[kijin]

Obviously, not all South Koreans are locking themselves up.

This is just an unusual hotel that helps people get away from everyday life and stop being tied to their smartphones for a while. You could remove all references to South Korea, and the business model still looks interesting. I suspect it could work just as well in Japan, or even in the West as a modern alternative to a monastery.

[h3throw]

Yeah, I think the comparison to a monastery really helps with understanding here.

[Mikeb85]

Why not just go to a monastery? It's just as structured, but with better food, scenery and the meditation/prayer/spirituality element helps when you return to civilisation.

[ryanmercer]

I've done this here in the U.S. before. I'm not Catholic but Saint Meinrad Archabbey is 2-3 hours south of me here in Indiana. I was getting really burnt out from lots of OT and had been talking to someone I know that used to be a Catholic monk, he did some searching and reached out to St. Meinrad and arranged for me to stay there for a few days.

It was great. The monks basically left me alone, I had a small private room with no television or radio, there were common areas where people would quietly talk, I just sat around enjoying calm and quiet. Eventually one of the monks got brave enough to come over and ask me what was up haha which was also great because I had a very interesting conversation with him about life in general and then he suggested I talk to the Friar that was the director of the guest part of the archabbey which I did and had an interesting few hour conversation about ancient Greek, Latin, early Catholic church popes, art. It was great.

I think people really need to experience stuff like this be it the way I did it, the way the article has it or just going to a 'quiet retreat' or some such.

Our lives are over-saturated with things screaming for our attention.

[kijin]

Monasteries are a Western tradition. Some Buddhist temples and Christian organizations offer a similar program in South Korea, but most people who aren't religious don't feel comfortable attending an overtly religious program.

Edit: Most Koreans would think of monasteries as a Western/Christian thing. Culturally, modern South Korea is much closer to the West than to India or even China.

[Mikeb85]

There's definitely a strong historic Buddhist monastic tradition in Korea. The Christianity that has taken hold in Korea is the American/evangelical sort and they don't do monasticism, so it seems strange to me that it would be associated with the West.

Anyhow, when I made the comment, I was thinking of the last line of the parent post "even in the West as a modern alternative to a monastery". To me, an alternative to monasteries seems redundant when you can go to a monastery.

[kijin]

I meant a secular alternative.

A majority (56%) of South Koreans have no religion. Among the remainder, there are more Christians (19% Protestant + 8% Catholic) than Buddhists (15%). Unlike in Japan, Buddhism hasn't been a dominant force in the Korean society for a long time -- not since neo-Confucianism replaced it as the state ideology in the early 15th century.

Some Buddhist ideas and habits remain in the culture, of course, but most people regard them as part of their national tradition, not Buddhist in particular. The younger generations think of Buddhism more as a subject of history books than as something that might be relevant to the 21st century.

So a Buddhist monastery is not exactly the first thing that the average person would think of when they want to get away from the stresses of life in Seoul. Some temples run "temple stay" programs for short-term visitors, and some people seem to like it, but that's about it. It's just another niche. Not every Asian country is deeply Buddhist!

Meanwhile, anything that is vaguely related to America or Europe is grouped as "Western" in Korean parlance ;)

[malloryerik]

You could go to a Buddhist temple but then you have to wake up at 5am and do a routine.

[eeZah7Ux]

> Monasteries are a Western tradition

China and Japan had monastic traditions for more than 2000 years. Also Buddhist monasticism predates christian monasticism by centuries.

[magic_beans]

> Monasteries are a Western tradition

Where on Earth are you getting that idea? Are you forgetting about India?

[thaumasiotes]

If you're Korean, India is Western. They share "Buddhism", though generally not the same sect of Buddhism. They don't share a cultural tradition.

[virtualwhys]

Japan and China (in the past) have had a long monastic tradition. I assume it's the same for Korea.

Monasteries are most definitely not exclusive to the west.

[kijin]

IMO South Korea has been Westernized much more than Japan or China.

Even before South Korea came under U.S. influence, Buddhism in Korea has been weaker than in Japan for a long while because neo-Confucianism took over as the state ideology in the early 15th century. Neo-Confucianism emphasizes going out into the world and contributing to the public good, not withdrawing into a hermitage. Most of the great Buddhist monks that people remember are from before the switch. Buddhism was often actively suppressed, and tolerated at best, for the last 600 years.

[lsc]

That actually sounds pretty interesting to me. Like, could I take a month off and go study Christ at some catholic monastery even though I'm not a believer?

[Mikeb85]

Probably. Although I'm more familiar with Orthodox Christian monasticism, but yeah, depending on the monastery they'll take in visitors and belief isn't required, though a certain level of respect and open-mindedness is. Monasticism also isn't so much about 'studying' as contemplation (it's actually quite similar in some ways to Buddhist meditation). Not every monastery is open to visitors (depending on their facilities and number of monks), but it's worth sending a few calls/emails.

[acheron]

Probably, yeah. Look up monasteries in your area, there's a good chance there will be one with guest accommodations, and I gather you'd have access to their books, able to attend services if you want, etc. Details vary I'm sure. I've never done it myself but thought about it.