If you live in Korea, you have probably heard someone s ay, “ I need to recha rge my batteries.” Not to be taken literally, it's an expression used to explain the need to regain ones energy and strength. We are all too familiar with the hustle and bustle of everyday life in Korea's "ppalli-ppalli" (“quickly!”) world, and it is easy to run ourselves into the ground in one of the wor ld’s fa s tes t- g rowing economies. To get a break from the congestion and rush of the big city, a silent and soothing temple retreat at Musangsa in the city of Gyeryong can be the perfect answer.

* Abundant Wildlife
Mt. Gyeryongsan, where Musangsa is situated, is located in Mt. Gyeryongsan National Park near Daejeon, and is a hotspot for tourism that attracts about one-and-a-half million visitors per year. It is also home to an abundance of wildlife such as deer, hedgehogs, wild boar and striped squirrels, as well as thousand-year-old Buddhist temples.
What makes Musangsa so special is not only its location in the elevated foothills of a bounteous national park, but also the careful placement of the temple on the escarpment.
Located in the claw of Mt. Gyeryongsan, Musangsa embodies the quintessence of gi (氣, often known in the West by its Chinese pronunciation qi), a spiritual energy that is most abundant in this neck of the woods?the main inspiration for the construction of the temple in 2000. The V-shaped mountain complements the temple location, and a strong, airy sense of mysticism can be felt here. Stepping onto the Musangsa grounds, you wi l l f ind yoursel f sur rounded by a lush landscape of greenery that stretches on for miles. You will be transported into a spiritual dimension heightened by the serenity of the landscape. It's a breathtaking view from the second floor of the main temple.

* The Spiritual Journey
At Musangsa, silence is serenity. A 30-hour program will serve as a great start to your spiritual journey. If you are planning on attending for a weekend stay, it is best to arrive at the temple around 3pm on Friday. You will check your things into your room, and then you will be fitted in a traditional grey outfit that will serve as your attire for the retreat. A brief orientation follows, with a list of temple rules that include prohibition of electronic devices and outside reading material, so don't expect to be updating your Facebook status or reading a romance novel during your weekend stay. It is also made clear that you should not speak during or before breakfast. The retreat is a practice of spiritual insight, so anything that might di st ract you f rom thi s journey i s discouraged.
After the evening chanting and meditation practice, participants can retire to their rooms. Bedtime is 9pm because the wake-up call is at 3am. You will slowly rise to begin a routine of bowing, morning chanting and sitting that will prepare you for a delicious breakfast. The meals are of a standard Korean variety?rice, soup, kimchi and mixed vegetables.

* No Picnic
10 minutes before the meditation session starts, the moktak (wooden fish) is hit to tell everybody to get ready, and the sitting period begins when the jukbi (split bamboo clapper) is hit three times. The meditation lasts a few hours and, with your hands in the mudra posture and legs in the half-lotus, this is your time to shine.
For me, the meditation was difficult because of the lengthy sitting period. However, my friend Laura, who is something of a dharma disciple, sat with a pitch-perfect posture and appeared as though she had escaped into an enlightened world of monastic bliss. Some people effortlessly glide through their 108 bows, and others, like myself, crumble under the sheer exhaustion. It's no picnic?like most things worth attaining, achieving spiritual enlightenment takes challenging practice.


<More Info>
T. (042) 841-6084
Website: www.musangsa.org
Weekend retreat costs 25,000 won per night.

<Getting There>
Train: Hourly trains leave Seoul’s Yongsan Station for Gyeryong, with more expensive KTX services also available.
Bus; Take a bus from Seoul’s Nambu Bus Terminal to the Sindo-an bus stop.
Musangsa is 20 minutes away by taxi.
For more details, see the website above.