ZEN TEA JOURNEY Vol.7
Zen Tea at Konglimsa Temple:
Encountering the Hospitality of 'Kkik-da-geo' in the Emptied Forest
"Kkik-da-geo (喫茶去)"—meaning "Go drink a cup of tea"—is a profound Zen koan derived from the legendary Tang Dynasty Zen Master, Joju.
No matter who visited or what complex questions they posed, the venerable master calmly offered the exact same reply: "Go drink a cup of tea." This simple phrase carried a vast equality that embraced everyone regardless of status or knowledge, an immovable ordinary mind (平常心), and a whisper of absolute hospitality urging one to focus entirely on the 'here and now.'
Konglimsa Temple (空林寺) in Goesan, where Moru Matcha traveled to offer our July Zen Tea, is an ancient sanctuary founded during the Silla Dynasty, cradling over a millennium of history. At the heart of the temple grounds, the oldest zelkova tree in South Korea stands with absolute resilience. The bent back of the old monk bowing deeply in total humility (下心), along with ancient pines that have witnessed centuries of change, seamlessly frame the emptied forest (空林) in solemn magnificence.
Beyond Endless Cycles of Loss and Reconstruction,
A Noble Spirit Nurtured in Unblemished Nature
Throughout its long history, Konglimsa holds the deep sorrow of being destroyed and rebuilt countless times during periods of turmoil.
Yet, despite these persistent storms, the unblemished nature and noble spirit of this sacred land have never faded, remaining thoroughly pure to this day. Within these walls, where the head monk offers a warm cup of tea to every traveler without discrimination and Zen masters quietly practice, the heavy anxieties and burdens of daily life easily slip away from your shoulders.
Brewing tea mindfully against the backdrop of silence offered by a thousand-year-old forest.
Sitting at the clean tea table of Konglimsa, we learn deeply once again that drinking tea is, ultimately, an act of emptying our restless judgments and whole-heartedly embracing the present moment. Tea is, beautifully, unconditional hospitality.
Tea Note : Zen Tea at Konglimsa
Location : Konglimsa Temple (空林寺), a thousand-year-old sanctuary nestled beneath Mount Nagyeong in Goesan.
Spirit : The wisdom of Master Joju’s 'Kkik-da-geo', stripping away labels to ground oneself entirely in the present.
Atmosphere : South Korea's oldest zelkova tree, a screens of ancient pines, and a quiet tea ritual flowing with true humility (下心).
July 2026, MORU MATCHA Zen Archive
ZEN TEA JOURNEY Vol.7
Zen Tea at Konglimsa Temple:
Encountering the Hospitality of 'Kkik-da-geo' in the Emptied Forest
"Kkik-da-geo (喫茶去)"—meaning "Go drink a cup of tea"—is a profound Zen koan derived from the legendary Tang Dynasty Zen Master, Joju.
No matter who visited or what complex questions they posed, the venerable master calmly offered the exact same reply: "Go drink a cup of tea." This simple phrase carried a vast equality that embraced everyone regardless of status or knowledge, an immovable ordinary mind (平常心), and a whisper of absolute hospitality urging one to focus entirely on the 'here and now.'
Konglimsa Temple (空林寺) in Goesan, where Moru Matcha traveled to offer our July Zen Tea, is an ancient sanctuary founded during the Silla Dynasty, cradling over a millennium of history. At the heart of the temple grounds, the oldest zelkova tree in South Korea stands with absolute resilience. The bent back of the old monk bowing deeply in total humility (下心), along with ancient pines that have witnessed centuries of change, seamlessly frame the emptied forest (空林) in solemn magnificence.
Beyond Endless Cycles of Loss and Reconstruction,
A Noble Spirit Nurtured in Unblemished Nature
Throughout its long history, Konglimsa holds the deep sorrow of being destroyed and rebuilt countless times during periods of turmoil.
Yet, despite these persistent storms, the unblemished nature and noble spirit of this sacred land have never faded, remaining thoroughly pure to this day. Within these walls, where the head monk offers a warm cup of tea to every traveler without discrimination and Zen masters quietly practice, the heavy anxieties and burdens of daily life easily slip away from your shoulders.
Brewing tea mindfully against the backdrop of silence offered by a thousand-year-old forest.
Sitting at the clean tea table of Konglimsa, we learn deeply once again that drinking tea is, ultimately, an act of emptying our restless judgments and whole-heartedly embracing the present moment. Tea is, beautifully, unconditional hospitality.
Tea Note : Zen Tea at Konglimsa
Location : Konglimsa Temple (空林寺), a thousand-year-old sanctuary nestled beneath Mount Nagyeong in Goesan.
Spirit : The wisdom of Master Joju’s 'Kkik-da-geo', stripping away labels to ground oneself entirely in the present.
Atmosphere : South Korea's oldest zelkova tree, a screens of ancient pines, and a quiet tea ritual flowing with true humility (下心).
July 2026, MORU MATCHA Zen Archive