Broadening my Perspective...

Today I went into Seoul to attend the Buddhist Lantern Festival. It is a festival kicking off the celebration of Buddha's birthday, which is on May 2nd this year in Korea, and it was really amazing. In Bundang, where I live, there is not an obvious Buddhist presence, but throughout Korea it is quite obviously a huge part of the culture. One aspect of living in Asia that I have really enjoyed is witnessing authentic Buddhist practices in everyday life.
The first time I really observed Buddhist worshippers was over Chuseok - which is the fall Full Moon Harvest Festival, a day which Koreans spend with family and celebrate much in the same way that we celebrate Thanksgiving in America. This year it fell on September 14th. My friends Mariko and Brandon and I went hiking up in the mountains near Seoul and we stopped into one of the buddhist monasteries that are scattered through the mountains throughout Korea, and watched people worship. I truly don't know much of Buddhism, and I am completely ignorant to what the rituals signify, but they are beautiful to watch. Buddhists have a calming sense to them, and as they perform the rituals of their religion, you feel that they do have a very special belief. In China I visited a Tibetan temple, Lama Temple, and it was one of my favorite sites in Beijing. It had a special aura to it which was enhanced by the fact that it was a practicing Temple.
Today's visit to the Lantern Festival a similar feel to it, despite the crowds of foreigners. There were fifty or so booths set up where you could do everything from making your own lantern, to receiving acupuncture treatments. My friend Natalia and I both made fans, and I got a hand acupuncture treatment in which I had burning little discs placed on my palm and fingers. They really did feel like a needle, though it was only the heat from burning soot. Interestingly I could not handle the ones in the middle of my palm. The doctor told me that it was my stomach...hmmm. After finishing our fans, Natalia and I headed to the actual temple - Jogyesa Temple. It was soooo amazing - really beautiful. The entire courtyard was covered by rows and rows of lanterns. We walked around before they were lit, and then again after dark when they were all lit up - they were amazing both ways.
Natalia and I went to a cute little Indian restaurant in Insadong, and then we returned to see the lanterns lit up. We were so lucky to get back right in time for the night parade. It was so beautiful, and so much fun. So far, this has really been one of my favorite events that I have been to in Korea. Pictures to come soon! :)