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AHYMSIN Korea on The First UN World Meditation Day
Published: 8 January 2025 | Written by Heejung Lee and Woo Jeehyun
We heard from Divya that December 21st was designated as World Meditation Day, and we set two goals: to make it widely known that December 21st was designated as World Meditation Day and to have AHYMSIN Family members, like at Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Ashram (SRSG), meditate continuously for 24 hours.
We prepared posters and banner designs for the first goal and distributed them to AHYMSIN members who run the yoga centers.
They installed posters and banners inside and outside the centers to make it widely known.
For the second goal, to continue meditation for 24 hours, we did it from 10:30 AM on the 21st to 11:30 AM on the 22nd, the same time as the Indian Ashram. From 10:30 AM to 9:30 PM on the 21st, the yoga centers set a time for meditation in a relay, and from 9:30 PM on the 21st, we put a meditation schedule centered around AHYMSIN Korea Faculty members so that meditation would not be interrupted.
In this way, AHYMSIN Korea celebrated the first UN World Meditation Day with many initiates and non-initiates. Those who participated were very happy and grateful that this day was designated. They said that their meditation practice became deeper through this day.
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And here is the The First UN World Meditation Day experienced by Woo Jeehyun.
She was initiated by Swami Ma Ratha in 2020. She is currently studying at AHYMSIN Korea TTP and runs Orn Yoga Center in Seoul.
“It has been a joyful experience preparing for the first World Meditation Day with Ahymsin. I have been happily contemplating how to commemorate this day with the yoga center members while deeply embedding the significance of meditation into our daily lives—aiming for a tone that is neither too heavy nor too light.
First, I promoted the UN-designated World Meditation Day during the week before the classes. Even if they are busy on that day, I encouraged members to stop by the yoga center, even if just for a moment, to close their eyes and focus on their calm breathing, enjoying the collective energy of meditation shared worldwide.
Our yoga center’s training approach emphasizes relaxed classes focused on asanas and breath awareness. Members who have experienced the joy of relaxation through our Yoga Nidra sessions on Fridays expressed their eagerness to participate and join in.
From 2 PM to 6 PM, we kept the lights of the yoga center on, inviting anyone to come by for 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or even more than an hour. A total of 17 members registered to share their availability to participate.”
At 2 o’clock, I took care of the seating for the first member who arrived on time.”
Meditation Sequence
- Roll up the mat from the back (and place a cushion or blanket on it if needed), then sit comfortably with your sit bones resting on top.
- Align your head, neck, and torso in a straight line.
- Feel the breath in your nostrils and relax your entire body.
- Observe your breathing calmly, and if thoughts arise, simply watch them come and go.
- Silently chant “So” as you inhale and “Ham” as you exhale.
- Meditate for as long as feels comfortable.
I suggested following this meditation sequence. Then, I played Swami Rama’s meditation guide video and read aloud the Korean translation alongside his voice as a 10-minute meditation guide. Afterward, participants continued meditating on their own for over 30 minutes.
As she left, she smiled brightly with a relaxed expression, holding the prepared rice cakes and meditation booklets in her hands. She mentioned that the meditation guide was helpful and that it was a wonderful experience.
At 3:30 PM, Professor Kim, MeeKyung and Instructor Seol, Mira from AHYMSIN Korea visited the yoga center and participated in the meditation session until the very end. Perhaps because they generously shared AHYMSIN’s energy, some members who joined afterward remarked that they had never experienced a group meditation that was so serene and allowed for such deep concentration.
We laid out our mats, and between 2 PM and 6 PM, a total of 14 members participated in meditation at their own preferred times. They meditated for durations ranging from 20 minutes to as long as an hour. When asked about their experiences, one member shared that living in a shared house made it rare to have such a quiet, prolonged moment of stillness, and it brought her a sense of peace and happiness. Another member, who described herself as having many thoughts, mentioned that during meditation, more thoughts initially surfaced, making her realize how much she thinks. However, after repeatedly focusing their awareness on the flow of breath between her nostrils and her navel, she started to feel a gradual clearing of their thoughts. Another participant mentioned experiencing a blank state—not quite sleep, not fully awake—but a sense of comfort and happiness that they couldn’t quite define.
These reflections made me realize that rather than providing extensive explanations or instructions about meditation, allowing individuals to participate and have their own experiences is indeed the best approach.
Since taking photos during meditation is not possible, I took a few pictures whenever participants who planned to join came for practice the day before. When I mentioned that the photos would be shared with the association, they kindly smiled and willingly posed for the pictures.
The morning after World Meditation Day, I proposed setting aside a short period of silent meditation—ranging from 2 to 5 minutes—at the end of each practice session during this week, accompanied by a banner. Everyone gladly embraced the idea and took the time to face their inner stillness. Moving forward, The Orn Yoga practice will incorporate more silent meditation into sessions, working with regular members to learn and explore the true meaning of yoga meditation through practice. I am grateful to Ahymsin for giving us this opportunity to participate in ‘The first UN World Meditation Day’.