108 prostrations at mountain temple take away illness of the mind.
(Published April 4, 2013)

Gyeonggi temple stay programs are held at 12 designated Buddhist temples.

◇ Bupryoonsa Temple ran temple stay program for low income families last year. ⓒ G-News Plus
 
“I hope to remember the relaxation and romance that I enjoyed in this program, and resolutions I made during prostrations, and I want to express our thanks to Gyeonggi Province for offering this opportunity to workers including me.”(an industrial worker participating in Yukjijangsa temple stay program)
 
“I will keep trying and prostrations even after this program!” (a teenager participating in Baekryunsa Temple juvenile program)
 
“I felt something welling up from deep in my heart. I will always cherish the brilliant thoughts I made during this 1-night 2-days program as a fertilizer for myself.” (a soldier participating in Shinneuksa Temple program)
 
‘Temple stay experience programs’ supported by Gyeonggi Province for alienated provincial residents needing cares and cures of their minds will be held at designated Buddhist temples in the province.
 
The province announced on April 4 that it approved and will provide an annual support for 1,200 visitors of the temple stay programs in 12 designated Buddhist temples in the province from April. Gyeonggi residents can participate in the programs of the relevant temples per visitor types for free.

This year, Myojeoksa Temple, Bongsunsa Temple, Sudosa Temple, and Hwaunsa Temple are added for temple stay. Also, beneficiaries are extended to North Korean defectors, vulnerable teenagers, foreigners and patients including the existing recipients such as workers, service families, multi-cultural or low income families, and seniors.
 
These programs also provide various types of experiences. Sudosa Temple, which is famous for Buddhist temple foods, holds the specialized program for cancer and atopic patients. Yongmoonsa Temple, which once held only 1 night-2 days stays, now holds one-day ‘Temple Life’ for seniors, and Yongjusa Temple holds 2 nights 3 days ‘Temple Stay for Filial Piety’ for teenagers. Geumgangjeongsa Temple of Gwangmyeong City plans to serve seniors of the local communities by spending the temple’ finance other than the provincial subsidies.◇ Participants from multicultural families take a commemorative photograph in Yongjusa Temple. (last year) ⓒ G-News Plus
 
Meanwhile, the province held a meeting on March 13 at Bupryoonsa Temple of Yongin City by inviting head priests and hands-on staffs of the designated temples, public officials from cities and counties, and officials of Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism.
 
At the meeting, the province developed a bond of sympathy on various proposals, participation to the provincial regular temple stay programs, and program specialization per temples. In this place, the appointed temples actively participated in the meeting, raising the necessity of extended program.
 
One source from Gyeonggi Provincial Office said, “3 other temples that are not engaged in this time said that they want to participate next year. Daegwangsa Temple of Seongnam City and Cheongryunsa Temple of Yangju City, pre-designated early this year, will participate next year, too.” He added, “As we have sufficient demands and even supply capacity for cares and mind therapy, we will actively discuss with the budget department and the provincial assembly and draw up the adequate supporting measures.”
 
Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province’s temple stay programs have continued to prosper in that it recorded the top share among the municipal governments in terms of temple stay participants in 2012.
 
One source from the province said, “Temple stay is a great cultural asset that contributes to the vitalization of the traditional culture tourism as well as the refreshment by mind therapy.” He also said, “We will further develop the program by proposing the support of national expenditures and cooperating with the relevant cities and counties.”
 
ⓒ G-News Plus News | Lee, Joon-kyun eyekle0723@kg21.net
 
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