lakeside Cycling

Autumn had gone, and winter is on the doorstep. Before winter comes, planned to cycle around Hapcheon lake 합천호 for the first time last weekend. The Hapcheon Dam is a multipurpose dam constructed on the Hwang 황강 River, 51 km west of Daegu, South Korea. The dam provides hydroelectric power, supplies water, and controls flooding. Construction began in 1984, and the dam was completed in 1988.

Loaded the bicycle into the SUV and drove to Hapcheon for about 50 minutes. Parked the car around Hapcheon public stadium and then got started cycling westwards. It was a perfect day for a bike ride, and you could feel so cool without any sweating. But soon, while the road approaching the lakeside goes uphill, sweating started slowly. The lake loop road covers approximately 52 km. The road follows gentle upward and downward slopes; it is rarely straight but constantly bending.

Among Korean cyclists, this lake loop road is famous for its rolling lakeside hills along with panoramic views. There are no bicycle lanes on the loop road, and cyclists have no choice but to ride in traffic. Cyclists must be careful as usual when cycling close to cars.

cycling on a hot scorching day

Cycling on a scorching hot day brings a whole set of challenges. Most of the time, it is very common to feel extremely fatigued and experience heavy sweating. Plus, excessive sweating could be a sign they're stressed or anxious.

August 16th was one of the hottest days this summer. Cycling alongside the rural country road felt exciting and peaceful as well. However, the strong sunlight and high humidity increased the Discomfort Index, almost too high to bear.

Anyway, decided to cycle around Geumseong myeon 금성면 that has an ancient name of Tam-ri 탑리. A five-storied stone pagoda stands at the center of the town, which is estimated to have been built during the Silla dynasty.

Parked the car at a parking lot near the pagoda, started cycling eastwards, turned left, and continued heading northwards. Sujeong Buddhist Temple 수정사, nestled in the middle of a mountain valley, is at the uphill end.

So tired and had no choice but to get off the bicycle even if the destination was almost in front. Took a short rest, drank some water, and then arrived soon after.

The temple seems to have changed a lot since the last visit here a long time ago. After taking a rest, returned to the turning point and cycled eastwards again. Chunsan  춘산 was the halfway point. It was not possible to cycle any longer due to fatigue and heat exhaustion; besides, the bicycle had also had a few troubles with noises, so decided to turn back without hesitation.

cycling around historic Gyeongju

Drove to Geoncheon 건천 and parked the car near Geoncheon stadium and started cycling eastwards to Gyeongju 경주 along national highway No. 4. From the west side, you usually cross Seocheon bridge 서천교 to get to downtown Gyeongju. Took a detour heading south to Bulguksa temple 불국사. The cycle path leads along the banks of the Seocheon and Namcheon rivers. Took some photos around Weoljeong bridge 월정교 that had been recently restored, and then started south soon. Not far up from there, you can see rice green paddy fields these days. 

The 80 km route covers the roads that run up the mountain pass of Mt. Toham 토함산 via Bulguksa temple and downhill to the point where national highway No. 4 connecting Gyeongju and Gampo 감포 meets the road. On the way back, you can take the old road, partly closed due to a landslide, and cross the scenic pass named Churyeong 추령재. The road runs along the river between the mountains and the edge of Deokdong 덕동 reservoir and finally connects Bomun 보문 resort, and then runs alongside the bank of Bukcheon 북천 and Seocheon river. Crossed Seocheon bridge and returned to the starting point, Geoncheon. 

riverside Cycling

Parked the car around HCW(Hapcheon-Changnyeong 합천-창녕 weir) and started cycling south along the cycling path on or by the bank of the Nakdong 낙동 River. The riverbank has beautiful views of the serene river surrounded by mountains.

History reminds us that this area used to be a ferocious and bloody battlefield during the Korean War(1950–1953). The North Korean communist army had pushed into the west bank of the river from the north with increasing vigor and watched vigilantly for opportunities to cross the river. Then, the US army was deployed to defend the eastern side of the river and finally succeeded in deterring the enemy attack and preventing the enemy army from crossing the river toward the east.

The southbound cyclists will struggle to ride up a steep uphill named Parkjin pass 박진 고개. Some cyclists claim that this could be one of the toughest sections of the entire bicycle path along the Nakdong river. Cyclists can also see various scribbles written in Korean and English along the roadside blocks, which describe their own names, lovers' names, wishes, and occasional foul language as they express themselves during tough climbs.

cycling along Coastline

Loaded a bicycle into an SUV and drove to Yeongdeok 영덕, about 2 hours to start cycling. It has been a long-awaited dream to cycle around this rural coastal area where padyatri was raised for a few years during childhood. 

Cycled northwards from Yeongdeok Stadium and turned right past a village named Dogokri 도곡리 in the north and headed eastwards to Chuksan port 축산항. The route either to the south or north from the port leads you to Yeongdeok's most beautiful coastal areas. Panoramic views along the approximately 30 km-long coastal road are fabulous. Hiking trails along the east coastline were also launched and named Blue Road. This scenic coastal hiking and cycling are well worth doing.

Buddha Nature

There are no subjects or doers concerning Buddha and living things; the only thing that exists is Karma for every living being. All existences are intrinsically empty. Buddha nature is emptiness and self- lessness itself, which is ascertained by dependent origination(pratītyasa- mutpāda in Sanskrit). 

Every living being, without exception, has the Buddha nature. Intrinsically endowed with the true nature, all sentient beings have already been enlightened regardless of their awareness of this truth. 

Not formed by practice, no anguish to vanish,

Not to be gotten dirty by anguish, not to be purified through practice,

No anguish to be removed, no merit to be gained 

Cat & Buddhahood

Every third Korean household keeps at least one pet, if not two or more. The most popular type of housing in South Korea is an apartment. But high-rise living can be a big challenge for most pets because they don't have access to the outdoors and may be confined to limited indoor space.

A Korean cat lover who appears to be a Buddhist posts a comment with an image.

Someone who keeps one cat is considered to have achieved Bodhisattva status; someone else who keeps two cats has already become a Buddha.

soundless sound

One of the most impressive scenes in the 1986 film, The Mission, is when Fr. Gabriel plays the oboe in the jungle. 

Bevani's flute version moves people just as deeply as the original. 

living with Cats

It would have been unimaginable or impractical for someone to live with cats only 1.5 years ago. Last year, however, two new family members joined us. Two stray cats were them.

Came across a kitten standing on the fence of a nearby primary school, crying itself hoarse on Sunday evening in early September 2018. It stood there crying out when I approached him. It didn't look like an ordinary stray kitten that runs away when people go near. Not sure if the mother cat abandoned it. Decided to take him home after careful consideration. 

                          A couple of days and weeks later, after the rescue

Another cat. Actually, found a white stray cat at work three days ago, before taking the kitten home. It made a loud meow when I first called her under a car at the parking lot of the company. She looked very hungry, so I went to a nearby shop to buy cat food and bowls, and then fed her the dry cat food and water. 

Also took her home 3 and a half months later after having fed her at work. Realized later the fact that she was abandoned. The animal doctor said that she had already vaccinated and neutered after checking her health first in the animal hospital. Named them 동이 Dongyi and 지오 Geo, each after rescuing them.

What is it like living with cats? 

A monk once asked Zen Master Joju “Does a dog have Buddha nature?” Joju replied “Mu” which literally means “no.”

Someone just might ask the same question. Does a cat have Buddha nature?

scene with a bicycle

A politician said that life is like riding a bicycle, and you don't fall off unless you plan to stop pedaling. It is natural for him to say that he was a politician. People usually think they should make every effort to attain their goals in life. We have been educated and trained to agree with that way of thought since birth in this world.

Life is just like a flowing river. It goes its own way and happens as it does. Actually, we don't have to try to attain something valuable and worthy that is pictured in your thinking. We have already been fully fulfilled and equipped, which means no efforts are needed to become or attain something. However, a barrier keeps you from tasting this simple truth at this moment: thinking.

Once, Buddha delivered a sermon to his disciples on a hill named Gridhrakuta. Then he picked a flower and held it up silently. Most of the audience were surprised and confused, but one of his disciples smiled. At the moment, Buddha's enlightenment was transmitted to his successor as the transmission of the lamp.

Buddha held up a flower.
One of his disciples smiled.

Buddha holding up a flower about 2,500 years ago and pedaling a bicycle this moment are the same or different?

Boudhanath

In the northeast of Kathmandu, Nepal, the magnificent white stupa, Boudhanath, is located, the largest spherical stupa in Nepal, and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It takes about half an hour by bus from Ratna bus park in central Kathmandu. Boudhanath, briefly Boudha स्तुप, like other great Buddhist stupas, was designed based on the mandala. The overview above shows a huge mandala symbolizing Buddha's enlightenment.

Buddhist monks, tourists, Tibetans, and Nepalese circle the stupa clockwise each morning at sunrise, while spinning Manicha, the prayer wheels, or listening to Buddhist chants being played outside shops. Lots of Tibetan restaurants, stores, and monasteries are centered around it. There is no separation between the sacred and the profane.

Visitors enjoy the peaceful atmosphere, sitting in some of the temples and taking photos. The sound of bells rings through the air. Devotees burn incense around the stupa, and its scent permeates the surrounding area.

Pilgrims sit in meditation and prostrate themselves before the stupa, and every morning, offerings and prayers for the welfare of all sentient beings are performed. Scenes such as dogs lazing around and sleeping idly on the ground, and pigeons flocking to be fed or flying in the sky, also contribute to the peaceful atmosphere.

The earthquake struck Boudha and severely damaged the Boudhanath Stupa, along with much of the country's cultural heritage. The Buddhist community in Nepal did its best to restore the stupa, and it was finally reopened to the public on November 22, 2016. Jaeho stopped by Boudha in October 2017. It had been over 14 years since his previous visit. There were no visible signs of damage caused by the 2015 earthquake. Boudha and the prayer flags hanging from it, and waving in the wind, presented the same fascinating appearance as before.

The above sketches on the right and left were done in 2004.

Namo Buddha

A Tibetan friend in Kathmandu highly recommended visiting Namo Buddha when asked about it. Actually, Jaeho has been there in 2002 and remembers his fantastic round-trip hike that starts at Dhulikhel धुलिखेल. In the morning, Jaeho went to Ratna bus park to take the bus to Dhulikhel located about 30 km southeast of Kathmandu. Dhulikhel is a small town as the administrative center of Kavre district and sits at an altitude of around 1550 meters above sea level. Dhulikhel is also a famous viewpoint, offering tourists a panoramic view of snow-covered Himalayas.

Lots of holy Buddhist pilgrimage sites are scattered across Nepal because Nepal is a birthplace of Buddha. For the Buddhists, Namo Buddha(1750 m), one of the most visited holy places along with Swyambhunath and Boudhanath in Kathmandu, is located south of Dhulikhel. The hiking trail to Namo Buddha starts by climbing the stone steps through the dense forest just in southeastern Dhulikhel and reaching the hilltop of Dhulikhel. And it goes up and down hills to Namo Buddha passing through the hamlets and crossing roads. It is about 2.5 hours hike from Dhulikhel. It had been the first hiking for Jaeho since he arrived in Nepal last October. 

The trail from Dhulikhel gave hikers a peaceful and panoramic view of the Himalayas. They also enjoy the beautiful scenery of hills, forests and typical local villages along the superb trail all the way. It was bright, sunny day but the snow-covered  Himalayas was hidden behind the clouds.

According to a Buddhist legend, Buddha was Prince Mahasattva in his previous life, the youngest son of King Maharatta. It was said that the prince offered his body to a hungry tigress here, which makes this site a holy place. The Stupa at Namo Buddha is believed to have kept the remains of Prince Mahasattva. 

Buddha was said to visit this village after his enlightenment. He made clear that he was the reincarnation of Prince Mahasattva. Buddha renamed this village as Namo Buddha, which literally means 'Homage to Buddha'. 

The Tibetan monastic community around the stupa appears to have grown and prospered significantly over the past 15 years, making Namo Buddha a holy destination for both Buddhists and tourists.   

It was really amazing for Jaeho to be able to find at least one villager and ask them for directions, which immediately helped him avoid getting lost. They were so warm and friendly.

Taemin's Move

Taemin 태민 is one of the finest Kpop dancers and singers. In this song, he reveals his own talent and musical identity so well. His song and choregraphy are flowing smoothly like a river.

[The English lyrics are shown on this site.]

Asan Tole

The traditional market is one of the best places to feel the local, authentic atmosphere everywhere. Surrounded by traditional and modern merchant buildings, Asan Tole असन टोल is located in the medieval marketplace in the central Kathmandu, which is just the most popular square where tourists can get a glimpse of the true daily life of Nepalese people. Asan means "Just There" and Tole is a street or square.

Asan Tole is one of the oldest, busiest markets, crowded with shoppers and sellers from early morning to night every day. It is also a major gathering place for commercial and religious activities. The crossroads for six streets that radiate from Asan Tole, the open-air market, are lined with many shops selling all kinds of household goods, rice, fruits, vegetables, dried fish, cassette tapes, clothing, incense, shoes, and spices, including saffron, cardamom, and many masala spices. 

The three-story Annapurna Temple in the southeast corner of Asan Tole is dedicated to the goddess of abundance or food grains. Annapurna is represented by a big silver jar called Kalash inside the temple for an image of Annapurna. In the north, across the square from this temple, is a two-story temple dedicated to Ganesh, an elephant-headed god.

The earthquake in 2015 unexpectedly struck Asan Tole, causing some old buildings to collapse. The above sketch was done from the east side of the square in 2002. This can be compared to the photo on the right, taken in 2017. The white tent-roofed building right in the middle of the photo was damaged at the time, and only the ground floor now remains.