Have you ever spent a night in a UNESCO World Heritage site? If you desire to 
feel a living history or take a unique getaway from your busy daily lives, here 
is something that you will never forget - Templestay in a "Sansa", meaning a 
Buddhist mountain monastery in Korea. 

For the full multimedia release, click here: 
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8541851-templestay-unesco-world-heritage/ 


A group of seven Sansa located throughout the southern provinces of the Korean 
Peninsula, was added to the UNESCO's World Heritage List in June 2018. They 
include Tongdosa, Buseoksa, Bongjeongsa, Beopjusa, Magoksa, Seonamsa, and 
Daeheungsa. 

These traditional Korean temples surrounded by mountains have been designated 
as the UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to their openness and continuity of 
Korean Buddhism. These mountain monasteries have survived as living places of 
faith and daily religious practice for more than 1,700 years from the fourth 
century when Buddhism was first introduced to Korea. 

Templestay is a good way to learn Korean Buddhism's history, culture and 
tradition. Many Korean temples including UNESCO World Heritage-listed sansa 
offer Templestay programs. Templestay literally means "staying at a temple," 
allowing participants to experience a day of Buddhist monks. Usually, they 
spend an overnight staying, experiencing early morning "Yebul" (Buddhist 
ceremony), "108 bae" (108 prostrations), "Chamseon" (Zen meditation) and 
learning how to make Buddhist prayer beads. 

All meals are vegetarian diet the monks eat, so the vegetarian can participate 
without any pressure. Many participants said, "It was a very peaceful and 
tranquil experience. I was able to learn Korean Buddhism and traditional 
culture. It was time to get to know myself." 

Templestays are being held at a total of 137 temples across the country. Even 
if you cannot speak Korean at all, there is nothing to worry about. 27 temples 
provide Templestay programs in English and have English-speaking interpreters. 

If you are not sure which temple to choose, you may refer to FAQs on the 
Templestay's website. It offers the lists of recommended temples for 
meditation, hiking, Temple foods, and ones with convenient transportation, 
which will help you choose. If you have any more questions, you may send an 
email to the Templestay Information Center (support@templestay.com). If you are 
with the Templestay, you will get answers to any questions.

Templestay Information Center,
support@templestay.com,
+82-2-2031-2000

SOURCE: Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism