Although the number of young people raising pets in Korea is increasing, not all places are willing to accept these small animals. That is why the short-term retreat at Mireuk Temple has attracted the attention of many people.
One day in early July, Arong – a 7-year-old mixed-breed dog in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Korea, put on a monk’s robe for the first time and entered Mireuk Temple with his owner.
Originally a stray dog, Arong sometimes tends to become anxious around strangers. However, the 5-hour monastic experience at Mireuk Temple brought Arong great joy. The little dog did not bark or run around, seemingly adapting to the peaceful atmosphere at the temple.
Arong – a 7-year-old dog wearing a monk’s robe, stays with his owner at Mireuk Temple in Jeungpyeong County, North Chungcheong Province, South Korea.
Bori, another 6-year-old dog in Seoul, also enjoyed an unforgettable stay here. Like Arong, Bori used to be a bit of a stray dog and was often afraid of unfamiliar places and people. However, Bori was very happy to wear a lotus hat and sleep soundly in the sacred area. Meanwhile, owner Yim Seung-hye and others practiced traditional Buddhist meditation.
Located in the mountainous village of Jeungpyeong County, North Chungcheong Province, a two-hour drive from Seoul, Mireuk Temple is open to both humans and animals. Here, dogs like Arong and Bori will be dressed in specially designed monk’s robes and have their names engraved on their collars.
During the short 5-hour retreat, the dogs and their owners will tour the temple, chat with monks, make paper lotus flowers and take family photos next to a 300-year-old zelkova tree.
He let Bori wear monk’s robes and a lotus hat on his head when he participated in a short-term retreat with the master.
Lee Bo-young, Arong’s owner, said this was a special trip for her:
“It’s been more than seven years since I started living with Arong. I like going to the temple because it helps me find inner peace, it’s a time I’ve always dreamed of.”
Although more than a quarter of households in South Korea (or 5.52 million out of 21.58 million households) have pets, Lee Bo-young and other pet owners say that not all places are welcoming and friendly to animals. She said that whenever she takes Arong somewhere, she always feels like she is traveling with an “uninvited guest”. But when she joined the retreat at Mireuk Temple, Lee Bo-young was happy that she and her dog were both welcomed there, and of course, Arong was happy too.
The special retreat for owners and pets was organized by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), Jeongpyong County, and Banlife, a tourism startup. The program provides an opportunity for dogs and their owners to find peace and healing for their souls.
After receiving the proposal from KTO, Venerable Jeong-gak accepted and as a pet owner herself, she understood and connected with them. Venerable Jeong-gak’s dog started living at the temple and became her best friend four years ago. The monk named it Seok Hwa-eom – which means “disciple of Buddha” and also “monk’s dog”.
“Every life is equal and precious. And our temple is open not only to people but to all living creatures,” said Venerable Jeong-gak.
Seok Hwa-eom has been friends with Venerable Jeong-gak and the monks at Mireuk Temple for four years.
Currently, the KTO is planning to expand its temple stay program to meet the growing demand for pet tourism while also boosting the local economy.
Yang Su-bae, director of the KTO office in Sejong and North Chungcheong Province, said, “Starting in North Chungcheong Province, the KTO plans to expand the temple stay service for dogs nationwide in the future.”
Nguyen An