Contemplative Residence

명상의 집 · Myeongsang-ui Jip

Make your practice your life.
Make the sanctuary your home.

Some journeys cannot be completed in a weekend. Some transformations require seasons. The contemplative residence program offers what modern life so rarely permits: unhurried time for the soul's deepest work.

As a resident, you'll live within the sanctuary community—sharing meals, participating in daily practice, contributing to the life of the place through work meditation. But you'll also have solitude: your own room, time for personal study, and freedom to walk the mountain paths whenever the spirit calls.

We are not a monastery. We impose no beliefs, demand no vows. We simply offer structure and support for those who need time apart from the ordinary world to discover what they already know.

The Rhythm of Residence

Morning Practice

Each day begins with communal meditation at 6am. The practice is silent, formless—you bring your own tradition or sit in simple awareness.

Work Meditation

Three hours daily of mindful work: gardening, cooking, cleaning, building. Labor becomes practice. Practice becomes service.

Personal Study

Full access to the library, study rooms, and guidance from resident teachers. Follow your questions wherever they lead.

Community Meals

Shared vegetarian meals taken in mindful silence at breakfast and lunch. Dinner is optional and conversational.

Mountain Walking

The trails of Palgongsan are yours to explore. Daily walks are encouraged—the mountain teaches what books cannot.

Weekly Gatherings

Forum events, teacher talks, and community circles. You're part of something larger—a sangha of seekers.

Your Space

Accommodations

Each resident has a private room—simple, beautiful, conducive to stillness. All rooms include a bed, desk, chair, and window. Nothing more, nothing less.

Garden Room

정원방 · Ground floor, garden view

  • 12㎡ private room
  • Direct garden access
  • Shared bathroom
  • Morning sunlight
₩1,800,000 / month

Mountain Room

산방 · Upper floor, mountain view

  • 15㎡ private room
  • Palgongsan vista
  • Private bathroom
  • Small meditation alcove
₩2,400,000 / month

Program Durations

All programs include room, meals, and full access to sanctuary facilities and programs.

3 Months
An introduction to contemplative living. Ideal for sabbaticals, life transitions, or exploring whether extended practice is your path.
₩5,100,000 Garden Room
6 Months
Deep immersion. Time enough for the mind to truly settle and for genuine transformation to take root. Our most popular option.
₩9,600,000 Garden Room
1 Year
The traditional period for serious practice. Four seasons on the mountain, watching the dharma unfold in maple leaves and snow.
₩18,000,000 Garden Room

* Mountain Room rates are approximately 33% higher. Scholarship support available for those with financial need.

Living Together

The Resident Community

You will share the sanctuary with 15-20 fellow residents from around the world. Some are young seekers on gap years; others are elders preparing for life's final chapters. What unites us is the recognition that something is missing in ordinary life—and the courage to seek it.

"I came for three months and stayed for a year. The community became my family—not because we agreed on everything, but because we shared silence. In silence, differences dissolve."

— Resident, 2025

Who Should Apply

I

Genuine Seekers

Those with sincere questions about meaning, purpose, and the nature of mind. No particular belief system required.

II

Self-Sufficient Adults

Capable of basic self-care, community living, and contributing to shared responsibilities. Ages 21-85.

III

Those in Transition

Career changers, recent retirees, those recovering from loss. Times of transition are ideal for deep practice.

IV

Community Contributors

Willing to participate in work meditation and support the sanctuary's mission. We build this place together.

Ready to make the sanctuary your home?