Maum Meditation

Overview

Maum Meditation is a form of meditation. At a Maum Meditation Center, you reflect on yourself and empty your mind to reclaim your true nature. The countless thoughts and emotions you possess stem from the life you have lived, and the more you empty them, the more your original nature is revealed. It is said that anyone can achieve wholeness by returning to their original mind. You can learn this meditation method at a Maum Meditation Center.

Main Features

1.Explanation of the Definition and Principles of the Mind
Throughout history, various meditation practices from both the East and West have advised emptying the mind. However, without a clear understanding of what the mind is or a method for emptying it, the concept remained merely a pleasant-sounding idea. Moreover, although many exhort, “Control your mind! Empty it!” it has been difficult to put into practice in daily life because it was unclear what our mind truly is, how it is formed, and there was no method available to empty it. Maum Meditation clearly defines what the mind is and what one's true nature is, offering a systematic and consistent way for anyone to empty their mind in everyday life.

2.Not Merely Calming the Mind, but Extracting and Eliminating It
When asked, “How do you meditate?” most people assume it involves adopting the correct posture, focusing on one’s breath, or using sounds like bells or resonant music to calm the mind. However, a mind that is merely suppressed or forced into calmness will inevitably resurface in similar situations—as many have experienced. Maum Meditation, through its “mind extraction” method, removes the false mind completely, thereby fundamentally resolving the issues of the mind. This is the key feature of this meditation.

3. Systematic Stages
Maum Meditation is structured into seven stages. Each stage exists because the human mind is dense, resilient, and persistent (much like the One Ring in The Lord of the Rings). People tend to fill themselves rather than let go, making the act of emptying the mind a novel practice. Consequently, letting go gradually through each stage requires significant perseverance. With every stage you pass, you become as patient as your shattered consciousness, gradually coming to understand and recognize it for yourself.

4.Tangible Changes in Life
It is said that following this meditation method enables everyone to experience a genuine inner transformation. It is not merely a short-term effect felt only during meditation; by emptying your mind, you become lighter and free from stress and distracting thoughts, which in turn proportionally increases your overall sense of happiness in life.

Advantages

1.Inner Peace
A person actually has about 50,000 thoughts in their head each day, of which 49,000 are negative. Even just reducing those energy-draining thoughts can alleviate stress and bring calmness to your mind. Additionally, by cutting down on time wasted on unnecessary thoughts, you can concentrate on what’s important and become a highly efficient individual.

2.increased Understanding (Tolerance)
Much like the song lyric “There is so much of me inside me,” when you reflect on what exists within you, you discover countless aspects of yourself. As these aspects diminish, space is created to embrace others, naturally broadening your capacity for understanding. It’s often said that the real challenge in life isn’t the work itself, but interpersonal relationships. In surveys on workplace stress, the top stressor isn’t the workload or salary, but rather stress stemming from human relationships. Whether it’s family, friends, or any social interaction, conflicts are inevitable. Although meditation doesn’t eliminate every conflict, it does strengthen your ability to reflect on yourself and, in turn, significantly expands your capacity to understand others. By emptying your cluttered mind, you create the space needed to accept others.

3.Answers to Fundamental Questions
At times, you might find yourself wondering, “Am I meant to live like this? Why do I live? Where am I headed? Is this all there is?” By clearing away the murkiness of your mind, you can uncover your hidden true nature, thereby realizing your self-worth, understanding the principles of the world, and discovering the meaning of life on your own. Since the original mind is as vast as the world itself, seeking answers to life’s fundamental questions helps you find your life’s value and direction, and ultimately grasp the truths of the world.

Programs

Maum Meditation is offered in over 200 meditation centers across the country, making it easy for anyone to experience meditation. Major domestic and international companies, including large enterprises, have introduced Maum Meditation's mind extraction meditation for employee self-reflection, happiness, and welfare, and more than 100 schools are utilizing character development programs through this method.

There are meditation centers where office workers, students, housewives, and others can practice meditation as part of their daily lives. At each regional meditation center, Maum Meditation experts who have completed the entire training guide practitioners in the mind extraction method. These experts do not merely teach the technique—they assist, which is why they are called “helpers.” They provide lectures on the mind and offer guidance on how to empty the mind according to each stage of the process.

Theoretical Principles

Maum Meditation defines the mind as "a photograph taken by the five senses over the course of one's life." A photograph is something that appears real because it captures the form of an actual object with a camera, yet it is not the real thing—it is a fake that merely resembles the real one.

Accordingly, Maum Meditation explains that from the moment of birth until now, people have been storing everything they have seen, heard, and experienced in their minds (like taking a photograph) and inevitably live within that inner repository. Just as a photograph mirrors reality, a person's "photograph world" overlaps with the real world so completely that one is deceived into believing that one is living in the actual world.[1]

The reason our lives may sometimes feel meaningless or never entirely satisfying is that we live in a fabricated world—a false world (or "photograph world")—that is not the true reality. However, since this mental world originally does not exist, we refer to it as an illusory world or a photograph world.

For example, when you think of a friend, various impressions come to mind—images, feelings, smells, sounds, places you visited together, your own prejudices, and evaluations about that friend. These are simply what you have sensed, seen, and experienced; they are not the true essence of that friend. You can call that friend to mind and place them beside you, but what appears is not the real friend—it is a false representation. In other words, if all the recollections and impressions you have about that friend were to vanish, you would be able to see the friend as they truly are, without evaluation or judgment. They say one should not view others through prejudice, and the "mind extraction" method of Maum Meditation can be seen as a way to achieve that.

This is the crucial point: because the false image (the photograph) does not actually exist, it is possible to discard it from the mind. The fact that discarding this burdensome and illusory false mind causes it to disappear is one of the reasons why Maum Meditation is regarded as one of the leading meditation practices in the country.

According to Woo Myung, the founder of Maum Meditation, there are two types of mind. One is the false mind that must be discarded, and the other is the original mind that we have forgotten and need to reclaim. The mind to be discarded is the accumulation built up over a lifetime, whereas the mind to be reclaimed is the original mind that has been obscured by that accumulation. This reclaimed mind is also referred to as the cosmic mind, the true mind, or the genuine mind. Because it is known by other names such as Allah, God, or Buddha in various religions, it is sometimes mistakenly thought to be a religious concept.

That mind cannot be discovered through sermons or even through rigorous practice. No matter how eloquent the words, it cannot be found that way. Even if one searches for it for a lifetime, merely recognizing or confirming its existence once is said to be meaningless compared to living with it. It is claimed that by practicing the Maum Meditation method, one can find that mind in as little as a week (or even in a single day for quick learners), which those who have experienced it find truly astonishing. That mind is not mysterious like magic; rather, it is said to be as clear, universal, and pure as the gaze of a child. In any case, it is based on these principles of the mind that the "mind extraction" method of Maum Meditation was developed.

How to Practice Maum Meditation

Beginners learning Maum Meditation for the first time are strongly advised to do so at a nearby meditation center. Since this method involves "emptying" the mind—a practice most have never experienced—it's important to start correctly to avoid unnecessary hardship. To assist with this, each meditation center has meditation experts, known as “helpers.” The following outlines the general framework of Maum Meditation, giving you a sense of what to expect.

Adopt a Comfortable Posture
There is no prescribed posture or attire. There’s no fixed tradition regarding how to sit. If you plan to meditate for at least 30 minutes (or longer), tight clothing, like snug pants, would be too uncomfortable. Wear whatever is comfortable—any type of clothing will do. Typically, people sit on a chair with a cushion; however, if you lean too much against the backrest, you might fall asleep. You may adjust by resting lightly on the backrest and then releasing. Some individuals who experience back pain from prolonged sitting might use a desk chair or even sit on the edge. If you feel drowsy, standing is also acceptable, and those who have had disk surgery might choose to lie down. In Maum Meditation, there are no restrictions on attire or posture.

Breathe Naturally
Unlike other meditation techniques, there is no instruction to focus on your breathing or to concentrate on the sensation of a full belly. Simply allow your breath to flow naturally.

Reflect on Yourself and Become Aware
Meditation is fundamentally about turning your attention inward. The process begins with learning how to reflect on yourself. Although you might believe you can easily do this alone at home, it is challenging because distracting thoughts quickly arise. Viewing yourself objectively is not simple—when you’re alone, you inevitably see yourself through your own biased perspective, making it hard to adopt a third-person view. Only by trying to see yourself from another’s perspective can you gain the strength to notice even the parts of your mind you’d rather ignore. To effectively extract the unwanted parts of your mind, you first need to clearly recognize what needs to be removed. This requires a careful and deep self-reflection process. Before you know it, you might see even the most hidden aspects of yourself—the parts you’ve been trying to conceal. It might be embarrassingly painful or even anger-inducing, but experienced practitioners say that confronting these feelings head-on makes the extraction process more effective.

Perform the Mind Extraction
Proceed with the meditation by using the extraction method appropriate to each stage. Simply becoming aware of your mind may provide temporary relief, but it doesn’t resolve the underlying issues. To ensure that the problematic aspects of your mind do not recur, you must completely eliminate them. We often struggle with recurring issues because the problematic parts of our mind remain intact. Once you are ready to empty your mind, use the Maum Meditation method to remove the parts you identified during your self-reflection, following the appropriate stage-by-stage techniques. Remember, this process is entirely mental—you aren’t literally picking up objects and throwing them in the trash. It’s normal for beginners to wonder, "If I've emptied my mind, why does any part of it still remain?" Think of it like a pack of 100 sheets of toilet paper: even if you use 99 sheets, one sheet remains until every sheet is used. Similarly, you must continue the extraction until your mind is completely empty. If progress seems slow or ineffective, it might be because the part you’re trying to extract is as abundant as the sheets in a pack of toilet paper. Patience is essential.

Nonsan Main Center

At the Nonsan Main Center, you can engage in intensive meditation while staying on-site with lodging and meals. Being away from everyday life allows you to devote time entirely to yourself.

Registration Details:

Available Registration Days: Every Wednesday and Saturday
Meditation Period after Initial Registration: 7 nights and 8 days
Daily Schedule: The daily routine remains the same throughout the 7-night, 8-day period. As it is a concentrated meditation program, the schedule includes meditation, lectures, and stretching sessions, with ample time allotted for meals and rest.
Location: 749-23 Sangwol-ro, Sangwol-myeon, Nonsan, Chungcheongnam-do
Amenities at the Main Center

Convenience store, coin-operated laundry, walking paths, and more.

Customized Programs for Different Groups

Youth Camp

It is said that Maum Meditation does not directly operate the youth camp. Instead, it is conducted by another organization—the Jeonin Education Center—through a partnership agreement. This intensive meditation program, aimed at enhancing adolescents’ confidence, perseverance, and focus, is primarily held during school vacations Through a variety of experiential learning activities led by instructors comprised of meditation experts and current teachers, participants develop self-reliance and independence while nurturing a mindset of communication, cooperation, and coexistence. The program’s objective is to help young people grow into mature individuals with wise and positive minds who can embrace the world.

During the 2020 summer vacation, the overnight camp format was not held due to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, at the request of some participants, a day-camp format—where campers arrive in the morning and leave in the evening—was conducted for two days. It is widely understood that character is not merely about adhering to Joseon-era etiquette or learning how to appear well-behaved at academies; rather, true character is revealed when you reflect on your life and discard the accumulated mental baggage, allowing your genuine nature and unwavering self-esteem to emerge, which in turn naturally enhances your concentration.

Schedule: Held during school vacation periods
Website: http://www.meditationyouth.org/

University Student Camp

This program is conducted by the Jeonin Education Center in partnership with Maum Meditation. It is a specialized meditation camp exclusively for university students, designed to address the unique challenges faced by those in their twenties and to help them discover their life’s direction. Offered both during the academic semester and school vacations, the camp’s purpose is to empower students with the mental strength to truly understand and transform themselves through calm self-reflection on their life experiences. It is understood that the camp was not held during the 2020 summer vacation due to COVID-19. Interested individuals should check the website for details on how the camp will be organized in the upcoming winter vacation.

Organizer: Jeonin Education Center, Lifelong Learning Institute
Schedule: Vacation camp held twice a year / Weekend camp held monthly (please refer to the website for detailed schedules)
Target Audience: University students and those on academic leave nationwide (Vacation camp: 25 years old or younger / Weekend camp: 29 years old or younger)
Website: http://www.meditationuniv.org/

Teacher Training Program

This training program, boasting a tradition and credibility with over 4,500 teachers having completed it over an 18-year period since 2002, is tailored specifically for educators. It addresses the challenges of professional responsibility, heavy workloads, and the stress arising from interpersonal relationships. Until recently, it was conducted as part of in-service training and was even recognized for credit accumulation.

Schedule: Conducted as an overnight, residential program for 7 nights and 8 days during school vacations
Training Hours: 60 hours (with no performance scores or academic credits assigned)
Target Audience: Teachers and education professionals nationwide
Location: Maum Meditation Main Center (Sangwol-myeon, Nonsan, Chungcheongnam-do)
Website: http://www.meditationedu.org/

Customized Corporate Training Program

This program is highly effective in enhancing employees’ stress management and work efficiency, as well as improving their communication, understanding, and cooperation skills. It helps boost interdepartmental synergy and fosters a unified organizational culture.

Participating Companies: Samsung Electronics, Yuhan-Kimberly, Starbucks, Adidas, Korea Securities Finance, Korea Land and Housing Corporation, Busan Metropolitan City Human Resources Development Institute, Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, SK Telecom, SONY, Shinhan Investment, LG Chem, Seoul National University, KAIST, Korea Financial Training Institute, Seoul Milk Cooperative, Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency, Korea Hansen Welfare Association, Daegu Provincial Police Agency, Korea Women's Labor Association, Cowon Energy Services, Gyeonggi Welfare Foundation, Pohang City, and the Yongin Samsung Life Bloomings Women's Basketball Team.

Organizer: Jeonin Education Center, Corporate Training Specialist
Program: Based on the Maum Meditation “mind extraction” method, the program includes body and mind healing, gallery walks, walking meditation, one-on-one counseling/mentoring, and other optimized meditation programs tailored to meet the specific needs and characteristics of each company.
Website: http://www.meditationhrd.com/

Others

As the demand for meditation increases, more organizations are incorporating meditation into programs such as corporate employee training and school character education. The following outlines special Maum Meditation programs—custom meditation curricula provided upon request by companies, schools, and other institutions

Corporate and Government Offices
Maum Meditation has been used in training programs for corporate and governmental organizations. Training sessions have been held at companies and agencies such as Yuhan-Kimberly, SK Telecom, Korea Land and Housing Corporation, and the Busan Human Resources Development Institute.

School Character Education Programs
Character education, which aims to nurture children's character, is one of the most significant topics in today’s education. Although the importance of character education is widely recognized, its practical implementation has been challenging due to the lack of clear methods. As an alternative, an increasing number of schools are turning to meditation. This is because, in order to develop character, the mind must fundamentally change—and meditation has proven effective in transforming children’s inner selves and behaviors. Character education programs have been implemented in schools such as Seoul Gyeonggi Girls' High School, Seocho High School, Seobu Elementary School, Sacheon Middle School, Woo Shin High School, Jinhae Elementary School, Jeodong Middle School, and others. Additionally, institutions like KAIST, Dongshin University, and Sungshin Women's University have adopted these programs as part of their general education courses.

"Attending the session felt like finally throwing away all the heavy textbooks into the trash."-Testimonial from a second-year student at Woo Shin High School-

Free Semester Programs
In 2015, Maum Meditation classes were introduced at Daesan Middle School and Chungbuk Boeun Middle School. These classes were launched on a trial basis in anticipation of the full implementation of the Free Semester Program in 2016. In 2016, Maum Meditation classes were operated in eight schools—including Daesan Middle School, Gochang Middle School, Sacheon Middle School, and Seonin Middle School—with results that satisfied students, teachers, and parents alike.

"Once I let go of my victim mentality, I felt I could connect better with others and became noticeably brighter."-Testimonial from a student in the 2016 Free Semester Program at Daesan High School-

Coursera Course
Coursera, one of the world’s top three open online course platforms, has launched an online course introducing the self-reflection method of Maum Meditation. The course, titled "Self-Reflection for Human Perfection: An Engineering Approach," is taught in English by Professor Lee Deok-Ju of KAIST. It consists of 46 lectures over six weeks, covering the necessity of self-reflection, its principles and practical application, and the mind extraction methodology that transforms oneself.

"Something unusual happened today. I had a 10-minute consultation with a doctor at the hospital, and after the session, the nurse asked how I could be so positive and full of energy. I believe it’s because I practice self-reflection every day."—Shirley, a participant in the Coursera online meditation course-

Use in Psychological Therapy for PTSD and Cancer Patients
Meditation is also recognized for its benefits in psychotherapy. Maum Meditation, which facilitates complete mind extraction, is especially effective in clearing a wounded heart and instilling new hope. Meditation programs aimed at overcoming PTSD have been implemented at institutions such as Gyeonggi Fire School and Busan Gyeongnam Fire School, and meditation has been used in psychological therapy for cancer survivors as well. Notably, at the Songpa-gu Public Health Center, Maum Meditation was employed as a welfare program for psychological therapy for cancer survivors—the first of its kind at a public medical institution in Korea—and received significant acclaim.

"Just by recalling and discarding old memories, I found it unbelievable and astonishing that my heart became calm and my pain diminished."- A participant in the meditation program for cancer survivors-