Summit, expo on seon meditation set for April
The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism is ramping up its push to make its signature meditation style part of a daily routine.
Seon meditation has been at the forefront of Jogye promotions since the order held its first-ever meditation summit at Gwanghwamun in September 2024. The event drew over 30,000 attendees, including monks from overseas.
“We’ve tried almost everything to bring more people into Buddhism. There is still room for improvement, however. Seon meditation may be our last shot,” said the Jogye president, the Ven. Jinwoo, at a workshop on launching seon-themed programs at Jinkwansa, a temple in Seoul.
Jinwoo, president since September 2022, has been spearheading a movement for seon, making the practice accessible by educating monks on how to teach it to the public and inviting the public to try it during templestay.
According to Jogye, templestay programs specializing in seon meditation will start in March at 30 of 158 temples nationwide.
“Because seon meditation is the kind of intrinsically Korean thing foreigners are looking for, we know it will be a hit,” said the Ven. Mandang, director of Jogye’s promotion arm running templestay, the Culture Corps of Korean Buddhism.
Seon-exclusive programs mark one of the most profound shifts in how templestay has been run since 2022, Jogye officials said.
Jogye also plans to guide practitioners with a book on seon that details 108 ways to approach the practice.
From April 1-6, the second summit on seon will take place, this time around Bongeunsa, a temple north of Coex in Seoul. Jogye plans to bring in monks and meditation experts from abroad to expand participation.
The annual Seoul International Buddhism Expo will follow at Coex for four days starting April 3, with 150 Chinese monks attending the event that explores everything about Buddhism, heavily focusing seon meditation.
Outreach efforts will culminate in the launch of an independent center on seon, according to Jogye officials. They have yet to provide a time frame on what the sect believes will be the definitive hub for those seeking meditation.
“Seon isn’t just for Buddhists; it’s for all people yearning for peace,” said the Ven. Kumgang, chair of the Jogye’s seon committee, a 20-monk group launched last month to support the Jogye-led seon campaign.
siyoungchoi@heraldcorp.com
