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Korean Buddhist temple in O.C. offers overnight program for kids

June 11, 2014
Students during a meal at the Junghyesa's temple stay last year.

Students during a meal at the Junghyesa’s temple stay last year.

A Korean Buddhist temple in Orange County is hosting an overnight “temple stay” event from 1 p.m. on June 21 to noon on June 22.

Temple monks, parents and college students volunteering as teaching assistants are planning to oversee the event at the Junghyesa Korean Buddhist Temple. Elementary, middle and high school students will experience Buddhist fundamentals, meditation, temple etiquette, Taekwondo, music and dancing, Buddhist studies, eating rituals, discussions with monks, Buddhist services and candle rituals.

“Teaching Buddhism every Sunday isn’t enough, so we’ve been doing this temple stay event each year in the summer and in the winter since 2004,” said the temple’s chief monk. “It’s a short time, but they can’t have cellphones or gaming devices because they have to live like the monks inside the temple. I hope this event is an opportunity for many students to experience Buddhist culture.”

In particular, meals during the temple stay program are served in alms bowls, which teach the preciousness of food and sharing, the temple said.

“We explain why it’s important that not a single grain of rice is left in the bowl, as it’s a time to thank the many people who made the meal,” said Hyang Um, the principal of the Junghyesa Buddhist school. “The most important thing is to take the realizations they gain during temple stay and incorporating them into their lives.”

For more information, call 714-995-3650.

2 Comments

  1. Allyson

    August 30, 2014 at 5:14 PM

    Hello I am a mother who s looking maybe into Monastery School for my 7 years old son… I am not pleased with Common Core Education Systems .

    Can you email me back with all the informations

    Reply

  2. Allyson

    August 30, 2014 at 7:09 PM

    Im really want him in the monastery buddhist school

    Reply