A Day of Healing at Suseonsa Temple: Discovering Tranquility in the Foothills of Jirisan Mountain

Hello, I'm Soybean. Sometimes, we all need a day to simply walk quietly, observe, and breathe. I was gifted such a day at Suseonsa Temple in Sancheong, nestled deep in the foothills of Jirisan Mountain. I highly recommend Suseonsa to anyone looking for a healing getaway near Jirisan. I'd like to share information about the temple, along with its beautiful scenery.
Table of Contents
1. What is Suseonsa Temple?
(+ Address, Operating Hours, Admission Fee, Parking, etc.)
2. Tile Donation Experience
3. Introduction to Key Locations
What is Suseonsa Temple?
Sancheong Suseonsa Temple is
known as 'the temple with the most beautiful garden'.
It was founded in 1993 by Venerable Yeogyeong
and has been carefully cultivated for over 30 years.
In particular, the garden with its pond is breathtaking.
Walking through the garden and along the trails,
you'll naturally feel healed.
Suseonsa Temple
Address
102-23, Ungseokbong-ro 154beon-gil, Sancheong-eup, Sancheong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
Operating Hours
Daily 09:00 - 18:00
Admission Fee
Free
Parking
Dedicated parking lot (free parking)
If you are driving, it is a 10-minute drive from Sancheong IC.
If using public transportation, take a taxi from Sancheong-eup Terminal.
The fare will be approximately 5,000 won.
Suseonsa Temple houses the 'Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra',
which is designated as a tangible cultural heritage of Gyeongsangnam-do.
Temples can sometimes feel solemn and even rigid.
However, Suseonsa Temple didn't feel that way at all.
It felt more like visiting a garden in the forest.

Most of all, my child loved it.
Holding my child's hand, we slowly walked across the wooden bridge spanning the pond.
The shadows of the trees were reflected on the calm water,
and lotus leaves and flowers bloomed below the bridge.
It felt like walking on a painting.
My child enjoyed walking across this wooden bridge
so much that they went back and forth
several times.
'Sijeol Inyeon' is a phrase I really love,
and I saw it all over Suseonsa Temple.
Sijeol Inyeon (時節因緣)
For everything to be accomplished,
the right time and connection must align.
These days, I'm realizing that
meeting someone or
something happening
is all because the timing and conditions
were right.
I often think about the preciousness
of the present moment and connections.
So, I was happy to see this phrase here :)

Tile Donation Experience (Writing Wishes on Tiles)
Walking through the temple grounds,
I noticed tiles quietly placed here and there.
Each one seemed to contain someone's heartfelt wishes.
Most of them wrote about their family's health and peace.
Anyone can participate in the tile experience.
You can write on a tile with the provided white pen
after putting a donation of around 10,000 won
into the donation box.

Introduction to Key Locations
Geungnakbojeon (Hall of Supreme Bliss)
This building is Geungnakbojeon.
Geungnakbojeon is the main hall of Suseonsa Temple,
where Amitabha Buddha is enshrined.
Inside, the 'Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra', a tangible cultural heritage of Gyeongsangnam-do,
is housed.
The serene energy beneath the beautiful Dancheong (traditional Korean painting style) design
calmed me down.
My child found the sounds coming from the Dharma hall fascinating
and held their hand to their ear,
wanting to hear better. It was so adorable :)

This building, made of traditional Korean architecture,
seemed to be either lodging for those staying at Suseonsa Temple or
a space for practice.
The symmetrical building at the end of the neatly laid stepping stones
gave a sense of stability.
I felt like staying here would
help me organize my thoughts.
In the center of the well-maintained garden
was a stone pagoda.
A circular walking path was created around the stone pagoda,
making it a great place to walk while enjoying the temple scenery.

As I walked, I came across a stone for making wishes.
Next to it was a donation box.
What wish did my child make
while playing with the stone for a while?
There was also a circular stone spring,
and there were coins inside.
Perhaps they were coins thrown in with heartfelt wishes.
I could feel a different kind of beauty from the garden with the pond below.

The building visible on the left side of the photo is
a temple stay building and a cafe.
The cafe's name is 'Coffee and Flower Seat'.
I heard the interior is modern,
so I should visit soon :)

Isn't this mailbox so cute?
A mailbox made of a Korean pot!
It was so cute that I couldn't just pass it by!

I noticed a local food wholesale store on the way out.
You can buy simple souvenirs :)

Every moment of walking with my child's small hand at Suseonsa Temple
remained in my heart.
Thinking that being here with my child at this moment
is also a precious and appreciated
Sijeol Inyeon,
made all the time at Suseonsa Temple
even more valuable.

If you want to take a break from your busy life,
I hope you'll take some time to rest
at Sancheong Suseonsa Temple.















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