서울국제명상엑스포의 여정과 비전 = The journey and vision of the Seoul International Meditation Expo

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Buddhism has developed diverse practice traditions throughout its long history, reflecting the changing times and regions. Among them, Seon Buddhism (Seon) has established itself as a practice tradition that seeks enlightenment through intuitive insight into the nature of the mind. Originating in China, Seon evolved into a practice-centered Buddhism through the ideological transmission from Bodhidharma to the Sixth Patriarch Huineng. It has since had a profound influence across East Asia, including Korea and Japan. This Seon philosophy emphasizes the principles of “directly pointing to the human mind” (jikji insim) and “seeing one's nature and becoming Buddha” (gyeonseongseongbul) over doctrinal discussions, emphasizing inner awareness and freedom. In modern times, the essence of Seon philosophy is being reinterpreted with new meanings, combining it with various forms of meditation. Modern practices such as mindfulness, convergence meditation, digital meditation, and AI meditation are bringing the traditional Seon philosophy of “Ipsahaeng” (translation of “introduction to the mind”) and “Sammu-sasang” (traditional non-traditional thinking) into the lives of modern people.
This encounter is significant not only because it changes the form of practice, but also because it explores the contemporary challenges of restoring human mental health and social relationships through practice.
The Seoul International Meditation Expo is a representative venue where these traditional Seon ideas and various streams of modern meditation converge, striving to globalize meditation grounded in Buddhist spirit. By establishing a convergence between Eastern and Western meditation traditions, scientific mind research, and social practice, the Expo aims to suggest a new direction for human spiritual culture.
With this in mind, we will explore the ideology behind the journey and vision of the sixth Seoul International Meditation Expo. This will provide an opportunity to explore how the profound traditions of Seon Buddhism live and breathe in our educational settings and society today.