Practice now before it is too late.
Walking Pilgrimage to Korean Temples
Hendrick Hamel wrote this in 1668 when he was stranded in Corea (Korea):
The Religious Men offer Perfumes before an Idol twice a Day, and on Festivals; all the Religious of a House make a Noise with Drums, Basons and Kettles. The Monasteries and Temples, which the Kingdom swarms with, are for the most part on the Mountains, each under the liberty of some Town. There are Monasteries of 5 or 600 Religious Men, and at least 4,000 of them within the Liberties of some Towns. They are divided into Companies of 10, 20 and sometimes 30, and the eldest Governs, and if any one does not do his Duty, he may cause the others to punish him with 20 or 30 Strokes on the Buttocks. It being lawful for any Man to become a Religious, all the Country of Corea is full of them...
The “Baek-du-dae-gan” [white-head great-ridge] is the theoretical geomantic earth-energy main-stream that runs along a continuous mountain-range ridge-line from Janggun Peak of Mt. Baekdu-san on the northern border of the Korean Peninsula down to Jiri-san near its southern end. The Baekdu-daegan is believed by traditionalists of all sorts (Nationalists, Buddhists, Confucians, Shamanists, Daoists and even many Christians) to continuously feed essential life-energy throughout the land of Korea, and thus into all its agricultural products and spring-waters, and thus into its people. It’s unimpeded clear flow is considered necessary for the birth and raising of heroic and virtuous citizens, and thus for the health, strength and prosperity of the Korean Nation. More: www.san-shin.net
“Once you realize that the road is the goal and that you are always on the road, not to reach a goal, but to enjoy its beauty and wisdom, life ceases to be a task and becomes natural and simple, in itself an ecstasy.”
When I first heard about the ancient pilgrimage path in Spain (The St. James Way) last year, something touched me very deepy and I somehow felt the urge to walk hundreds of kilometres a l o n e. Later, someone gave me a book about the personal experiences of a German comedy star (Harpe Kerkeling) who walked The St. James Way. His personal experiences in finding the "Truth" inspired me.
The thought of taking on a month long journey by foot never left me, instead it became bigger and deeper day by day. Then one day last year, during my stay at a Buddhist temple called Songgwang-sa, I felt the call. The time has come for me to take up the challenge in finding the depth and the meaning of my life, of my existence. An important lesson I am already beginning to learn, the doors has already been opened and it cannot be forced to close anymore. Just by ooking at my new bought backpack, I can feel my inner journey has already begun.... Wondering how in heaven shall I pack 4 weeks of my life into a tiny backpack, first lesson is to seperate my "wants" from my "needs" - in my mind.
My journey will begin in Busan - at the location of the German Red Cross Hospital in 1954. This was where my father has worked for 2 years. I will walk along the East coast up North to Soraksan. My destination will be a temple called "Shinheug-sa" (Temple of God's Creation) which is said to be the oldest Zen temple in Korea.
During the walk, I will try to seek temples along the way to ask for shelter at night. The walk will be in September 2009...
The Religious Men offer Perfumes before an Idol twice a Day, and on Festivals; all the Religious of a House make a Noise with Drums, Basons and Kettles. The Monasteries and Temples, which the Kingdom swarms with, are for the most part on the Mountains, each under the liberty of some Town. There are Monasteries of 5 or 600 Religious Men, and at least 4,000 of them within the Liberties of some Towns. They are divided into Companies of 10, 20 and sometimes 30, and the eldest Governs, and if any one does not do his Duty, he may cause the others to punish him with 20 or 30 Strokes on the Buttocks. It being lawful for any Man to become a Religious, all the Country of Corea is full of them...
The “Baek-du-dae-gan” [white-head great-ridge] is the theoretical geomantic earth-energy main-stream that runs along a continuous mountain-range ridge-line from Janggun Peak of Mt. Baekdu-san on the northern border of the Korean Peninsula down to Jiri-san near its southern end. The Baekdu-daegan is believed by traditionalists of all sorts (Nationalists, Buddhists, Confucians, Shamanists, Daoists and even many Christians) to continuously feed essential life-energy throughout the land of Korea, and thus into all its agricultural products and spring-waters, and thus into its people. It’s unimpeded clear flow is considered necessary for the birth and raising of heroic and virtuous citizens, and thus for the health, strength and prosperity of the Korean Nation. More: www.san-shin.net
“Once you realize that the road is the goal and that you are always on the road, not to reach a goal, but to enjoy its beauty and wisdom, life ceases to be a task and becomes natural and simple, in itself an ecstasy.”
When I first heard about the ancient pilgrimage path in Spain (The St. James Way) last year, something touched me very deepy and I somehow felt the urge to walk hundreds of kilometres a l o n e. Later, someone gave me a book about the personal experiences of a German comedy star (Harpe Kerkeling) who walked The St. James Way. His personal experiences in finding the "Truth" inspired me.
The thought of taking on a month long journey by foot never left me, instead it became bigger and deeper day by day. Then one day last year, during my stay at a Buddhist temple called Songgwang-sa, I felt the call. The time has come for me to take up the challenge in finding the depth and the meaning of my life, of my existence. An important lesson I am already beginning to learn, the doors has already been opened and it cannot be forced to close anymore. Just by ooking at my new bought backpack, I can feel my inner journey has already begun.... Wondering how in heaven shall I pack 4 weeks of my life into a tiny backpack, first lesson is to seperate my "wants" from my "needs" - in my mind.
My journey will begin in Busan - at the location of the German Red Cross Hospital in 1954. This was where my father has worked for 2 years. I will walk along the East coast up North to Soraksan. My destination will be a temple called "Shinheug-sa" (Temple of God's Creation) which is said to be the oldest Zen temple in Korea.
During the walk, I will try to seek temples along the way to ask for shelter at night. The walk will be in September 2009...
Add a Comment
-
Comment by Gerlinde on February 11, 2009 at 3:56am -
About
© 2009 Created by Seoul Dharma Group on Ning. Create Your Own Social Network
You need to be a member of Seoul Dharma Group to add comments!
Join this social network