There is a "branch temple" in Belfield in Sydney called Jungbopsa Temple. 

Recently the Tea House & Gallery in Crookwell was visited by a delegation from the Sydney temple.

The group included the abbot of the temple The Venerable  Ki Hu sunim and the senior Buddhist nun Bom Hyon sunim as well as congregation members.

During the visit, Stephen Carroll was told that the Venerable Sung Kag sunim, a Buddhist nun and Korean tea master, had met  him in Busan, South Korea. She said she was visiting Australia in January 2018 and had requested that she visit the Tea House and Gallery in Crookwell to hold a Korean tea ceremony.

The visit will take place on Wednesday January 3, 2018. Her expected arrival time is between 3pm and 4pm and the event is open for people to attend and experience a Budddhist tea event. Upper Lachlan Shire Council will be represented by various councillors.

Mr Carroll was also invited to a special Buddhist ceremony to be led by the Venerable Sung Kag which is to culminated in a formal Korean tea ceremony and offering. This will be held on Sunday January 7, 2018 at the Jungbopsa Temple, Sydney.

Tea is first mentioned in the ancient texts as an offering.

In the Buddhist scriptures it is often spoken of as an offering made to the Buddha.

Originally, rice was not offered to the Buddha; just tea, incense and flowers.

Nowadays, although water is offered instead of tea, the character for tea is still used for the water used in death ceremonies and harvest festivals.

In old times, as a sign of mutual respect, husband and wife would serve each other tea at their marriage.

During the Koryo dynasty all people, commoners as well as aristocrats drank tea.

The word for green leaf tea in Korean is Chaksol . This literally means ‘bird’s tongue’. It is so-called because the first leaves of the tea resemble the shape of a bird’s tongue.

The Tea House Gallery also offers Monday Meditation weekly sessions.

Two session times: 10:00AM - 11:00am, 7:00pm - 8:15pm Sessions $15 each, Beginners and advanced welcome. Instruction given.

Venue: Tea House Gallery, 41 Cowper Lane, Crookwell NSW 2583

Information: Stephen 0403 981 055