Love the way the ancient pine tree frames the main temple of Naesosa ( Dae-Ungbojeon ).
What's distinctive about this building is that it was originally built without a single nail.
I love informal temple stays - first of all, most of the temples are usually situated away from the noise and pollution of cities and well-preserved in well-maintained national or provincial parks. I can stay on the temple grounds, partake of healthy vegetarian meals, soak in the peaceful atmosphere of the temple as well as the wider surroundings which are usually pristine pieces of nature without having to follow a regimented schedule of marathon meditation sessions. Of course, I'm obliged to wake up before dawn to pay my respects to Buddha but I don't mind because it forces me to sleep earlier.
Fine example of wooden carvings of lotus and chrysanthemum flowers on the flower Salmun ( doors).There are eight such doors on the front facade of the Dae-ung-bojeon.
Another plus of staying in the temple is that one can admire the craftsmanship of temple architecture at a leisurely pace - something one can't do if one were to join a tour group or visit the temple as a rushed day trip. Moreover, you can admire the beauty of the temple surroundings in its different moods throughout the day - what's it like in the darkness before dawn? How does it look under the mid-day sun? Does it have the same atmosphere at twilight?
Die-hards of course may elect to stay longer to witness the changing of the seasons. In spring, Naesosa may not have that many cherry trees but the ones that I saw were very pretty indeed. Perhaps they were even more attractive because there weren't too many of them on the temple grounds.
If you prefer to visit in autumn, the maple trees on this avenue leading to the temple are a charming sight as well. Winter is another evocative season when the snow-clad temple looks like the perfect setting for inspiring Zen poems.
Another thing I like to check out in the temples in Korea is the water. There's something primeval whenever one sits around a bonfire and there's a similar feeling each time I quench my thirst with the spring waters of each temple. To drink, see and hear the cool waters trickling down the stone basins is a simple soothing pleasure one can never tire of during temple stays.
Was mentally rubbing my hands in glee when I first saw the sizeable pavilion housing the Dharma musical instruments as I thought I had the chance to listen to the monks doing their fabulous thing on the drums. But I was disappointed to find a watered-down version in Naesosa - not the same magical sounds that I'd heard in Baekdam-sa or Gap-sa or even Songgwang-sa. Maybe my timing was off for that night. I've found that different temples seem to have different approaches to the Dharma instruments.
The bronze bell, in Beomjonggakwas made during the Goryeo period. Three images of Buddha, called Samjonsang are engraved on it.
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