Ilchi Lee Meditations

Bringing Korean culture to America could have important implications for our society, as the ancient Eastern culture has some philosophical solutions to problems that plague the West.

For example, there is a concept in Korean culture known as han-se-gye, which describes a time when the world will unite in harmony. The phrase literally means "one world," and is a favorite of the philosopher and personal growth expert Ilchi Lee.

Given the high level of violence experienced in American society, the concept of han-se-gye may never have been more important. Street shootings are a regular occurrence in the nation's cities, the most popular TV shows often involve violence and our political culture seems to reward conflict over cooperation.

However, Lee says that understanding the importance of uniting under a common cause and furthering peace efforts could put an end to all this and lead to a much more harmonious planet. This is why it is so important for Western cultures to learn from their Eastern neighbors and put the best of their ideas to work.

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In life, the highest desire of most people is to find a romantic partner or to develop a supportive network of friends. However, Korean culture and customs have a phrase that suggests these connections can actually be counterproductive to individuals who have a personal growth plan.

The term Gong-Shim translates to "empty mind, heart or core." It is used to refer to a state of mind in which a person no longer desires personal attachments. Instead, these individuals prefer to put all their energies in life toward the public good.

By living a life free of emotional attachments, a person is able to focus all of their attention on improving the lives of those around them without allowing their decisions to become clouded by personal desires involving family or friends. In this way, one's work can be completely selfless.

Few people ever achieve this state of mind. One of the most difficult things in life can be letting go of personal desires and living free of attachments. However, this is one of the only possible paths toward truly working for the public good.

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Most of the time, people perceive things that are empty and devoid of content to be worthless. Only things that are filled with content are generally viewed as being valuable. However, Korean culture and customs take a different view of the matter.

The Korean phrase gong literally translates to "empty." It is often used in the context of a person's mind. However, rather than describing a person who simply doesn't know anything, it often indicates that an individual has been able to clear their mind of distracting and unnecessary thoughts. This is considered desirable.

The human mind can only hold so much at one time. Therefore, those who never take any time to clear out their old thoughts and ideas may soon find there is no room for new ones. Every once in a while, it is important to clear some mental space and achieve an empty state of mind.

This is one of the most effective ways through which an individual can achieve their personal growth plan. Just about everyone has things they want to achieve in life. However, it can be difficult when they are never able to progress past the thoughts they had last week. Emptying the mind on a regular basis can be an important part of developing as a human.

For people to understand the benefits of a clear brain, they may need to completely change the way they look at the world. In Western society, it is common for people to take the view that more is always better. But sometimes less actually is more. Developing a better understanding of this is one of the keys to personal development.

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In life, it can be difficult to know which personal growth experts to listen to. There are many people who profess to have all the answers for a satisfying, fulfilling life. However, Korean culture and customs have a concept that may make this process easier.

The term chun-shim refers to the Heart of Heaven. It is used to describe a natural state of mind in which an individual is able to see everything in the world for what it truly is. They can look past an object's external appearances and see its real character.

There is a material world outside of people's brains, but much of an individual's perception of that world is constructed in their head. Those who have a positive outlook on the world will see a tremendous amount of beauty, while more negative individuals will fail to see the value in many things.

By stripping away the layers of false perception that cloud many people's view of the world around them, individuals may be able to see things as they were meant to be seen in their true light.

The concept of chun-shim suggests that wisdom and creativity naturally spring from within the mind. All a person has to do is figure out how to unlock this brain power. There are no mystical secrets to living a more complete life. Everyone already has the tools they need to pursue personal growth.

Meditation is one technique that can help individuals focus their mind on the natural character of things. This process works by clearing the mind of extraneous thoughts and feelings, allowing one's true thoughts to come through. This concept appears often in Korean culture and customs.

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The people of Earth are slowly starting to realize that their planet is a living ecosystem that requires care and respect. This is seen in the "green movement," which is currently trying to get large corporations and governments to stop polluting and to find more sustainable ways to function.

However, one phrase in the Korean calligraphy alphabet suggests that people may still have a long way to go in understanding the true depth of the Earth’s inner nature.

The phrase Chun-ji-ma-eum refers to the "cosmic mind" that fills everything. This force created everything that exists in the universe, and it fills all living and breathing organisms with a special type of energy.

It is also present in the Earth itself. It is from our home planet that the people of Earth get life energy. This force flows through the streams of the planet and blows through the air like the wind itself. In this way, it touches every single plant, animal and person.

Without this essential energy, life on Earth almost certainly would not be possible. There would be no source of spiritual sustenance. Our lives would be hollow, short and difficult, if not completely impossible.

This is why it is important for individuals to understand the central role the Earth plays in their lives. It is far more than a foundation upon which to build a life. It is a living, breathing organism that nurtures everyone and provides for their needs.

While the current green movement has begun to realize (from a scientific standpoint, at least) the importance of protecting the Earth, its role in personal growth goals and happiness may still not be fully understood. Recognizing this fact could play a vital part in the future of the human species.

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One of the most important things for individuals – especially those who are looking to grow as a person – to keep in mind is what makes them special. The Korean calligraphy alphabet has one saying in particular that addresses this.

The phrase "chun-ji-in" refers to the three aspects of humanity that separate the species from all others walking the Earth. The first part, "chun," translates to heaven or sky. It is included in the phrase to remind individuals that they are part spiritual beings and that they should keep their hearts open to high aspirations.

Secondly, "ji" refers to the Earth or land. We are all terrestrial beings, and this connection to nature should be considered a basis for all of our activities and motivations. Without a connection to the ground we walk on, our lives would have no foundation, and therefore would fall apart.

Finally, "in," with its reference to humanity, reminds individuals that the two previous elements come together in humans to form something very special. Neither the spiritual or the earthly should be given precedence in an individual’s personal growth plan. Both aspects of humanity are equally important.

These are important concepts to remember, as in life it is easy to be carried away too far in one direction. Often, people allow their sensual pleasures to consume their mind, or they get carried away with dwelling on their own imaginings. While a certain amount of either is beneficial, too much of anything is never good.

Therefore, individuals who are pursuing a personal growth plan should keep in mind that they are equal parts spiritual and terrestrial. Working to develop both aspects of their nature may be important to developing as a complete human.  

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Within each and every individual lies a complete and true being that is the foundation upon which the rest of existence is built. This inner-self is true and honest. It is described by the term Bohn, which comes from Korean culture and customs.

Translated, Bohn means origin, foundation or essence. When it is applied to a person, it describes their inner-self, who is the basis for every action they take and thought they think. While most people may not be very familiar with this entity, it informs all aspects of life, and coming to understand it better may be at the heart of any personal growth plan.

During the course of the day, most people do not stop to think about how their inner-self is interacting with the world around them. They simply go through the motions of their daily routine, at times almost on autopilot. This is fine, and in some ways even beneficial. But conducting one's life in this manner may leave little room for personal growth.

Introspection and self-examination are important parts of developing as a human and reaching higher levels of consciousness. For anyone who believes there is more to life than going through the motions of daily routines, this is particularly important.

Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee has described a person's true inner self as an inextinguishable flame whose purity and completeness cannot be touched. Imagine the benefits of drawing closer to this type of power. Think of how life-changing and mind-altering that experience could be.

It may take some time and work for a person to finally discover their true inner-self, but when they do stumble upon this entity, the benefits are often immense.

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Within each and every individual lies a complete and true being that is the foundation upon which the rest of existence is built. This inner-self is true and honest. It is described by the term Bohn, which comes from Korean culture and customs.

Translated, Bohn means origin, foundation or essence. When it is applied to a person, it describes their inner-self, who is the basis for every action they take and thought they think. While most people may not be very familiar with this entity, it informs all aspects of life, and coming to understand it better may be at the heart of any personal growth plan.

During the course of the day, most people do not stop to think about how their inner-self is interacting with the world around them. They simply go through the motions of their daily routine, at times almost on autopilot. This is fine, and in some ways even beneficial. But conducting one's life in this manner may leave little room for personal growth.

Introspection and self-examination are important parts of developing as a human and reaching higher levels of consciousness. For anyone who believes there is more to life than going through the motions of daily routines, this is particularly important.

Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee has described a person's true inner self as an inextinguishable flame whose purity and completeness cannot be touched. Imagine the benefits of drawing closer to this type of power. Think of how life-changing and mind-altering that experience could be.

It may take some time and work for a person to finally discover their true inner-self, but when they do stumble upon this entity, the benefits are often immense.

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Everyone has a different path to follow to achieve their personal growth plan. For some, it may include going to school to become a doctor. For others, it may mean climbing to the top of a mountain in order to get in touch with their inner personal self. Regardless of the individual circumstances, this path represents a person’s Tao.

In Korean, the team literally translates to “the way.” It is used to refer to the path that each individual must follow in order to achieve their life purpose. Korean culture and customs say that each person has a different Tao, and discovering this path is one of the most important aspects of life.

It can take a person decades to uncover their Tao. In American culture, people often tend to think that an individual should have their life purpose figured out by the they graduate high school. However, the concept of Tao recognizes that discovering one’s true passions involves much deeper reflection than this. This means the process can take many years.

Some people are old and gray before they learn what Tao truly means in their life. However, this does not mean they have wasted the intervening years. It simply means that the discovery of their Tao was a little more difficult to earn. This is alright, as the highest hanging fruits are often the sweetest.

So individuals should not worry if they go through a significant portion of their adult lives without feeling as though they have discovered their personal growth plan. Even if the discovery comes late, it is still worthwhile. Persistence and vigilance are what really matter. Through the exercise of these personality characteristics, an individual may even come to discover their Tao.

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Individuals who are looking to make the world a more peaceful place through their actions may benefit from looking to prayer and healing articles. These may eventually point a person toward ancient Korean wisdom, which suggest that peace is achievable when the people of the world work together.

This is the principle behind the Korean term pyung-hwa. This phrase describes peace as a collaborative effort that is attained only when the people of the world put aside their difference and work together to find solutions to common problems.

This philosophy is reflected in the works of author and personal growth expert Ilchi Lee. His Earth Citizen movement is designed around this perspective that peace can be achieved through global collaboration and acceptance.

He says that people's national, religious and cultural identities mainly serve to divide people from one another. This is the source of significant amounts of conflict in the world and a main reason for wars and fighting.

However, when people work to overcome these differences, global peace comes within reach. It may seem like a very grand goal, but these types of changes could reasonably be accomplished within the near future. All that is needed is a fresh commitment from the people of the world to peace.

This may seem like a revolutionary idea, but it has actually been around for many years, as reflected by its presence in the Korean tradition. The fact that people have been thinking about these types of ideas for so long shows that the concepts have some traction and could actually be set in motion.

It may seem like a long shot, but with some determination and motivation, people may be able to create a more peaceful world within this generation.

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