35,000 people in silence at Gwanghwamun Square for meditation
Overseas experts “Amazing with tens of thousands together”
Attention on Waking Performance by Bicheonmu Performance Team
Plans to activate meditation through Temple Stay also shared,
Jinwoo Sunim (center), the general manager of Jogye Order, is entering the opening ceremony of the ‘2024 International Meditation Congress’ held at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 28th. The International Meditation Congress, held until October 1 for four days at major temples and meditation spaces nationwide, is an event wishing for inner peace and world peace. [Yonhap],
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, ‘35,000 people gathered at Gwanghwamun Square suddenly fell into silence. The sound of drones flying in the sky was so noisy that it felt quiet instead.’,
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, ‘The ‘International Meditation Congress’ raised its curtain for the first time in downtown Seoul. At the opening ceremony of the ‘2024 International Meditation Congress’ held at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 28th, Jinwoo Sunim, the general manager of Jogye Order, and eight domestic and foreign meditation experts showcased meditations on stage for five minutes.’,
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, ‘Sunim declared at the opening ceremony, “The path to finding inner peace is through meditation, based on the Korean Buddhist traditional Ganhwaseon. We will open up meditation based on Ganhwaseon.”‘,
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, ‘He emphasized, “Although very simple, the great system that will fundamentally change our lives and society beyond individual change is the five-minute meditation a day. We will develop various studies and programs on Ganhwaseon and meditation, train leaders, and establish a system so that meditation can take root in society.”‘,
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Buddhist followers filling the opening ceremony of the ‘2024 International Meditation Congress’ held at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 28th. Photo by Lee Sang-seop,
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, ‘Sunim announced plans to establish a meditation center and activate meditation through temple stays at over 100 temples and monasteries nationwide.’,
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, ‘Following Sunim, eight domestic and foreign meditation leaders, including Bosan Sunim, Ilsu Sunim, Geumgang Sunim, Populus Sunim, Dr. Roshi Joan Halifax, Dr. Tuck Tan Jinpa, Chad Mehling, and Director Linpoche Jinme, took the special stage.’,
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, ‘Dr. Halifax, who has dedicated himself to hospice activities for a long time, said, “The days of years of practice watching those who are dying have truly been a transformative opportunity for me.” He mentioned in a press conference on the 26th before the event that “being able to fully immerse in even a single breath is a miracle, and especially the fact that tens of thousands meditate together is amazing.”‘,
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, ‘Following the host Hyegju Sunim’s direction, participants on and off the stage began the posture for meditation by placing their hands under their belly or on their thighs, and closing their eyes gently or looking downward.’,
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, ‘The bustling atmosphere of Gwanghwamun Square suddenly fell into silence. Although five minutes as a time to focus was quite long, most people remained still, bowing their heads and assuming a stable posture.’,
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, ‘After the 5-minute silence, the waking performance followed. The Jin Kwan Sa Bicheonmu performance team rushed to the center of the stage with a white cloth resembling a full moon.’,
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, ‘After the meditation, the 35,000 awakened individuals recited together the ‘Declaration for Peace’, praying for a world where all lives and nature are deeply connected and violence, war, discrimination, and hatred disappear, replaced by understanding, respect, compassion, and wisdom.’,
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, ‘By Im In-kyung, Reporter’,
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