bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

paywallTypes

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

The Korea Times

Jeon Hyun-soo, a psychiatrist and practitioner in Korea who has studied Buddhism for more than 40 years, believes that focusing on the present is key to overcoming life’s struggles.
“The answer to all problems lies in the present. Most of my patients focus on the past or future. Encouraging them to concentrate on the present allows them to see their problems as they are,” Jeon, 69, said.
He recently published A Guide to Using Buddhism and is the founder of Buddhist psychotherapy, which integrates Buddhist principles into treatment.
“The earliest Buddhist scriptures, which are closest to the words of Buddha, clearly outline ways to reduce suffering and find peace in life,” he said. “For modern people suffering from distress, they serve as both a wake-up call and the best remedy.”
I began to see Buddhism not as just another cultural tradition but from an entirely new perspective.
Jeon Hyun-soo, psychiatrist
Why did a psychiatrist adopt Buddhism as the foundation of his treatment?
“Buddhism is a perfect system for eliminating suffering,” he said.
His journey began when Ko Ik-jin, a Buddhist scholar at Dongguk University in Seoul, shared this with him as a second-year medical resident.
“That statement struck a chord with me and led me to study Buddhism. After all, psychiatry is also a tool to eliminate human suffering. I began to see Buddhism not as just another cultural tradition but from an entirely new perspective.”
As he immersed himself in Buddhist teachings and practices, he gained insight into the profound nature of the mind. However, his curiosity and desire to fully understand how to free and transform the mind deepened. This led him to shut down his clinic twice and dedicate himself entirely to meditation practice.

During a short-term ordination in Yangon, Myanmar, he studied Theravada Buddhist meditation techniques such as samatha and vipassana, ultimately experiencing the samadhi state, in which all mental afflictions disappear.
Theravada, known as the “Doctrine of the Elders”, is the school of Buddhism that draws its scriptural inspiration from the Pali canon, which scholars generally agree contains the earliest surviving record of the Buddha’s teachings.
For the past two decades, Jeon has refined a treatment system based on Buddhist teachings. He has collaborated with monks, psychologists and psychiatrists to study the intersection of Buddhism and therapy, and even founded the Korean Association of Buddhism and Psychotherapy.
Over several years, he learned Pali and Sanskrit to read the early scriptures, systematically applying their concepts to psychiatry.
“After repeated verification, I became convinced that Buddhism could be used as a therapeutic approach. It was a form of clinical experimentation. If I have found the most precise and well-tested treatment, why wouldn’t I use it?” Jeon said with a smile.
According to Buddhist principles, we train patients and, through meditation techniques, help them stop negative mental cycles.
Jeon Hyun-soo
How does he incorporate Buddhism into treatment programmes? Jeon first helps patients explore the nature of their body and mind.
The initial step of all treatment is making patients aware of their own anxieties, anger, obsession and compulsions, and identifying their origins. He then analyses how their mental pathways have formed.
Based on this, he prescribes a meditation technique suited to each patient, guiding them in reconstructing their minds.

“The mind can only focus on one thing at a time. According to Buddhist principles, we train patients to observe how their minds follow pre-established paths and, through specific and straightforward meditation techniques, help them stop negative mental cycles.”
His book serves as a guide for those who want to manage their minds using Buddhist principles without visiting a hospital.
“All suffering has a cause. This is the fundamental Buddhist principle of causality. The hopeful part is that we can create a new system depending on how we shape our minds. Remember, the path you take in life is the one you create.”
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.
Read the original story at The Korea Times.
Like what you read? Follow SCMP Lifestyle on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also sign up for our eNewsletter here.


Why psychiatrist in Korea puts Buddhism at the heart of his treatment for life’s struggles

Surfing psychologist’s study shows mental health benefits of the sport Hong Kong banned

Now in pill form, hair loss treatment minoxidil is easier to use and may be more effective

Why you should switch to waterless beauty products: skincare and other items from Kate McLeod, Kosmatology, Beauty Favours and Sbtrct are easier to travel with, less likely to spoil – and more sustainable

Wellness

A Buddhist monk in meditation. Psychiatrist Jeon Hyun-soo believes that focusing on the present is key to overcoming life’s struggles. Photo: Shutterstock

Jeon Hyun-soo, a psychiatrist in South Korea, meditates in a room next to his clinic. He studied Buddhism, was ordained as a monk, and prescribes Buddhist meditation to patients. Photo: courtesy of Jeon Hyun-soo

Psychiatrist Jeon Hyun-soo shaved his head and lived as an ordained monk in 2003 in Yangon, Myanmar. Photo: courtesy of Jeon Hyun-soo

Jeon Hyun-soo, a Korean psychiatrist, integrates Buddhism into his psychotherapy practice. Photo: courtesy of Bulkwang Media

Don’t gain weight or biohack, do exercise, sleep and think young to age well, experts say

To live a long and happy life, several experts agree, do things you like with people you love, and think yourself younger. 
Photo: Shutterstock

Nicklas Brendborg, aged 29, is a Danish scientist and bestselling author. Photo: www.nicklasbrendborg.com

The cover of Brendborg’s book. Photo: Amazon

Quit drinking alcohol if you want to live longer, says Dr John Tregoning, a medical school professor at Imperial College London. Photo: Light Republic Photography

The cover of Tregoning’s book. Photo: Amazon

Valter Longo, professor of gerontology and director of the Longevity Institute at the University of Southern California – Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, has coined the term “juventology”: how to stay young and healthy for as long as possible. Photo: instagram.com/prof_valterlongo

The cover of Longo’s book, The Longevity Diet, which supports daily 12-hour periods of eating and fasting. Photo: Amazon

Professor Andrew Scott at the London Business School and director of economics at the Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford, in the UK, is interested in longevity and ageing. Photo: London Business School

The cover of the book on longevity co-written by Scott. Photo: Amazon

How to prevent dementia, and 10 things to ask a doctor to help safeguard your brain health

Doctors should be able to answer your questions about dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

Having regular social interaction is one of the ways to reduce the risk of dementia as we age. Photo: Shutterstock

Sleep and dementia are linked, research suggests. A University College London study of people in their fifties and sixties found that those who got less than seven hours a night were at greater risk. Photo: Shutterstock

Studies show poor mental health can increase the risk of dementia later – even decades later – in life. Photo: Shutterstock

There is a plethora of research that suggests regular exercise significantly reduces the risk of dementia, so it is recommended to stay active. Photo: Shutterstock

Talk to your doctor about medication, for example if you struggle to afford it or are not sure whether you are taking it as prescribed. Photo: Shutterstock

Dealing with insomnia? Common-sense tips to help you fall asleep and get enough rest

Sleep restriction requires going to bed late, or later than usual, and getting up early. You might begin with just five-and-a-half-hours in bed and work up to six until you’ve found the optimum sleep amount for you. 
Photo: Shutterstock

The cover of Van de Laar’s book. Photo: Amazon

Hong Kong-based infant and adult sleep coach Gemma Fisk says that the US-based National Sleep Foundation recommends adults aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Photo: Ayelen Alcover Photography & Film

A Hadzabe man rests in a cave during hot midday hours. The Hadzabe tribe in northern Tanzania are, on average, awake for a couple of hours during the night, and don’t report a sleeping problem. Photo: Shutterstock 

If you find yourself awake in bed, give yourself time to drop back off. If you still can’t sleep, get up and do something relaxing: watch a favourite series or read a book. Photo: Shutterstock

Dutch sleep therapist Dr Merijn van de Laar offers understanding and advice to help people sleep better. Photo: gutkind-verlag.de

Lifestyle

Health & Wellness

Health

Doctor calls Buddhism ‘a perfect system for eliminating suffering’ – the goal of psychiatry. So he prescribes patients Buddhist meditation


Doctor calls Buddhism ‘a perfect system for eliminating suffering’ – the goal of psychiatry. So he prescribes patients Buddhist meditation.


Meditation and how to find balance

Meditation & Mindfulness

Mental health

Korea Times