If anyone's interested in meditation, there is a new Vipassana Meditation Center opening in the mountains outside of the historic city of Gyeongju. The center will begin running 10 day silent meditation courses on a monthly basis, starting this coming December. The first 10 day retreat is schedule for December 20th through 31st and is followed immediately by a second 10 day retreat from December 31st through January 11th.
These 10 day meditation courses are run entirely on a donation basis, each course being paid for by donations of previous students. Participants in the courses learn the techniques of Anapana meditation, which focus on the breath, as well as Vipassana, or "insight" meditation (in the tradition of U. Ba Khin as taught by S.N. Goenka). Although the meditation techniques are based on the teachings of the Buddha in the Pali Suttas, the 10 day courses are entirely non-sectarian and open to anyone of any faith or belief system. Far from being a religious sacrament, Vipassana meditation is taught to promote self awareness leading to purification of one's mind enabling positive self transformation.
The courses will be run in English and Korean. For more information on the course schedule and facilities, or about Vipassana meditation in general, please visit:
http://www.kr.dhamma.org/ and click the icon in the top right for English.
