(Abstract)
In the modern society, practice culture is commonly standing out as a culture centered by health. As a social phenomenon, "practicing asceticism" is steadily turning into a "method of life which is more healthy and qualitative." As a ment...
(Abstract)
In the modern society, practice culture is commonly standing out as a culture centered by health. As a social phenomenon, "practicing asceticism" is steadily turning into a "method of life which is more healthy and qualitative." As a mental culture, the process of turning into the paradigm of practice culture based on the change of period brings out many complex practicing methods both physical and spiritual. Under such circumstances, the settlement of Gwanhwa-Seon shows the potential of practice culture. This can be considered as the characteristics of modern society. Especially, modern people living under the economic system of neo-liberalism select the method of Gwanhwa-Seon, which is a specific practice program. For general Secular Practitioners, such practice method brings the improvement of the quality of life.
In this study, Gwanhwa-Seon (Hwadu, investigation meditation or keyword meditation) is considered as the exit of "Mindless-Mind"(The idea of enlightenment with a mind free from attachment and discrimination) to study the practitioners in Seon Way Association following the method of Hwadu practicing in Gwanhwa-Seon. The Secular Practitioners of "Seon Way Association(Jecheon Group)" prefer more systematic and professional practicing methods than the general formats of "Investigation of Dhyana". The Secular Practitioners of Jecheon Group are different from practitioners who join the other Seon centers. They become practitioners without being Buddhist monks, and practice in their everyday life. Thus, I suggest the concept of "finding the mind" through the journey of putting efforts to have self-control ability in life, freedom and happiness, nirvana, wisdom, joy of life, etc. The "Mindless-Mind" plays the role of resolving personal problems as well as the conflicts within the practice group.
The positive bases in the practicing course of Jecheon Group are as follows. First, the practitioners were improved by the conversion of the inner self through practicing, the liberation from anxiousness/agony, the formation of a positive relationship between "me" and "others," and the discovery of a "new me." Second, The "Mindless-Mind" sets the mind free from the boundary called "freedom from myself". In other words, flexibility in personal or social relationship is obtained by getting rid of the obsession towards "myself". Third, practicing helps a person to improve his/her index(action) of positive life, as well as the formation of a self-existence value. Forth, the practicing curriculum of Hwadu(from Gwanhwa-Seon Text Book, Mumungwan) and the device of master-disciple encounter system(cyber master-disciple encounter system by e-mail or possibly by Social Network Services) are preferred by Secular Practitioners as practicing devices.
This study observes the process of general people entering a practicing group to become "Secular Practitioners", and the process of them obtaining "practitioner-like attitude" and "practitioner-like viewpoint" through the "practice progress". This study revealed that the Secular Practitioners of Jecheon Group try to positively recognize others more than themselves, instead of being buried under the individualism in the social relationships of families/work places. In addition, this study shows the potential of a practice culture system which Secular Practitioners can practice anytime, anywhere.