Korean Seon treats awakening not as something apart from ordinary life, but as the very heart of it. Formal seated meditation (jwaseon) is cultivated in the quiet of morning or evening, yet its purpose is to infuse the whole day with clear awareness. Walking, commuting, or performing household tasks become occasions for walking meditation and brief mindfulness sessions, in which thoughts and emotions are observed without clinging or judgment. In this way, the mind trained on the cushion is carried into every gesture and circumstance, so that daily life itself becomes the field of practice.

A distinctive feature of Seon is the use of hwadu or kong-an, short critical phrases or paradoxical questions that point beyond conceptual thinking. These are not confined to the meditation hall; practitioners silently sustain or contemplate them while working, traveling, or engaging in conversation, allowing the question to cut through distraction and self-centered habits. Study of Seon texts and Buddhist scriptures, together with reflection on koans, supports this inquiry, and some practitioners also engage in journaling and self-examination to clarify their understanding. Thus, intellectual study and contemplative questioning are woven together as complementary strands of a single discipline.

Ethical living is regarded as the natural expression of Seon rather than a separate obligation. The precepts, together with virtues such as compassion, generosity, and non-harming, are embodied in relationships at home, at work, and in society. Filial piety, social responsibility, and kindness are understood as manifestations of original nature when the mind is clear and unobstructed. In practical terms, this appears as mindful communication, careful attention to the impact of one’s actions, and a deliberate simplicity in lifestyle and consumption. Work itself is approached as Seon-in-action: tasks are carried out with undivided attention, and challenges are met with equanimity and presence.

Temple life offers a rhythm that supports this integration. Many practitioners participate in weekly or monthly visits for group meditation, chanting, bowing, and Dharma talks, or join temple-stay programs and intensive retreats such as yongmaeng jeongjin to deepen their practice. The atmosphere and discipline of the temple are then carried back into the home, where a small altar, regular chanting, or simple meditation can anchor family life in recollection and gratitude. Over time, the boundary between “practice time” and “ordinary time” grows thin, and meditation, ethical conduct, work, and relationships are experienced as facets of a single, continuous Seon practice.