What is cool about temple stay is that you get to enjoy the peace and serenity.
Temple stay is an experience that unlocks the mystery of the foreign religion that you are not familiar with.

▲ Sudeoksa.

Temple stay, where one gets to stay in a Buddhist temple in Korea and get acquainted with Korean Buddhism, is a meaningful experience for foreigners. Many of them say, with one voice, that temple stay makes one soak in the serenity of Korean Buddhist temples nestled in beautiful nature.

One of the popular sites for temple stay in Chungnam is the Sudeoksa temple.

The historic temple, located in Yesan County, is known to have been founded by Buddhist monk Ji-myung during the King Wideok period of Baekje (AD554~597) and restored by the Reverend Wonhyo during the Unified Shilla era (AD676~935). Sudeoksa is not just an old temple; it was home to Kyung-heo and Man-gong, the two leaders of modern Korean Buddhism, and traces of zen masters can be found all over the temple.

So far, some 2,300 people have visited Sudeoksa for the night in the temple experience. The number of visitors is increasing every year. The temple offers two options; one is based on a program of activities organized by the temple, and the other is for those seeking relaxation and rest. The programmed type, offered on weekends only, offers various activities including the morning and evening services, the 108 bows, Bal-woo-gong-yang, the table manner of Buddhist monks, meditation under the moonlight and contemplation along the trails of the Deoksungsan mountain.

The relaxation type is offered during weekdays for those wanting to take a break from their daily routine for a restful experience for the body and mind.

One would be lucky to just visit the temple, if not experiencing temple stay.

Daeungjeon (the main hall of a buddhist temple) of Sudeoksa was built in the 34th year of King Chungryeol's reign. The national treasure No. 49 shows the essence of the beauty of wooden architecture of Korea. The meaning of Daeung is the home of the Buddha.

The spirituality of the wooden structure dedicated to the Buddha for some 700 years would impress one like no other building. If you keep walking past the temple, the trail in the pine grove leads to the mountain top which overlooks the ocean. Last but not least, tasty Korean food at the restaurants at the foot of the mountain will make you want to come back. 


You can sign up for temple stay online at
(www.sudeoksa.com/templestay/main.php) or by telephone (+82-41-337-0137).