BUDDHA’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION IN KOREA

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

Yesterday, May 27, was a day of celebration in Korea, on the occasion of Buddha’s birthday, according to lunar calendar. We too enjoyed the event by visiting Jikjisa Temple, which consisted of several small temples scattered in a wooden hill.

It is believed that this temple was established in 418 AD, under the reign of King Nulchi (417-458).

The place was crowded and free lunch was given to everybody. I entered one of the small temples in the area. There were hundreds of small Buddha statues inside. I bowed to the statues three times, to pay homage to Buddha.

We then had a walk in the area and to my surprise I found a labyrinth. I walked on it, as I had done in Canada a few years ago. There, I had learned the magic of this very ancient symbol. It is believed that by walking on it, you purify yourself.

We spent a beautiful, peaceful day in an ancient Korean temple on Buddha’s birthday. Happy birthday, Buddha!

Ettore Grillo, author of these books:

– November 2: The Day of the Dead in Sicily (English edition)

– A Hidden Sicilian History (English edition)

– The Vibrations of Words (English edition)

– Travels of the Mind (English edition)

– Una Storia Siciliana Nascosta (edizione in lingua italiana)

– Viaggi della Mente (edizione in lingua italiana)

http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo

A CARVING CLASS IN YOUNGCHEUN (KOREA)

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

Yesterday, I attended a carving class in Youngcheun, near the city of Daegu, Korea.

It was a completely new experience for me, because I had never used a chisel.

The teacher asked me to choose a theme to carve on wood. I just opted for the word ‘Love’. He then glued a small sheet of paper with the superscript word ‘Love’ on a piece of wood and asked me to chisel the letters. The other students in the class made more difficult carvings. They engraved Chinese characters on rectangular planks.

Carving is like giving life to a new object that spreads special vibrations. A carver is just like a novelist that writes a novel, or a painter that paints a picture, or a musician that creates a piece of music. They give life to something new and original.

Finally, with the help of the teacher, I succeeded in engraving the word ‘Love’ on a small board of ginkgo wood.

I also carved a small heart. After all, love comes from an open heart. They are connected!

Ettore Grillo, author of these books:

– November 2: The Day of the Dead in Sicily (English version)

– A Hidden Sicilian History (English version)

– The Vibrations of Words (English version)

– Travels of the Mind (English version)

– Una Storia Siciliana Nascosta (versione in lingua italiana)

– Viaggi della Mente (versione in lingua italiana)

http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo

A TRIP TO HOMIGOT IN YOUNGILMAN (KOREA)

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

When one travels, it is easy to come across something new and special.

It happened to me when we arrived in Homigot in Youngilman, located at the eastern end of the South Korean peninsula.

First of all, I enjoyed the beautiful view of the large fields full of yellow rape flowers. The yellow waves of flowers were fantastic! The rape is not a common plant in my home-island, Sicily. In Korea, it is mostly used to make oil. The color yellow is a symbol of happiness! People enjoyed the magnificent view and took a stroll through the yellow fields.

Not far from there, we came across two sculptures that had been made twenty-three years ago to celebrate the dawn of the third millennium. They are two open hands. One is in the sea, the other is on dry land. They look at each other. The symbolic meaning is quite clear. Two parts of one body are separated, but they wish to be reunited. This can symbolize the wish for the peaceful reunification of Korea, but it can also be considered as a general symbol of peace. After all, all countries are parts of the same body: the world!

Ettore Grillo, author of these books:

– November 2: The Day of the Dead in Sicily (English version)

– A Hidden Sicilian History (English version)

– The Vibrations of Words (English version)

– Travels of the Mind (English version)

– Una Storia Siciliana Nascosta (versione in lingua italiana)

– Viaggi della Mente (versione in lingua italiana)

http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo

CHERRY BLOSSOMS IN KOREA

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

By the time we arrived in Korea, the cherry blossoms in the city of Daegu had already almost withered. In fact, these beautiful, delicate, and unique blossoms last for three days only.

While walking on the streets, we were showered with white and pink petals falling from the branches of the cherry trees. It seemed to be under a romantic snowfall. This reminded me of the caducity of human beauty and of the Panta Rei of the Greek philosopher, Heraclitus.

Hopefully, next year I will be able to see the Korean cherry trees in full bloom, but they will be different blossoms, and I a different man, for everything changes in life and nothing remains still. You cannot repeat the same experience twice, as you cannot step into the same stream twice.

The only unchangeable thing that never fades is the beauty of the human soul, but to see it you need an extra organ: the third eye!

Ettore Grillo, author of these books:

– November 2: The Day of the Dead in Sicily (English version)

– A Hidden Sicilian History (English version)

– The Vibrations of Words (English version)

– Travels of the Mind (English version)

– Una Storia Siciliana Nascosta (versione in lingua italiana)

– Viaggi della Mente (versione in lingua italiana)

http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo

LUNAR AND SOLAR CALENDARS

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

In the infinite universe, there is no time, no beginning and no end. It is always now.

Since the human mind is limited and cannot go beyond the three-dimensional world, it cannot help but measure time and divide it into years, months, and days. To do this, man has used some kind of calendar since time immemorial.

In the past, the lunar calendar was the most used. It was based on the cycles of the moon. The Romans also had a sort of lunar calendar, but it was not at all accurate. Therefore, in 46 BC, Julius Caesar ordered that the solar calendar be adopted. It divided the year into three hundred and sixty-five days and was called the Julian calendar. Nowadays, the Julian calendar, with the adjustments made by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, is the most used in the world.

However, many countries still use the lunar calendar or celebrate their festivals according to it. This year, in China, Korea, and other countries, New Year’s Day is January 22. In Korea, it is called Seol. It is the most important festival in the country. People return to their hometowns to spend their holidays with their families and relatives. Furthermore, they perform a special ritual for their deceased ancestors.

Happy New Year to all my Korean friends and relatives!

Ettore Grillo, author of these books:

– November 2: The Day of the Dead in Sicily (English edition)

– A Hidden Sicilian History (English edition)

– The Vibrations of Words (English edition)

– Travels of the Mind (English edition)

– Una Storia Siciliana Nascosta (edizione in lingua italiana)

– Viaggi della Mente (edizione in lingua italiana)

http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo

TRADITIONAL KOREAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND GARMENTS

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

Music is born with man. It is a universal language, for everybody can feel and enjoy it, regardless of the country in which one lives.

All countries have their traditional musical instruments. In Greek mythology the lyre was played by Apollo, who drove his chariot playing the lyre. However, the most ancient musical instrument is human voice, for music is the language of the soul.

A few days ago, we went to an exhibition of traditional Korean art. We saw two string instruments: one, called gayaguem has twelve strings, the other, called geomungo has six strings. I think it is difficult to play them.

They also exhibited Hanbok, traditional Korean clothing to be worn on formal and semi-formal occasions.

Clothing is also an art and expression of one’s personality!

Ettore Grillo, author of these books:

– November 2: The Day of the Dead in Sicily (English version)

– A Hidden Sicilian History (English version)

– The Vibrations of Words (English version)

– Travels of the Mind (English version)

– Una Storia Siciliana Nascosta (versione in lingua italiana)

– Viaggi della Mente (versione in lingua italiana)

http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo

A KOREAN LEGEND ABOUT FORBIDDEN LOVE

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

Gyeongju is the old capital of Korea. This city, a World Heritage Site, thrived under Silla dynasty. It is renowned for the Royal Tombs and the remains of old palaces and temples.

We walked in the woods and came across a legendary pond. A friend of us told us a legend connected to it.

She said, “One day, Silla’s King Soji went out of his palace and met a rat that told him to follow a crow. King Soji followed the bird and was led to this pond. Once here, he met an old man that gave him a letter urging him to get back to the royal palace and shoot a case of geomungo (a traditional Korean musical instrument) with an arrow. The king did so and found that a Buddhist monk and a woman of high rank were hiding inside the case. They both had been shot to death. Obviously, they were making love illegally.”

At the time, the illicit lovers were not numerous. If King Soji lived now, he wouldn’t have enough arrows to hit them all!

Ettore Grillo, author of these books:

– November 2: The Day of the Dead in Sicily (English version)

– A Hidden Sicilian History (English version)

– The Vibrations of Words (English version)

– Travels of the Mind (English version)

– Una Storia Siciliana Nascosta (versione in lingua italiana)

– Viaggi della Mente (versione in lingua italiana)

http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo

CHRYSANTHEMUMS IN ITALY AND IN KOREA

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

Yesterday, we went to the chrysanthemum festival in Daegu, Korea. The botanical gardens were swarming with visitors. The flower beds and floral figures were adorned with multicolored chrysanthemums.

In Korea the chrysanthemum is considered a flower to be given in various occasions. The Koreans see it as a flower that conveys happiness and love. If you give a bouquet of chrysanthemums or even a single chrysanthemum to your beloved one, she will be delighted. A Korean friend of mine showed me the pictures of the chrysanthemums that a neighbor had given her from her garden.

If you live in Italy, never do that! In fact, the Italians associate this beautiful flower with death. We use chrysanthemums just to make wreaths for funerals and to deck the tombs and graves in the cemeteries on November 2, the Day of the Dead.

When in Rome do as the Romans do! If you do not know the culture of the country, give roses as a gift. However, the most beautiful flower is the one you keep in your heart. Give that flower, and you will not be wrong, for its fragrance and love will delight everyone you come across!

Ettore Grillo, author of these books:

– November 2: The Day of the Dead in Sicily (English version)

– A Hidden Sicilian History (English version)

– The Vibrations of Words (English version)

– Travels of the Mind (English version)

– Una Storia Siciliana Nascosta (versione in lingua italiana)

– Viaggi della Mente (versione in lingua italiana)

http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo

SYMBOLS IN BUDDHIST TEMPLES AND IN SICILY

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

Along the street that leads to Duryu Park, in Daegu, Korea, a beautiful Buddhist temple shows these symbols: the ‘Swastika’; the ‘Three Buddhas’; the ‘Laughing Buddha’.

The swastika is a very ancient symbol. It can be found all over the world since time immemorial. If you have the chance to come to Sicily, go and visit the Villa Romana del Casale, in Piazza Armerina, dating back to almost two thousand years ago. Looking closely at the mosaics that depict scenes from Greek myths, you will see a swastika. It was considered a symbol of good luck. Hitler made from it the flag of his regime, but he rotated the swastika a bit. Apparently, the rotation of the symbol didn’t bring him good luck.

The ‘Three Buddhas’ symbolize the proper attitude toward evil. You should neither listen, nor speak, nor hear anything that is bad.

Finally, the ‘Laughing Buddha’ means not to be too serious in life and to avoid extremes. To live well, just laugh and be grateful for life. It is a way to get enlightenment!

Ettore Grillo, author of these books:

– November 2: The Day of the Dead in Sicily (English version)

– A Hidden Sicilian History (English version)

– The Vibrations of Words (English version)

– Travels of the Mind (English version)

– Una Storia Siciliana Nascosta (versione in lingua italiana)

– Viaggi della Mente (versione in lingua italiana)

http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo

AUTUMN COLORS IN KOREA

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

For those who love nature and beautiful landscapes, autumn is the best season to visit Korea.

What I enjoy most is climbing Palgong Mountain up to Gatbawi Buddha. On the peak, a Buddha statue stands peacefully. This Buddha wears a traditional Korean hat called ‘Gat’ in Korean, and is well-known for answering believers’ prayers. It is said that a monk made the statue to appease his mother’s soul.

Another place I usually visit in autumn is Haeinsa. There is a seven kilometers trail leading to the temple from the bus stop. In some stretches, the path runs along a stream. As we were walking along it, I took some pictures. However, the photos can not fully describe the romantic atmosphere of the place, the vivid multicolored falling leaves, and the murmur of the water that flows from the mountain and forms little ponds here and there.

Finally, we arrived at Haeinsa after walking for three hours. This temple is a World Heritage Site, for it keeps Printing Woodblocks of the Tripitaka Koreana. Buddha’s sutras were engraved on wood blocks to protect the country from the invasion of Mongolia. And then, they were printed and spread.

While walking to the temple, we enjoyed the beautiful autumn landscape, especially the autumn yellow and red leaves in the trees. There were a lot of fallen leaves on the ground. They are metaphor for human life. Leaves sprout, become green, then they change color, wither, and fall off the branches. Human life is like that. The cycle of life!

Ettore Grillo, author of these books:

– November 2: The Day of the Dead in Sicily (English version)

– A Hidden Sicilian History (English version)

– The Vibrations of Words (English version)

– Travels of the Mind (English version)

– Una Storia Siciliana Nascosta (versione in lingua italiana)

– Viaggi della Mente (versione in lingua italiana)

http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo