Why do we practice meditation?
Excerpt from The Principles of Mind Training for Everyday Life
Venerable Juksanim (Head Dharma Master of Won Buddhism USA)
Have you ever thought about where people root their lives?
You surely know where plants root themselves. Plants root in the ground. When you plant a seed in the soil, it sprouts and grows there. Sotaesan, the founder of Won Buddhism, taught that people root themselves in the vast expanse of space. What does this teaching mean?
The essence of a person lies not in the body but in the mind, and the mind is connected to the vast space. The nature of this space is emptiness. On the other hand, the nature of the earth is fullness. The richer and more fertile the soil, the better. However, since emptiness is the essence of space, the more it is emptied, the more energy it generates. Isn't it wonderful when the space is clear and pure? But if scientific advancements lead to pollutants like fine dust that contaminate the space, the energy becomes obscured. This is why we practice meditation. When the mind is emptied, energy and vitality emerge. The more we empty our minds, the more wisdom arises; the more we empty, the more righteous actions follow.
By clearing and purifying the mind, we cultivate a happy, peaceful, and compassionate heart, as well as the desire to help others. Therefore, it is essential to occasionally empty and purify our minds.
One way to achieve this is through meditation.
If we do not meditate, our minds can become narrow. When the mind is narrow, it reacts impulsively to even the slightest stimuli. However, when the mind is broadened, it remains unshaken by any stimulus. Through meditation, the mind becomes calm; when it becomes calm, it becomes clear; when it becomes clear, it becomes bright; and when it becomes bright, it becomes entirely interconnected. This vitality is what sustains us. It is also the vitality that sustains all living things.
The center of a hurricane or a massive typhoon is called the 'eye of the storm.' That space is calm. The calmer it is, the greater its strength and power. If the center is disturbed, it loses its force. The principle of emptying the mind through meditation is similar. Throughout history, spiritual sages have chosen seated meditation as the fastest way to experience this calm. However, meditation doesn’t necessarily require sitting. It can also be done while standing, walking, working, or even lying down. As long as the mind can focus, meditation can be practiced anytime, anywhere.
Additionally, we must understand that meditation is an experience of becoming an empty mind. Many religions up to now have conveyed their teachings through words. However, the era ahead will be one of experiential religion, where individuals must attain enlightenment through their own experiences.
After achieving enlightenment, Sotaesan established a study house for shared practice and enshrined the Il-Won-Sang there. At its entrance, he inscribed 'Great Enlightenment Hall,' signifying that one should gain personal experiences of enlightenment within that space. A religious scholar once described religion as 'a continuous series of enlightenment experiences.'
In the early days of Won Buddhism, Sotaesan referred to Won Buddhism as the 'House of Spirituality of the Great Enlightened Nation.' This early name, which translates to 'The House of Spirituality of the Great Enlightened Nation: A Place of Spirituality, Balance, Universal Understanding, Creation, and Cultivation,' was a lengthy 17-character title. Later, Second Head Dharma Master Jeongsan, shortened it to 'Won Buddhism.' From this original name, we can understand that Won Buddhism is a place for nurturing spirituality.
In the past, spirituality was sought externally. However, in the 21st century, this focus is gradually shifting inward. Many scholars refer to the 21st century as the 'Age of Spirituality.' Some even predict that the value of spirituality and meditation will surpass that of the IT industry in the future. This makes sense. The IT industry aims to enhance the convenience of life. In an era where material civilization has developed brilliantly and life has become more convenient, our thoughts often turn outward. When this happens, our innate, pure spiritual energy can become significantly weakened.
This is why meditation is becoming increasingly essential—because it revives our original clear spiritual energy and elevates the value of our lives. In a world where science and materialism continue to develop to extreme levels, more people will focus on enhancing the inner value of their lives. They will strive to regenerate their life force, illuminate their wisdom, and return to their daily lives with greater vitality and energy.
As the number of people engaging in meditation grows, the value of meditation will become increasingly evident. The more meditators there are, the better our society will become.
To explain more fundamentally, the reason we meditate, practice Seon 禪, and engage in mind training is ultimately to realize oneness. In the realm of consciousness, it is impossible to grasp that world. It involves moving from the realm of consciousness to the realm of the subconscious and then deeper into the unconscious. This cannot be understood through explanation alone; it can only be experienced through deep meditation. Even though scriptures have illuminated this truth in countless ways, they cannot directly grant this realization. They can only serve as guides.
The essence of meditation lies in experiencing the world beyond conceptual thought. We live in a sensory world where we see and hear so much. The more advanced scientific civilization becomes, the more dazzling the sensory world becomes, and the narrower our conscious world grows. This is why we must meditate. Entering the depths of meditation allows us to experience selflessness. This state is referred to as no-self, true emptiness, or thus-come. While it is described in various ways, its essence is one: transitioning from the individual self to the universal whole. This is the core of Buddhism.
The Buddha delivered 84,000 teachings, but if we were to summarize them into one, it would be the single character for mind 心. The essence of Buddhism lies in understanding that everything arises from this mind. The principle of movement in the body is contained within the mind. Therefore, without attending to the mind, we cannot truly study the Dharma. One of the foundational methods for cultivating the mind is meditation, or Seon practice.
In Won Buddhism, Seon is not limited to seated meditation but can also be practiced in daily life. The practice of transcending time and space to meditate anywhere and anytime is encapsulated in Won Buddhism's teaching of Timeless Seon and Placeless Seon.
