Gwangju International Center

    When silent, we grasp the opportunity of a moment. Removed from the normal surroundings of Gwangju and the crowds of nationals and foreigners walking around, we gain the time to look within ourselves to later look outward. We catch the chance to appreciate what we have become and who we have been blessed by, and we look forward to the continuing adventure that lies ahead. But, in this moment, we are here, relishing the silence and lingering within it for as long as possible.

That was one of many lessons I learned at 4:45 a.m. on Sunday morning at the Hyangiram Temple in Yeosu, South Korea while participating in the final GIC Tour with Warren for 2012. The weekend was an incredible experience, and I was pleased with what I saw and learned!

Before beginning our Temple Stay, our group ventured into Seonso to catch sight of the turtle boat shipyard, consumed warm and tasty Sesame Noodles, and walked around Jinnamgwan shopping, window-shaping, taking pictures, and enjoying our time in the company of friends. Then, we climbed uphill by road and by foot from urban settings to a secluded location for our Temple Stay. The seclusion was a refreshing break from the typical living arrangement in South Korean metropolitan cities: being busy. So getting away from everything was naturally the start of thinking in fresh and creative ways for me.

My second favorite part of this two-day excursion was our group’s conversations with a female Buddhist nun. The Question and Answer Forum allowed us to receive perspective and insight into the life of a devout follower of the Buddha. Any question was sincerely welcomed and then would be conveniently translated, so we plunged fearless into this opportunity by asking quite personal, but thought-provoking questions. Equally, our generous host answered with well-constructed responses by sharing her heart and soul about why she became a Buddhist.

Through translation, our group learned that something within her was leading her to pursue self-education as her initial calling into Buddhism. As a follower, she further explained that she is “moving up steps into [her] next life.” Even if she messes up, she repents quickly (with no regret for her errors) and “continues to pray that the Buddha would be with [her] like he is with [her] in this life. Other questions that were asked were why 108 bows are significant, how she stays in shape with the bowing, how she helps others both inside and outside of the temple, and even how she has been confronted, but valiantly defended, her religious beliefs. This talk-back session showed us a glimpse into the woman who led us in two separate Buddhist practices. And for this time to talk and listen with her, I am grateful for what I gained from a Buddhist’s perspective.

Then, my favorite part of this experience was the dawn of light penetrating through the darkness of night after 7:30 a.m. on Sunday morning. As much as I enjoyed the time alone reading, singing, and just being in pitch darkness in the temple, the warmth of the sun from an elevated bird’s eye view was appreciated and definitely brought forth a new awakening in me. On a cliff overlooking Yeosu’s cliffs and seashore, another surreal moment came to life, as I became both grateful for the blessings of new friendships and for the simple treasure of witnessing the sun rise. The red, pink, orange, purple, and eventually yellow shades sure gave me plenty of camera opportunities, and those colors reminded me of how all colors come together to form one picture, just like every person in our group came together as one family. Our group members may have been acquaintances or even strangers among us walking into this experience, but we definitely returned to Gwangju as friends, having experienced the same beauty that this experience offered.

As 2012 concludes its final chapter in December and 2013 is on the brink of making history, I was encouraged to take some time to just escape from all-things ordinary in order to be challenged and encouraged by what I saw and felt. I am truly grateful to the GIC for hosting this Yeosu trip, and I look forward to participating in more trips.

    Silence is something that we have to search for before experiencing it, and during my time in Yeosu, what I found within the stillness was renewal and importance as I have since returned and continue to live in Gwangju City, in South Korea, and anywhere else I go.

Written by_ Joseph Nunez