Venerable Jinwoo, President of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, offered Seon meditation, a practice of inner peace, to young leaders from around the world who gathered in Seoul to explore paths toward a sustainable future.

On October 29, Ven. Jinwoo led a meditation session during the closing ceremony of the International Forum We, the Youth (IFWY) 2025, held in the courtyard of the main Buddha Hall at Jingwansa Temple in Seoul. Over 150 participants joined him in Seon meditation, a traditional Korean Buddhist practice for cultivating mindfulness and calm.

IFWY is a global youth solidarity initiative jointly hosted by Eunpyeong District Office, the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), MBC, and Hanyang University. From October 27, the forum took place across Seoul, following five months of regional conferences held in six cities, including São Paulo, Bangkok, Gaborone, New York, Geneva, and Seoul, centered around themes such as peace, equality, and climate. While over 27,500 youth participated online, 150 young leaders gathered in Seoul for the final conference.

During the session, Ven. Jinwoo introduced Seon meditation as a path to liberation from suffering. He explained, “To overcome suffering, we must first understand the mind that experiences it. The root of suffering is desire. Desire arises from the wish to be happy and content, but it is this very craving that disturbs our peace. By recognizing this, we can learn to let go.”

In his closing message to the youth, he added, “The fact that young people from around the world have come together to share their hearts and speak of peace is itself a beacon of hope. Your compassionate passion is the true power that can make global peace a reality.”