Temple

Tor and I stayed two days this last week at a Buddhist temple about 4 hours from the center of Seoul. It was in the mountains of rural Korea, beautiful, and relatively isolated. Most of my thoughts and impressions are too personal to post here, but I thought I'd post the schedule of our activities. I would also like to note that without the help of Byung-Joon the trip would not have been possible or nearly as enjoyable as it was.

The monk, a friend of Song Jaeyoon (a former TF) and his family, is named Hwalsung Su-nim, (Su means monk (et. Skt. Sanga to Sung, Chinese), and nim is the general Korean honorific). It was a privilege to spend time with him. (He is abbreviated as HS below).

11/10 (Arrive in the evening)
17:00 Arrive
17:15 Brief grounds tour
17:30 Brief talk with HS
18:50 Dinner
18:30 Service
19:15 Tea with HS
21:15 Try to sleep
22:30 Sleep

11/11
03:50 Wake
04:00 Service
05:00 Yoga (led by Chungya Su-nim, a young nun who just returned from two years in India)
06:30 Meditate
07:00 Break fast
08:30 Nap (hey, I got up early)
09:30 Wake
10:00 Shower
11:00 Service
11:50 Lunch (HS eats only one meal, lunch, each day)
13:30 Talk with HS about world issues, mtg. of East and West, etc.
14:45 Rest
15:30 Hike with Tor, Byung-Joon, HS, and others
18:00 Dinner
18:30 Service
19:15 Tea. HS Discusses the Buddhist symbolism in the Matrix trilogy, among other things
21:15 Chungya Su-nim shows me some yoga positions for my back and shoulders
22:00 Read
23:00 Sleep

11/12
04:00 Service
05:00 Sleep
07:00 Breakfast
08:00 Stretch (privately)
08:50 Depart