Dec 07
Every year around this time we make our own Doen Jang (fermented Soybean paste) and Kimchi (spicy fermented cabbage). We source all our ingredients locally and invest our food with the energy of our own hands. These traditional Korean superfoods are very nutritious. Here’s a few of our pictures — see our Facebook page for more!!
Nov 24
Hye Yeon Sunim
Hye Yeon Sunim (혜연 스님), a female monk living in a small temple called Jaunsa (자운사), owns and operates a restaurant just a few kilometers away from the large and infamous Bulguksa (불국사) temple.
The restaurant is called Hyang Jeok Won (향적원), and it specializes in offering special full-course meals of delicately balanced plates using traditional temple food and wholesome, locally grown produce.
Much care is put into each meal, as each course boasts a thoughtful combination of vegetables, wild herbs, and soy-bean based meat substitutes. This isn’t your average Korean meal.
In a recent conversation, Hye Youn Sunim explained that, for example, vegetables of different colors correspond to the health of different internal organ functions. So she has taken much delight in creating plates that offer complimentary color schemes. She also pays great attention to basic macronutrient content- fresh vegetables and plant-sourced protein is the base of the meal, with smaller amounts of fermented side dishes and whole-grains rounding out a complete nutritional package.
Colorful, healthful, satisfying appetizers.
The dishes are beautiful to look at, and a pleasure to eat. They are prepared mindfully, with great devotion and passion.
If any of our templestay participants are interested in experiencing a foodie’s delight, the restaurant will offer a 10% discount off of the price of food and drink. The restaurant is open from 10:30am to 8:00pm, and is easily accessible by Gyeongju city buses 1 and 11. It is easy to travel to the restaurant from both Golgulsa and downtown Gyeongju.
For more details, you can call the restaurant directly at 054)775-0014.
If you require more information in English, please contact us here at Golgulsa at d-kumkang@hotmail.com.
For more pictures, see our facebook page: www.facebook.com/sunmudotemplestay.golgulsa
Eat well, and nourish the body!
_()_
Fermented Rice Wine
Fermented Soy Bean Stew and side dishes.
Nov 22
We will hold a special templestay program for New Year’s Day 2014. You can see off 2013 and welcome in the year at Golgulsa. We invite everyone to experience our special Templestay program which includes Sunmudo training, meditation, and a beach excursion to watch the first sunrise of 2014.
Come join us Tuesday 31st December 2013!
Fee : 50,000 won a person / per night.
What to Bring : alarm, toiletries, towel, comfortable warm clothes and shoes.
Reservations can be made by email or phone.
Email: d-kumkang@hotmail.com
Tel: 054-775-1689 (English service available between 2 and 5pm, daily).
NEW YEARS PROGRAM
Tuesday 31st December
2 – 5pm Check-in
5.20pm Dinner
6.00pm Sunmudo Video
6.30pm Orientation
7.00pm Evening Chanting
7.30pm Sunmudo Training
9.00pm (Optional) 1080 bows for New Year
10.00pm (Optional) Prayer at Main Shrine
Bedtime
Wednesday 1st January
4.00am Wake up
4.30am Morning Chanting
5.00am Sitting Meditation
5.40am Breakfast (dduk gook – traditional rice cake soup)
6.00am Trip to Kampo Beach
7.00am Prayer for the New Year Sunrise
11.00am Sunmudo Demonstration
11.50am Lunch
1pm Check-out
Nov 21
Camp programming includes:
- daily chanting, meditation, and Sunmudo training
- horse riding
- Nanta (traditional korean drumming and percussion)
- korean-style archery
- traditional tea ceremony
- art and/or calligraphy
- mountain hiking
- visiting nearby historical attractions
This year we will offer camp over a five-week period:
- Sunday, December 22nd ~ Saturday, December 28th
- Sunday, December 29th ~ Saturday, January 4th
- Sunday, January 5th ~ Saturday, January 11th
- Sunday, January 12th ~ Saturday, January 18th
- Sunday, January 19th ~ Saturday, January 25th.
* Students can join for any or all of the five weeks.
*Both Korean and non-Native students are invited to attend. There is plenty of English-language support offered throughout all of our camp programming, and there will be several native English speaking camp staff present.
If you would like to attend, please contact us via email at d-kumkang@hotmail.com regarding prices and registration. We hope to hear from you soon!
Nov 20
Recently during tea time, the grandmaster was asked about meditation.
“How do I meditate? How should I direct my mind? What can I do to still my thoughts?”
The Grandmaster talking about Meditation.
These questions are natural when someone is practicing sitting meditation for the first time, or when someone is starting a meditation practice.
The grandmaster gave very simple and direct advice regarding Anapanasati meditation.
“Ana” refers to inhalation; “pana” refers to exhalation; and “sati” means focus. Anapanasati meditation is the original method of meditation as taught by the Buddha 2500 years ago. It is a core practice of Buddhism and mindfulness, and it is likewise a core practice of Sunmudo.
So, how can we focus on our breathing?
This is deceptively difficult. The brain, as a thinking organ, is very good at fulfilling its function. It commands and regulates the muscular and hormonal functions of the body; and also, it thinks. It thinks almost incessantly. Our days are filled with thoughts, ranging from simple daily concerns to deeper considerations of the meaning of life. We are forming and engaging with thoughts constantly.
So when we sit, these thoughts will not magically and effortlessly cease to flow. On the contrary, the brain is hard-wired to think, and we perpetuate our thinking habit during almost all of our waking hours. So when we sit down to meditate, it takes discipline, perseverance, and patience to create a mental space that is quiet and still.
Which leads us to the question: practically speaking, how does one cultivate internal stillness?
Cultivating a meditation practice leads to greater mental stillness.
The Grandmaster teaches us to use counting as a way to keep focused on our breathing. As you inhale, count 1 through 5, and when you exhale, count 6 through 10. Continue in this way for thirty minutes.
After you become adept at this practice, and can keep continuous focus on your counting, you can try to count each inhalation and exhalation together, such that when you inhale, you say to yourself “breathing in, 1″ and then when you exhale, you say “breathing out,1″. Count this way until 10. At 10, return back to 1, and repeat the cycle.
Thoughts will arise, and you may lose count. Some days, you may lose count more than others. Be kind to yourself. Meditate gently. Once you realize you have lost count, simply say to yourself “Now, I’m thinking.” Simply let your thoughts go, and then start your count again at 1.
The Grandmaster says that it takes about one month of focused meditation practice to create a strong foundation for Anapanasati meditation. He recommends beginners to sit for up to 30 minutes in the morning, preferably upon waking, and then again 30 minutes at night before sleeping. After a month, practitioners will find they can focus more comfortably upon their breathing, with fewer distractions.
At that point, you are ready to really follow and work with the teachings of the Anapanasati Sutta. Here is an online pdf translation of the sutta, and there are also several other versions available freely on the internet.
Happy breathing!
_()_
Nov 15
We are in the midst of a beautiful autumn season here in Golgulsa. Koreans call Autumn a ‘second spring’, on account of the vibrancy and beauty of the trees this time of year. It is a time to warm the body from within, by eating nourishing food and using Sunmudo to create heat within our joints and muscles. Our dining hall is serving plenty of seasonal root vegetables and we are taking our training outside into the autumn air as much as possible. The weather is cooling off but we still enjoy sun-filled mornings and afternoons.
Mountain Hiking on Mount Hamwolsan
Getting ripe persimmons for a delicious natural snack.
Picnic with the Grandmaster.
Autumn walk with the grandmaster to local historical village.
Practicing ‘shim-im-beop’ (body-mind-breathing harmonization) on the beach.
Practicing Jang-jireu-gi (basic zen/seon martial arts motion) along the east sea.
Meditation to the ocean.
Our temple family, templestay participants, and temple visitors are all taking in deep breaths of delicious autumn air and drinking in the colors all around us. We are inspired by the change of the seasons and the beauty of nature. Even if you live in the city, we hope you take time daily to reflect upon the peace and energy present within the nature that surrounds us: a tree in a park, or on a street corner. A leaf floating in the air. The soft sound of a rain shower, or the feel of the wind on your face. Breathe deeply; life is beautiful.
In peace,
_()_
Nov 15
Our Traditional Martial Arts Festival was a success. The weather was great, and all groups gave dynamic and impressive performances. Here’s a preview of some of the photos:
For more photos, please see our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sunmudotemplestay.golgulsa.
Our next festival will be held on October 26th, 2014. In 2014 we will be celebrating the 30th anniversary (!!) of the Sunmudo Federation. It will be a big festival. It’s never too early to consider a trip here next year at that time!
In peace~
Palms Together _()_
Oct 09
Golgulsa Welcomes you to our annual Martial Arts Festival October 27th from 1-5pm.
Enjoy watching various Martial Arts performances displaying this rich cultural heritage of Korea. Performers from the Martial Arts disciplines of Sunmudo, 24 Banmuye, Taekkyon, Gicheon, Muuidangang, Hapgiseon, Yoenggamudo, Pungryuseondo, HoijeonMusul and Hanmudo can bee seen during Part 1.
Part 2 will show cultural performances of HakChum, Hwang Hyeon-jeong (folk music), Choi Gyeing-mi (dance) snd Sunmudo Performance Team – Devas Guardians.
Greetings from the Grandmaster.
Under the smiling gaze of our 1,500-year-old Amitha-Buddha, Golgulsa welcomes you to the 11th Annual Traditional Martial Arts and Temple Culture Festival.
Our traditional martial arts are born of our own unique history and culture. The essence of our inner strength is reflected in the beauty and power of our traditional martial arts. And yet, as in all countries in the modern world, our traditional cultural arts are quietly disappearing.
Fifteen years ago, the esteemed Grandmasters of ten different traditional martial arts came together to form the Federation of Traditional Korean Martial Arts. We take pride in preserving the ways of our traditional martial arts, and are pleased to present some of our richest cultural treasures.
I hope that all people find inspiration in the expression of our deep cultural heritage.
In peace,
Sunmudo Grandmaster
Seol Jeog Un
http://www.sunmudo.com/
Sep 06
At Golgulsa we are now offering our Special Chuseok Templestay 2013 Program. We welcome anyone to come and join us here to experience the special additions to the program with performances of Sunmudo and Seon Mudra Dance. Participate in group moonlight meditation beside Hamwol mountain. We will also pick pine needles from the forest together and then make –and eat – Songpyeon – traditional Korean rice cake. You will be able to take part in the Memorial Service for Ancestors and have fun with traditional Korean folk games! 
We would love to welcome you here for a night or for the entire holiday. You can reserve via our website registration form or by emailing us at d-kumkang@hotmail.com.
Dates: Any number of nights between 18th September – 22nd September (check-in 1pm to 5pm)
Cost: 50,000 won per person/ per night
Bring: Toiletries, towel, loose fitting comfortable clothes and shoes
Aug 20
Did you ever wonder what you could learn about yourself if you had the opportunity for self-reflection and a cleaner, simpler lifestyle?
Here at Golgulsa volunteers get to experience living and working inside a unique temple with an active program and dynamic community. As volunteers we participate in daily chanting services, meditation sessions and Sunmudo training in the morning and evening.
We are currently seeking a new member to join our volunteer team.
If you are interested please send a current resume and photo to d-kumkang@hotmail.com
We look forward to hearing from you