Arong, a seven-year-old mixed breed dog, poses in a mini Buddhist robe, held by her owner Lee Bo-young during a temple stay at Mireuk Temple in Jeungpyeong County, North Chungcheong Province, July 5. Korea Times photo by Lee Hae-rin
JEUNGPYEONG COUNTY, North Chungcheong Province – Arong, a seven-year-old mixed breed dog that lives in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, with her owner Lee Bo-young, was dressed in up a Buddhist robe and went into a temple in Jeungpyeong County for the first time in her life, last Friday.
Originally a stray, Arong tends to get anxious around strangers in unknown circumstances. However, the five-hour-long temple stay at the Mireuk Temple Mujindeung Seon Center was a great joy for her. She did not bark or run around as if she had read and responded to the serene mood of the temple.
It was also an unforgettable little break for Bori, a six-year-old dog from Seoul.
Also a former stray, Bori is often scared of unknown places and new people, according to his owner Yim Seung-hye. Nevertheless, he was happy to wear a lotus hat and took a nice nap at the sanctuary while his owner and others learned how to do the meditative 108 bow practice (a Buddhist tradition).
Bori, a six-year-old dog from Seoul, poses in a Buddhist robe wearing a paper lotus flower hat, with his owner Yim Seung-hye during a temple stay at Mireuk Temple in Jeungpyeong County, North Chungcheong Province, July 5. Korea Times photo by Lee Hae-rin
Located in the mountainous village of Jeungpyeong County, North Chungcheong Province, a two-hour drive from Seoul, Mireuk Temple is open to everyone – both humans and animals.
Here, Arong and her six dog friends — Saebom, Xuebi, Toto, Sarang, Haeri and Bori — tried a temple stay for the first time in their lives. They changed into robes designed especially for dogs and wore bead necklaces that had their names engraved on them.
During the five-hour program, the dogs and their owners toured the temple, chatted with the monk, made lotus flowers with paper and took a family photo next to the 300-year-old zelkova tree.
It was also a special outing for Lee, Arong's owner, and the other pet owners.
“It's been over seven years since I couldn't go to temple stay because I started living with my dog Arong,” Lee said. “I enjoy going to temples because it helps me find inner peace, and that's the kind of time I had with Ven. Jeong-gak here today. It's the time I have always dreamed of,” she said.
“It's not you (dog owners) who brought your dogs here today, but your dogs that brought you here. I hope this time today becomes a meaningful turning point in your lives,” said Ven. Jeong-gak, the chief monk at the temple.
Jointly organized by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), Jeongpyong County and Banlife, a tourism start-up, the program allows dogs and their owners to find inner peace together.
Participants and their pet dogs pray at Mireuk Temple during a temple stay in Jeungpyeong County, North Chungcheong Province, July 5. Korea Times photo by Lee Hae-rin
The monthly program is open to everyone living in Korea with pet dogs and already sees high demand. The second edition of the program that took place last month was sold out within 30 seconds of the tickets being released, according to Banlife.
Ven. Jeong-gak accepted the KTO's proposal to launch a temple stay program for dogs and dog owners because the monk herself is a dog owner and understands what it's like to live with a pet in Korea.
Her dog, Seok Hwa-eom, started living at the temple and became her best friend and other disciplinants' companion four years ago. The monk gave the name, which means Buddha's disciple and monk's dog.
“Dogs can read people's minds, which people can't read. In that regard, can we really say we are better than them?” Ven. Jeong-gak said, adding that Hwa-eom understands her better than anybody at the temple.
“All lives are equal and precious. And the temple should be open to not only people but to all living things,” she said.
Ven. Jeong-gak speaks during a tea session with dog owners during a temple stay at Mireuk Temple in Jeungyeong County, North Chungcheong Province. Courtesy of Banlife
Although over a quarter of households in Korea, or 5.52 million out of 21.58 million households, raise pets, Lee and several pet owners believe the country is still far from being friendly to animals.
“It always felt like I was taking an ‘uninvited guest' (Arong) around everywhere I go, but today, it felt like we were invited and welcome for the first time. Arong was happy. It was the first time in seven years,” she said.
During the rest of the program, Arong and her furry friends had tea with the monk, learned how to bow inside a Buddhist temple and burned sheets that had their owners' wishes written on them.
The KTO plans to expand the temple stay program to meet the growing demands of pet tourism and vitalize the local economy.
“Starting with North Chungcheong Province, the KTO plans to expand the temple stay for dogs across the country in the future and boost local tourism,” said Yang Su-bae, director of KTO's Sejong and North Chungcheong Province Office.