Bongeunsa organises special temple stay program for Sri Lankan community in Korea

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Manisha Gunasekera delivering congratulatory remarks at the celebrations. Chief Priest of Bongeunsa The Most Venerable Won Myung is also seen

A special temple stay program was organised by the historic Bongeun Temple in Seoul in collaboration with the Embassy of Sri Lanka on Sunday 24 June with the participation of Sri Lankan clergy, about 80 Sri Lankan employees living in different regions of Korea, as well as Embassy staff and their families. 

On this first ever temple stay program arranged for the Sri Lanka community, Chief Priest of Bongeunsa Ven. Won Myung and the Ambassador of Sri Lanka Manisha Gunasekera delivered congratulatory remarks. The program included an attractive cultural program featuring the traditional tea ceremony of Korea, a musical performance by Bongeun Korean Classical Orchestra as well as traditional Sri Lankan dance and Bakthi Gee performances by members of the Sri Lanka Students’ Association in Korea and the choir of Korea Sri Lanka Maha Vihara Temple in Korea. Counsellor (Employment and Welfare) of the Embassy Jagath Batugedera made a brief presentation on the ‘Diriya Maga’ awareness and counselling program to the Sri Lankan employees present. Korean traditional temple foods as well as Sri Lankan delicacies were served to the participants who had the opportunity to appreciate the unique temple culture of Korea. 

Prior to the event, the Ambassador met with the Chief Priest of Bongeunsa Ven. Won Myung and discussed issues of mutual interest. She also presented two framed photographs of famous Buddhist heritage sites in Sri Lanka to the Chief Priest for display in the Temple premises, with a view to sensitising the Korean public to the many attractions of Sri Lanka.

Bongeunsa is one of the main temples of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism with a history spanning 1200 years.