wood scripture

This last weekend we went to 1 of the 3 most famous Korean temples -Haeinsa.  Here they hold over 18 thousand of Buddhism scriptures carved into wood tablets called Tripitaka Koreana.  They are over 1000 years old and it took them 16 years to make them during the 13th century.  The tablets are housed in 4 naturally ventilated buildings -from the 13th century.  We also got to see a museum of how they made them and purchased a print of one of the tablets from the original wood block.  They are allowing people to come see the place were they are held but then it will be closed again until another 100 years. It was definitely one of the coolest historical places we have been.  They wouldn't let us take any pictures of the building or blocks but we did get a lot of shots of the grounds.  The leaves are starting to turn colors too, which are also great for taking photos. 

Here is the flickr site <---  and if you click on the links above it will take you to Wikipedia to learn more about the tablets and temple.

Andrew also has a few photos from inside the buildings and the wood blocks from the internet on his blog ---> Andrew's post.

Kang also found the English translation of the paper print we purchased.  I'm not sure where he found it so I can't site it:

The Heart of Prajna Paramita Sutra

When Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara was practicing the profound Prajna Paramita, he illuminated the Five Skandhas and saw that they are all empty, and he crossed beyond all suffering and difficulty.

Shariputra, form does not differ from emptiness; emptiness does not differ from form. Form itself is emptiness; emptiness itself is form. So too are feeling, cognition, formation, and consciousness.

Shariputra, all Dharmas are empty of characteristics. They are not produced, not destroyed, not defiled, not pure; and they neither increase nor diminish. Therefore, in emptiness there is no form, feeling, cognition, formation, or consciousness; no eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, or mind; no sights, sounds, smells, tastes, objects of touch, or Dharmas; no field of the eyes up to and including no field of mind consciousness; and no ignorance or ending of ignorance, up to and including no old age and death or ending of old age and death. There is no suffering, no accumulating, no extinction, and no Way, and no understanding and no attaining. Because nothing is attained, the Bodhisattva through reliance on Prajna Paramita is unimpeded in his mind. Because there is no impediment, he is not afraid, and he leaves distorted dream-thinking far behind. Ultimately Nirvana!

All Buddhas of the three periods of time attain Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi through reliance on Prajna Paramita. Therefore know that Prajna Paramita is a Great Spiritual Mantra, a Great Bright Mantra, a Supreme Mantra, an Unequalled Mantra. That is why the Mantra of Prajna Paramita was spoken.

Recite it like this:
Gaté Gaté Paragaté Parasamgaté Bodhi Svaha!"

I remember hearing something like that during the temple stay.

to the left is the first building housing the blocks