Forms of Practice
The practice of Ganhwa Seon (“Zen of Direct Inquiry”) is the heart of Korean Zen and the core of everything we do at Dohasa Zen Group. In this practice, a practitioner takes up a single question called a hwadu (“head of speech”), such as What is this?, Who am I?, or What is Mu?. Rather than being solved intellectually, the hwadu is carried with sincerity and curiosity, turning the mind inward and opening a deep sense of wonder.
Through Ganhwa Seon, we learn to settle into the present moment, loosening the grip of restless thoughts and opening to a calmer, clearer, and more wholehearted way of living. Over time, the practice cuts through habitual thinking and brings us face to face with our true nature.
Below you’ll find the main forms through which Ganhwa Seon is practiced — sitting, walking, bowing, chanting, eating, work practice, and most importantly, everyday life.
Sitting Meditation
Sitting meditation in Korean Zen is the practice of sitting quietly and focusing on a single, simple question called a hwadu, which points to the nature of your mind. By returning to this question repeatedly, you gradually begin to see your true self more clearly, beyond thoughts and habits. This ancient technique offers a direct and simple path to greater awareness and insight.
Walking Meditation
Walking meditation in Korean Zen continues the practice of the same hwadu used in seated meditation. Moving slowly and mindfully, you sustain your investigation of the question, gradually seeing your true self beyond habitual thoughts and patterns. It is often practiced between periods of seated meditation but can also be undertaken as a full practice on its own, extending the clarity and insight of seated meditation into motion and everyday activity.
Bowing
108 bows is a traditional Korean Zen Buddhist practice that unites mindfulness with movement. Each bow represents letting go of one of the 108 delusions and attachments, while the rhythm of breath and posture grounds the body and clears the mind, opening the heart to wisdom, clarity and compassion.
Chanting
Chanting in Korean Zen Buddhism is a practice of concentration and sincerity. By reciting sutras, dhāraṇīs, and the names of the Buddha, practitioners align body, breath, and mind while giving voice to the teachings. The sound carries an element of devotion, expressing respect for the Three Jewels and a vow to awaken. At the same time, the steady rhythm and repetition quiet wandering thoughts and open the heart to compassion and clarity.
Other forms
Seated meditation in Korean Zen is the practice of sitting quietly and focusing on a single, simple question called a hwadu, which points to the nature of your mind. By returning to this question repeatedly, you gradually begin to see your true self more clearly, beyond thoughts and habits. This ancient technique offers a direct and simple path to greater awareness and insight.
