■ Practice with rice “I think rice is the law, the law of that person” In the early morning, they wake up earlier than anyone else and cook ‘rice’ in the lowest position to feed and save people. To them, ‘rice’ is ‘law’ and ‘cooking rice’ is ‘practice.’ If rice made with time and sincerity becomes an unforgettable comfort to someone, how could there be such beautiful labor! The story of practitioners who think rice is the basic food that sustains life, to them, cooking rice is sacred labor and prayer. [Practicing with Rice] commemorates the achievements of the first Buddhist monk, Yeonggyu Daesa, in Joseon Dynasty, and includes the mothers who have prepared the 'Tea Ceremony' for 40 years in Yeonggyu Daesa's hometown (Yupyeong-ri, Gyeryong-myeon, Gongju-si); the Wonju monk (the monk in charge of the kitchen) and bodhisattvas who are in charge of the temple meals in the offering room from 5 a.m. for an average of 50 to 60 people per day and an average of 200 people on weekends; and the story of the very special meals of the 'Daughters of St. Paul', a community of 120 nuns who are walking the path of monks while holding the hands of poor and hungry souls in the heart of Seoul - a community that always prays for the sick and ailing world, but has rarely been revealed to the world. What kind of comfort and encouragement do the monks who practice with rice in the lowest, unseen place, but in front of the hottest fire, give? ■ Monk Yeonggyu Daesa who protected the country, and a practice to honor his heart – Gyeryong-myeon, Gongju-si, Chungcheongnam-do Every September 25th, the village of Yupyeong-ri becomes the busiest of the year. Today’s event is a tea ceremony to honor Monk Yeonggyu Daesa, the first monk general of Joseon who protected the country during the Imjin War in 1592. Monk Yeonggyu Daesa achieved a great victory in the Battle of Cheongjuseong Fortress, but returned home after dying a heroic death in the Battle of Geumsanseong Fortress. The village has been holding a memorial service for the hero who protected the country for over 40 years so that his heart would not be in vain. The 20 or so members of the Yupyeong-ri Women’s Association have spent their time preparing not only the food for the ancestral rites table, but also the food for the 400-500 guests who come. The village women’s association mobilizes from early in the morning! There is so much food to prepare that they have to be busy starting the day before the tea ceremony. There are many kinds of pancakes, from Daegujeon, which uses dried codfish whole, to Myeongtaejeon, Yukjeon, etc. However, the pancake that is never left out is the flat pancake. It is a large bundle that is placed so that people can eat their fill and take food with them when they leave if they are not hungry. It is a tradition of this village that contains the respect for ancestors who come to the ancestral rite table. They fight a battle with oil all day long, but that is only the first part. They say that the bigger task is to arrange the food on the ancestral rite table like a tower... Park Yu-sun (78 years old), who piles boiled jujubes one by one, is a master with 40 years of experience in preparing food, whether it is chestnuts or codfish! In addition, the village head, Yoo Ui-sun (64 years old), makes a simple meal with all his heart even late at night. From Gyejeok (鷄炙), which symbolizes sacrifice to ancestors, to the funny rice cakes made by hand, and various fruits, the hearts of mothers who pray for the well-being of their families and neighbors are piled up on the ancestral rite table. After the ceremony, which includes not only the ancestral rites food but also entertaining over 400 guests, everyone is exhausted, but the mothers say that this arduous labor is not asceticism, but a sacred training that must be done to the best of their ability. We take a look at the busy daily life of the women’s association of Yupyong-ri Village, preparing for the Yeonggyu Daesa tea ceremony. ■ The path of training in the offering room of Magoksa Temple, a thousand-year-old temple – Sagok-myeon, Gongju-si, Chungcheongnam-do It is said that training is waking up first and breaking the dawn, and brightening the dark world. Even before the beomjong bell rings to signal the dawn service, the ones who prepare breakfast are the head monk of the offering room, the monk Muyong, and three bodhisattvas. Magoksa Temple, a thousand-year-old temple at the foot of Mt. Taehwa, has been a popular temple for tourists since it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018, and has beautiful scenery all year round. As a result, the offering room, which is responsible for the temple meals, has no time to rest. The head monk of Magoksa Temple, Monk Muyong, is a talented person who worked as a nutritionist at hospitals and training centers before becoming a monk. He not only puts sincerity into the food but also puts effort into the nutrition and texture of the templ