On October 11, 2024, Venerable Jinwoo met with renowned mindfulness teacher Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn at the Korean Cultural Center in New York to discuss the parallels and differences between Eastern and Western meditation and to explore ways to promote Korean Ganhwaseon meditation worldwide.

Venerable Jinwoo emphasized that “Korean Ganhwaseon meditation is one of the traditional meditation practices particularly effective in cutting off conflicts and afflictions. Its essence lies in concentrating on a meditative question(Hwadu), enabling one to let go moment by moment and maintain peace.” He added, “While mindfulness emphasizes awareness of the present moment, Ganhwaseon involves peacefully embracing both suffering and joy experienced in the process, ultimately seeking liberation.” 

Dr. Kabat-Zinn responded, “The goal of both mindfulness and Ganhwaseon is not to eliminate suffering, but to train oneself in how to embrace it. Mindfulness, especially in a clinical setting, is used with patients suffering from pain and stress, and healing occurs through recognizing and accepting the nature of suffering.”

He added, “Mindfulness and Ganhwaseon are not different; both ultimately pursue individual peace and enlightenment.”