On September 28, Ven. Jinwoo, President of the Jogye Order, will ascend a special stage at Gwanghwamun Plaza to explain how to practice true Seon meditation at the “2024 Buddhist Grand Dharma Assembly, International Seon Meditation Summit.” On this day, he will present a lesson in “5-Minute Seon Meditation” that can be easily practiced in everyday life, and will conduct a meditation session attended by 30,000 people including famous foreign meditators, monks, and devotees from all over the country. Ven. President Jinwoo will also reveal 108 Seon meditation programs that he personally led the development of.

On August 27, Ven. Chairman Seonghwa of the Buddhist Grand Dharma Assembly Executive Committee (Head of General Affairs Office) announced plans for the event at a press conference held in the large conference room on the 2nd floor of the Korean Buddhist History and Culture Memorial Hall.

The “Buddhist Grand Dharma Assembly, International Seon Meditation Summit” will be held in front of a special stage in Gwanghwamun Plaza starting at 2 pm in the following order: the Three Refuges and Five Precepts Ceremony, the Offering Ceremony to the Sangha Jewel, the International Seon Meditation Summit, and a concert. Among these, the highlight will be the opening ceremony where Ven. President Jinwoo will guide the Seon meditation.

In addition, a traditional lantern exhibition will be held at the Uijeongbu Historical Site Plaza, located next to Gwanghwamun Plaza, from September 23 to September 28. A traditional cultural experience event will also be held from September 25 to 27, where visitors can have hands-on experience at the AI counseling center, see a meditation program demonstration, and visit a Templestay booth and a traditional lantern-lighting ceremony. 

After the opening ceremony, Seon meditation programs will be held at 11 temples across the country, including Jogyesa, Bongeunsa, Woljeongsa, Beomeosa, Bongseonsa, Hongdae Seonwon in Seoul, Kumuda in Busan, and Hongjesa in Gyeryong. A Seon meditation conference will also be held at Bongeunsa Temple in Seoul on October 1.

Ven. Chairman Seonghwa explained, “The Korean Buddhist Seon Meditation program that will be introduced this day will hopefully play a pioneering role in improving the world’s mental health, and Seon meditation will ultimately serve as a cornerstone that leads to the widespread practice of Ganhwa Seon.” He added that the 108 meditation programs developed by Ven. Jinwoo will also be widely publicized to the public through a separate website along with Seon Meditation textbooks.