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Buddhism includes of a wide variety of practices. In addition to Seon Meditation -- the type of meditation particular to Mahayana (Great Vehicle) Buddhism found in China, Korea, northern Vietnam, Taiwan and Japan -- there is prayer, chanting and devotional services. Methods of practice vary according to the culture and traditions of each nation, with Vipassana Meditation being popular in Theravada countries (South and Southeast Asia), and Tantric devotional practices in the Vajrayana (Thunderbolt) traditions of Tibet and Mongolia.
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Korean Seon or Zen is traditionally performed with a hwadu, or koan. Korea is renowned for retaining this outstanding meditation tradition that continues to flourish today, and Korean Buddhism proudly continues the meditation tradition of two 3-month intensive retreats, one in the summer and one in the winter.
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All Buddhist traditions include some form of meditation, and Seon is way to practice meditation in Mahayana Buddhism. This meditation brings an end to the 'monkey mind' that we all experience so that our minds become clear and we can return to our original self. There are many other terms for this return to the original self, including enlightenment, awakening, and realizing one's buddha nature.
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The hwadu or koan is used to achieve enlightenment. It is a kind of riddle that opens up the world of Great Doubt, and it is eventually solved intuitively rather than rationally or logically. There are more than 1,700 koan that have been passed down through tradition, and a meditator usually received one from his or her teacher. The most common one in Korea is "Who am I?" The aspirant carries this riddle in his heart throughout the meditation period and even beyond until it eventually becomes all consuming, even in sleep. In the Seon process, disciples often have give-and-take question-and-answer sessions with their teachers to check their progress.
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There are a number of postures in which to meditate, but the lotus position is the most common.
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