The Sanghwan-am Meditation Trail (High Happy Place)
Length: 2 days 1 night
Area: Songni-san National Park, Boeun-gun, Chungcheongnam-do – 2 hours from Seoul.
Theme: Meditative Hiking
Subject: Zen Buddhism and North East Asian Taoism (Seon-do)
Cost: includes accommodation and temple food. Price does not include transportation to and from Songni-san National Park.
Group Costs: 1 person 400USD, 2 persons 500USD.
Gear: Light day packs, no camping.
Hike Korea has access to a secret hermitage high in the beautiful mountains of Songni-san National Park. Songni-san means to be apart from civilisation and I want to take you on a journey that separates you from the stresses of normal life. Songni-san National Park is one of the most beautiful National Parks in South Korea. Located in central Korea on the mighty Baekdu-daegan, it is regarded as one of the sacred mountains of Korea. For thousands of years North East Asian Taoists came to this place to seek immortality, and Sanghwan-am temple and the surrounding area was one of those bases for these ancient Taoist Masters. The mysterious and romantic mountain scape of the area around Sanghwan-am is steeped in high white rocky cliffs and tall red human-like native pine where the gentle wind passes through giving the location a surreal and vivid animation. The location has now been a Buddhist temple for at least 1400 years and the surrounding cliffs are etched with ancient Chinese calligraphy, it really is a magical environment and perfect for meditative retreat or just plain relaxation.
Sanghwan-am temple is a small place with one resident monk. These days it accommodates people whom wish to study for state exams or who seek solace in the form of meditative repair or self enhancement. Hike Korea would like to take those who wish to seek such an experience to Sanghwan-am for meditative relaxation, or just plain relaxation. There are numerous other temples in the surrounding area, including the main temple of Beopju-sa, where we can also attend some morning or evening prayer sessions if wish be. Sanghwan-am is NOT a temple stay program, and those that stay there have complete freedom over how they wish to spend their days. You are not required to wear temple uniforms, and married couples can share the same simple room.
Your stay at Sanghwan-am will also incorporate some simple walking courses around the beautiful wooded trails of Songni-san that pass through small hermitages and arrive at the grand big rocky features of the Baekdu-daegan ridge where you can observe the marvel of mother-nature and the eco-system that the Baekdu-daegan generates for the Korean peninsula. Breathe in the mountain air and transform yourself.
Sanghwan-am can be visited anytime of the year with winter being an extremely serene and beautiful time of the year, with snow that hangs off the edges of cliffs and settles on top of the Korean native pines giving you a sense of complete isolation, just like a Taoist hermit.
Some highlights from visits to Sanghwan-am Hermitage.
