The History of Wookblocks of Korean Buddhist Canon

We were privileged to learn from Professor Robert Buswell of University of California Los Angeles who gave us many lectures on Buddhism in Korea. His lectures lasted two weeks. This video clip captures Professor Buswell's explanation of the history of making the woodblock prints of Korean Buddhist Canon. The Tripitaka Koreana made of woodblocks is a national treasure in Korea and an amazing achievement of the past. The Unesco World Heritage temple Haeinsa holds 81,340 woodblocks today. It took 16 yeas to complete the woodblocks.

Experiencing Religion, Culture and Society in Korea: A Spa Journey 2008

This is the DVD produced for the undergraduate module SR3028 Religion, Culture and Society in Korea organized by Dr. Mahinda Deegalle. It is a reedited version to place in the web. For the first time, a team of Bath Spa students went to Korea in June 2008 for one month to initiate the international exchange between Bath Spa University and Dongguk University. This programme has been funded twice now by the British Council and as a result, it has become an important part of international education programme in the School of Humanities and Cultural Industries as well as Bath Spa University. Now every year we welcome several Korean students from Dongguk University to our programmes at Bath Spa. We are also now in the process of producing another DVD this year on the basis of our journey to Korea in July 2009.

Food with Flavour and Aesthetics

In Korea, food has flavour as well as aesthetics. The national staple Kimchi was a main part of diet as it is today. A side dish of spiced Kimchi was found in all three meals. To sustain life in long winters a variety of vegetables traditionally were preserved in jars like this.

Deegalle on Bath Spa 'Study of Religions and Ethics" and International Programme

Dr. Deegalle describes his research activities and the "Study of Religions and Ethics" degree programme at Bath Spa University with new developments of expanding international cooperation to Korea with a student exchange with Dongguk University, South Korea funded by the British Council.

Experiences Remembered!

Yesterday I visited Korean Cultural Centre in Trafalgar Square in London. Suddenly I remembered my favourite food and sites that I was familiar with when I visited Seoul a few weeks early. Perhaps, our students too have memories to cherish! Many dishes to taste! Many photos to take!!

Temple Stay at Yongjusa

The Bath Spa team spent one-night temple stay at Yongjusa temple in Kyunggi on 14-15 July 2009. This was an special occasion since Angharad had a special cake for her birthday. The activities included the participation in the tea ceremony, making lotus lanterns, making a rosary, a meditation session with yogic exercise and a tour in the temple which included printing Buddhist scriptures. Keel University students joined Bath Spa team.

International Conference on Buddhist Meditation

On 13th July 2009, Dr. Deegalle participated in the International Conference on "Buddhist Meditation in Theory and Practice" hosted by BK21 Buddhist Studies in a Global Age of Dongguk University. Dr. Deegalle was the discussent for the paper on "The Theory and Practice of Meditation" deliverded by Professor Johannes Bronkhorst (University of Lausanne). Professor Robert Buswell (UCLA) presented a paper on "Kanhwa Son" meditation and the speakers were introduced by Professor Yong-pyo Kim of Dongguk University, Director of Brain Korea 21.

European Buddhism TV Documentary

The Buddhist Telivision Network in Seoul invited Dr. Deegalle to appear in their TV documentary on European Buddhism that is under production now. The interview was held on Friday 10 July at the studio in Seoul. The TV crew plans to travel in Europe for one month from the middle of July. The documentary is produced by Mr. Burn-Soo Kim.

Trying out warrior dress

As a part of summer school excursion, Professor Bronkhorst, Lucy and Helena did not forget to try out what it means to be a warrior even for a moment in a hot day!

The Office of International Programs and Education at Dongguk University hosted a special feast for the visiting scholars today at Sky Garden Italien Restaurant. The present were (from left to right): Professor Il-Chung Kim (Host and Dean, Office of International Programs and Education, Dongguk University), Professor Johannes Bronkhorst (University of Lausanne, Switzerland), Professor Sangbeom Koo (Dongguk University), Professor Jae Soh (Seoul Institute of the Arts), Mr. Sang Yoo Kim (Dongguk University), Dr. Mahinda Deegalle (Bath Spa University), Dr. Ian Simm (Director, British Council in Korea), Ms. Seungeun Chang (Assistant Director, British Council in Korea), and Dr. Nick Bently (Keel University).

Meeting a Famous Korean Film Director

One week almost has passed. We have been busy. We have done a lot of things within this week. We had a rare opportunity on 3rd July 2009. Korean film director, Mr. Lee Myung-se came to give us a lecture on his work and I was able to present the last year's DVD. He is considering producing a film on Buddhism in future.

Second Team of Bath Spa Students in Seoul

The day rainy season began (29 June 2009), in the early morning when we arrived in Seoul Incheon International Airport by Air France from Paris. Perhaps, one could say we brought the rain, thunderstorm or whatelse from Europe!! The photograph shows the student team having coffee at London Heathrow Airport before departure to Paris on 28th June.

Today is a heated day (from British standards and not by any means from East Asian regularities). Though now when I write this to the Blog, cool breeze comes through the temple window of a ground floor room in Jeong Hye Sa temple of Venerable Dr. Chongdok Sunim who has kindly agreed to support me by providing temple accommodation. I already got the beauty (or 'worth' in capitalist terms!) of staying in a temple when I had a communal meal in a circular table with four monks. This is also a modern temple built in 1998 in Ilsan area of Seoul. Hope to bring a lot of news on this temple very soon again perhaps with pictures (though sadly I decided deliberately to give some rest to my Canon Powershot G7 which is inevitably essential for this Blog posting).

The students who came with me are now with host families (perhaps in sleep now recovering from long jet ride via Paris); Though not sure 100%, perhaps, their first day in life, with long lasting memories, living for a month in a non-British Asian family. Rather than putting forwarding my ideosyncratic predictions, let us wait what they come up it in the coming weeks. To all those who supported us this year, thanks and greetings from Seoul from one without a 'soul.'

The 2009 Team is Ready to Go to Korea

We are now ready to leave for Korea. This year's team consists of Dr. Deegalle, Lucy, Gina, Angharad, Caroline and Helena. It is a mixed group. Some are experienced travelers, others are novices to the trade. However, all are keen to learn and experience Korea. They are looking forward to engage in creative activities while carrying out fieldwork observations in Seoul. Students have already received orientation sessions and technical training in the Broadcasting Lab of the University and have been reading materials to familiarise themselves with Korea. We had close contacts with Korean students who have been visiting us for the past year from Dongguk University. They are happy and expecting to return to Korea soon. Our team is looking forward to seeing their home instition in Seoul and religious observations of modern Korea. We will keep you posted our progress.