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Comment by Kimball Amram on November 20, 2009 at 5:43am - Hi Gerlinde. I liked all the photos of the pilgramage. It was nice to see some familar faces as well such as Ye Jin Su Nim and Jo Bul Su Nim who I have sat kyol che with. Good luck on the calligraphy workshop as it sounds like you have a real treasure in Byong Oh SN
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Comment by Gerlinde on October 14, 2009 at 3:00am - Thank you my friend:-)
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Comment by Kumar on October 13, 2009 at 6:50pm - Very interesting account ... congratulations on completing the pilgrimage!
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