[내레이션✨배우 류승룡] 누구보다 먼저 일어나 가장 낮은 자리에서 사람을 살리기 위해 밥을 짓는 이들. 밥으로 전하는 위로와 사랑 | 한국인의 밥상 | KBS 20241017 방송

■ Practicing with Rice "I believe rice is the law, the law of that person." At dawn, they rise before anyone else and, in the lowest positions, prepare rice to feed and sustain others. For them, rice is law, and the act of preparing rice is practice. If a meal made with time and sincerity can bring unforgettable comfort to someone, what more beautiful effort could there be! The story of practitioners who believe rice is the fundamental sustenance that sustains life. For them, preparing rice is a sacred act and a prayer. [Practicing with Rice] commemorates the achievements of Master Yeonggyu, Joseon's first monk-in-chief. It features the mothers who have prepared the "Tea Ceremony" in his hometown (Yupyeong-ri, Gyeryong-myeon, Gongju-si) for over 40 years. It also features the Wonju monk (the kitchen monk) and Bodhisattvas who prepare temple meals in the dining hall from 5 a.m. for an average of 50-60 people daily and an average of 200 on weekends. It also features the 120 nuns who, in the heart of Seoul, are on their way to becoming nuns, holding the hands of the poor and hungry. The Daughters of St. Paul, a community of nuns who pray for a sick and ailing world, yet rarely reveal their stories to the world, offer a truly special meal. What kind of comfort and encouragement do these nuns, who practice with rice from the lowest of places yet before the hottest of fires, offer? ■ Monk Yeonggyu Daesa, the Monk Who Defended the Nation: A Practice to Honor His Spirit – Gyeryong-myeon, Gongju-si, Chungcheongnam-do Yupyeong-ri, a village known for its busiest day of the year, is celebrated every September 25th. Today's event is a tea ceremony to honor Yeonggyu Daesa, the first monk general of Joseon, who defended the nation during the Imjin War in 1592. Yeonggyu Daesa achieved victory at the Battle of Cheongju Fortress, but was defeated in the Battle of Geumsan Fortress and returned home. For over 40 years, the village has held a memorial service to honor the hero's sacrifice. For the 20 or so members of the Yupyeong-ri Women's Association, preparing not only the food for the ancestral rites but also the meals for the 400-500 guests, this grand event has been a journey of discipline. From early morning, the village women's association is mobilized! With so much food to prepare, they must be busy from the day before the tea ceremony. There are many different types of jeon, from daegujeon (dried codfish) made with whole dried codfish, to myeongtaejeon (myeongtaejeon), and yukjeon (yukjeon). However, one pancake that is always served is the ever-present flat pancake. Flat pancakes are served like large wrappers, offering guests the option to eat their fill and take some with them when they leave. This village tradition embodies respect for ancestors who visit the ancestral rite table. The day-long battle against fat is only the first part. The more challenging part is arranging the food in layers, like a tower, on the ancestral rite table. Park Yu-sun (78), who piles boiled jujubes one by one, is a master with 40 years of experience in preparing food, whether it's chestnuts or codfish. Furthermore, village head Yoo Eui-sun (64), diligently prepares a yakshik (sweet meal) even late into the night. From chicken roasted in a ritual offering to ancestors, to handmade rice cakes topped with rice cakes, and various fruits, the ancestral rites table is filled with the hearts of mothers praying for the well-being of their families and neighbors. After preparing not only the ancestral food but also over 400 guests, the mothers are exhausted. However, the mothers say this arduous labor is not an ascetic practice, but a sacred practice that demands the utmost effort. We take a peek into the busy daily life of the women's association of Yupyeong 1-ri, preparing for the Yeonggyu Daesa Tea Ceremony. ■ A Path of Practice in the Gongyangkan of Magoksa Temple, a Thousand-Year-Old Temple – Sagok-myeon, Gongju-si, Chungcheongnam-do Practice is said to be the first thing to wake up, awakening the dawn and illuminating the dark world. Even before the bell rings for the dawn service, the people preparing breakfast are the head monk of the Gongyangkan, the monk Muyong, and three bodhisattvas. Magoksa Temple, a thousand-year-old temple nestled at the foot of Taehwasan Mountain, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018. Since then, it has been a constant draw for tourists, boasting breathtaking scenery year-round. Consequently, the temple's food pantry, responsible for providing temple meals, is constantly busy. The temple's abbot, Monk Muyong, is a talented nutritionist who worked in hospitals and training centers before becoming a monk. He not only prioritizes sincerity, but also the nutrition and texture of the temple meals, which are made entirely of vegetables. Most of the ingredients served on the temple table are procured from the gardens surrounding Magoksa Temple... The path of spiritual practice begins in the gard...