Temple Manners

Temples are not tourist attractions. They are places where suhnims and lay Buddhists live and practice. Visitors are asked to protect and help sustain temple

lifestyle. When we visit temples, there are a few points of etiquette which should be observed, such as taking care in our actions and mental attiude in the buddha Halls, which are pure places, and considering the way we encounter suhnim and others in the temple.

Manners in the Buddha Hall

In the Buddha Hall you will find statues of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas, and tis is the place where you can hear the Buddha's teachings. People pay homage to the Buddha tere. Every day in the Buddha Hall monks/nuns and lay Buddhist hold services throughout the day. All kinds of ceremonies are held, especially on Sundays there is a Dharma assembly. So when going into the Buddha Hall, visitors need to be calm and silent Please be careful of a few other things:Do net sit in the center of the Buddha Hall, this is reserved for senior monks/nuns. Usually there are three entrances into the hall : please note that the door in the center is for monks/nuns only.

Menners When Meeting Monks and Nuns

 Monks and nuns stay in the temples to learn and pracice the Buddha's teaching, and try to guide people from the world of suffering to the world of enlightenment. So Buddhists revere them. When you encounter monks and nuns in temples you should greet them by folding your hands in front of your chest and bowing from your waist If you want to meet them personally you must get permission first.

Manners of Greeting

▶ hahpjahng

The Buddhist greeting is 'hahpjahng'(puttin you hands together in front of you chest and bowing from your waist). Hahpjahng came originally from India and is used in various ways such as when greeting, in ceremonies, during Dharma assemblies and so on. Hahpjahng shows respect to the other person and at the same time is lowering oneself in spiritual humility.

 A 'deep bow' or prostration shows the ultimate reverence in buddhism. When you perform the deep bow you touch five points of your body to the floor : forehead, two hands, and two kness. This is a practice used to reduce one's self-centeredness and attachment.

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'GUIDE to KOREAN BUDDHIST TEMPLES'

_ International Dharma Instructors Association