Seon Meditation: Korea’s Meditation Movement | Vibe with Venerables Ep 53

by Chade-Meng Tan | Nov 12, 2026 | Buddhism.net Blog, Recording

Why are thousands of young Koreans turning to a 1,600-year-old Buddhist tradition? 🧘

In Ep 53 of Vibe with Venerables, HyeJu Sunim 혜주스님 (@jinkwansa) opens a four-part series on Korean Buddhism by following Buddhist teachings from their arrival on the Korean peninsula to the Seon Meditation movement now drawing a generation with no religious affiliation.

In this episode, learn about:

How Buddhism reached the three kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla.
Master Wonhyo, who carried the teachings to ordinary people through song.
Master Uisang and the teaching that nothing exists independently.
Master Musang, the Silla prince whose meditation teachings reached Tibet.
How Seon, known as Chan in China and Zen in Japan, took root in Korea.
Why Seon Meditation today pairs concentration (śamatha) with insight (vipaśyanā).
Why meditation is more than stress relief.

Stay for the Buddhist answer to smartphone addiction and the three-word question at the heart of Ganhwa Seon. 🪷

왜 한국 청년들이 1,600년 역사의 불교 전통에 주목하고 있을까요? 🧘

〈Vibe with Venerables〉 제53화에서는 혜주스님(‪@jinkwansa‬)이 한국 불교를 소개하는 4부작 시리즈의 첫 번째 이야기를 시작합니다. 이번 에피소드에서는 불교가 한반도에 전래된 역사부터 오늘날 종교가 없는 젊은 세대까지 관심을 보이는 선명상 운동에 이르기까지, 한국 불교의 가르침과 수행 전통을 살펴봅니다.

이번 에피소드에서 만나볼 이야기

불교는 어떻게 고구려, 백제, 신라 삼국에 전해졌을까요?
원효대사는 어떻게 노래를 통해 평범한 사람들에게 부처님의 가르침을 전했을까요?
의상대사가 전한, 그 어떤 것도 독립적으로 존재하지 않는다는 가르침은 무엇일까요?
신라 왕자 출신의 무상대사는 어떻게 티베트에까지 영향을 미치는 수행과 가르침을 전했을까요?
중국에서는 찬(Chan), 일본에서는 젠(Zen)으로 알려진 선(Seon)은 어떻게 한국에 뿌리내렸을까요?
오늘날 선명상은 왜 사마타(śamatha, 지止)와 위빠사나(vipaśyanā, 관觀)를 함께 수행하는 것을 강조할까요?
명상이 단순한 스트레스 해소 이상의 의미를 지니는 이유는 무엇일까요?

스마트폰 중독에 대한 불교적 해법, 그리고 간화선 수행의 핵심에 놓인 세 단어의 질문에 대한 이야기도 끝까지 함께해 주세요.

Heart Sutra (English) Narrated by HyeJu Sunim

Watch on YouTube

The Maha Prajna Paramita Hrdaya Sutra

Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva when practicing deeply the Prajna Paramita perceives that all five skandhas are empty and is saved from all suffering and distress. Shariputra, form does not differ from emptiness, emptiness does not differ from form. That which is form is emptiness, that which is emptiness form.

The same is true of feelings, perceptions, impulses, consciousness. Shariputra, all dharmas are marked with emptiness; they do not appear or disappear, are not tainted or pure, do not increase or decrease. Therefore, in emptiness no form, no feelings, perceptions, impulses, consciousness. No eyes, no ears, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind; no color, no sound, no smell, no taste, no touch, no object of mind; no realm of eyes and so forth until no realm of mind consciousness. No ignorance and also no extinction of it, and so forth until no old age and death and also no extinction of them. No suffering, no origination, no stopping, no path, no cognition, also no attainment with nothing to attain.

The Bodhisattva depends on Prajna Paramita and the mind is no hindrance; without any hindrance no fears exist. Far apart from every deluded view one dwells in Nirvana. In the three worlds all Buddhas depend on Prajna Paramita and attain Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi.

Therefore, know that Prajna Paramita is the great transcendent mantra is the great bright mantra, is the utmost mantra, is the supreme mantra, which is able to relieve all suffering and is true, not false.

So proclaim the Prajna Paramita mantra, proclaim the mantra which says: gate, gate, paragate, parasamgate, bodhi svaha gate, gate, paragate, parasamgate, bodhi svaha gate, gate, paragate, parasamgate, bodhi svaha.

Donation

This series is freely offered by Buddhism.net. If you’d like to show your appreciation and gratitude to the teaching Venerable, HyeJu Sunim 혜주스님, you may make a donation to Jingwansa Temple (Seoul, Korea). We thank you for dāna, the practice of cultivating generosity.

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Chade-Meng Tan

Meng is an award-winning engineer, international bestselling author, movie producer and philanthropist. His work has been nominated eight times for the Nobel Peace Prize. (Read Meng's story)

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Seon Meditation: Korea’s Meditation Movement | Vibe with Venerables Ep 53

Heart Sutra (English) Narrated by HyeJu Sunim

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Chade-Meng Tan

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