[Harumanbo Harucheonja] "Let's Empty, Not Fill" One Day One Mind Walking Program

Located in Gyeongju City, Gyeongbuk Province, Dongguk University WISE Campus conducted the ‘Happy Life 1 Day 1 Mind Walk Program,’ a meditation-based mind balance program aimed at improving quality of life, at the Seon Center on campus from September 5 to October 31. The program consisted of seven sessions, including an orientation emphasizing the importance of physical and mental balance, and each session featured key resilience messages based on mindfulness through Hwadu papers titled Inhale-Exhale, walking meditation focused on the present moment, Happiness Aspiration Meditation supporting Jaririta (自利利他), and sharing the mind in the here and now. Jaririta is a term in Buddhism representing the ideal of practice, meaning ‘to benefit oneself and also benefit others.’

In particular, the program’s closing activity was the ‘Happy Mindfulness Photo Exhibition’ held at the ‘MindWISE Seon Gallery’ within the Seon Center, where participants displayed photos they took themselves and calligraphy of recommended quotes under the theme of mindfulness and self-care.

Dongguk University's One Day One Mind Walking Program
Photo by Dongguk University

Mr. Jeong Seong-mun, a Gyeongju citizen who participated in the program with his spouse, said, "Every week after completing the program and returning home, I always felt a sense of emptiness. Although emptying all of myself is difficult, the more I participated in this program, the more I felt the time of emptiness increasing." He added, "Meeting this program felt like encountering the best and most excellent teacher in my life. The weekly time sincerely wishing for happiness came as a refreshing shock to me and warmed my heart."

His wife, Ms. Kim Seon-young, said, "After the third session of the program, one day I realized with a lump in my throat that I am the most precious being, but until then, I had not been satisfied with myself and had not loved myself." She continued, "I embraced myself with both arms and comforted myself by saying, ‘I’m sorry for not realizing you are the most precious, and I love you.’ Every week, I looked forward to meeting the monk and participated with an excited heart." She added, "Listening carefully to the monk’s words, I felt a deep resonance in my heart from the Hwadu given by the monk. The unknown frustration that had not been filled was answered through the Hwadu, and realizing that everything is interconnected made my mind much more at ease."

Dongguk University's One Day One Mind Walking Program
Photo by Dongguk University

Professor Beomwoo, a monk from the Department of Meditation Psychology Counseling at Dongguk University WISE Campus who conducted the program, said, "Through the Seon Center’s Happy Life 1 Day 1 Mind Walk Program, I hope that Gyeongju citizens have maintained happiness in daily life by making meditation a habit, experienced practicing compassion toward self, others, and the world through Buddhist reflection and mind healing activities, and that their lifestyle awareness has shifted and resilience has improved." Earlier this year, the university hosted a special lecture by the world-renowned practitioner Anam Thupten Rinpoche in March and a meditation concert featuring meditation musician Nawang Khechog on November 3.

Life and Death Experience Meditation Program at Dongguk University
[Photo by Dongguk University]

Meanwhile, the university’s Liberal Arts Convergence Education Institute operated a three-session experiential meditation program on "Life and Death" at the Seon Center’s Jungseonbang from October 31 to November 14. About 40 students participated as part of the character non-curricular program (Mindful Talk) based on the university’s founding philosophy. Monk Tanho (Professor of Self and Meditation) said, "Everyone will face death at some point in life, and this meditation program was conducted to provide students with an opportunity to experience death, reflect on and recall their past, look back on themselves, and grow." He added, "The significance lies in allowing students to have hope and actively rebound when facing difficulties during university life, and to reaffirm life by reflecting once again on the true meaning of life and the preciousness of life."