Anger and stress are not always visible from the outside.
Many people continue with daily life while carrying emotional pressure, resentment, anxiety, worry, and inner tension. Over time, these unresolved minds can affect relationships, work, sleep, physical comfort, and overall well-being.
A feature published by Kyunghyang Shinmun introduced research reported in Stress Research, the journal of the Korean Society of Stress in Medicine, on the effects of Ma-eum Su-ryun meditation on stress and Hwabyung symptoms.
Hwabyung is often described as a Korean culture-related syndrome connected to long-term suppressed anger, emotional distress, and stress-related symptoms.
According to the article, the study found that Ma-eum Su-ryun meditation showed meaningful positive changes in anger, stress, emotional symptoms, physical discomfort, and self-understanding.
π± RESEARCH ON STRESS AND HWABYUNG
The study was introduced under the title:
βThe Coping Effect of Ma-eum Su-ryun Meditation on Hwabyung and Stress Symptoms.β
The research involved professors and researchers from Duksung Womenβs Universityβs Psychology Department, including Professor Jung Joon-yong, Professor Kim Jung-ho, and Professor Kim Mi-ri-hye, along with psychiatrist Dr. Kim Jung-il.
The study included 120 ordinary participants, consisting of 65 men and 55 women, who took part in the seven-night, eight-day Level 1 course at the Ma-eum Su-ryun Meditation Main Center.
To examine the effects of the meditation program, the researchers used professional assessment tools, including:
β’ Hwabyung symptom scale
β’ Symptom Checklist-90-Revised
β’ Subjective experience questionnaires
β’ SPSS 18.0 medical statistical analysis
This research drew attention because it looked at Ma-eum Su-ryun meditation not only as a general meditation practice, but also as a method related to stress, emotional regulation, and mind-body health.
π IMPROVEMENT IN ANGER AND STRESS SYMPTOMS
According to the article, the study reported decreases in symptoms associated with Hwabyung, often described as chronic anger-related distress.
These symptoms included:
β’ Obsessive-compulsive traits
β’ Interpersonal sensitivity
β’ Depression
β’ Anxiety
β’ Hostility
β’ Phobic anxiety
β’ Paranoia
β’ Psychotic symptoms
The article also noted that participants reported psychological changes such as reduced depression, anxiety, fear, mental burden, worry, nervousness, impatience, inferiority, guilt, and distracting thoughts.
At the same time, participants reported feeling more stable, peaceful, confident, and focused.
This suggests that self-reflection meditation may help people not only calm the mind temporarily, but also look more deeply at the emotional roots of stress.
π 73.3% REPORTED THEIR MOST DIFFICULT MENTAL PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED
One of the most notable findings reported in the article was that immediately after the meditation program, 73.3% of participants said the mental problem they had struggled with the most had been resolved.
Among the participants:
β’ 5.2% reported complete resolution
β’ 27.6% reported it was almost resolved
β’ 40.5% reported it was greatly resolved
Together, these results represented 85 out of 120 participants.
While individual experiences may vary, the reported results suggest that the meditation program had a meaningful impact for many participants within a relatively short period.
πΈ PHYSICAL CHANGES REPORTED BY PARTICIPANTS
The article also described physical improvements that participants reported after the meditation program.
These included changes related to:
β’ Insomnia
β’ Headaches
β’ Shoulder and back pain
β’ Constipation
β’ Indigestion
β’ Chest tightness
β’ Knots in the pit of the stomach
β’ Lightheadedness
β’ Facial flushing when angry
β’ Bodily heaviness
β’ Feeling a clearer head
Stress and anger can often be experienced not only emotionally, but also physically.
When the mind is heavy, the body may also feel tense, tired, or uncomfortable.
The studyβs findings suggest that mind-body health may improve when people reflect on and let go of the minds that create emotional burden.
π SELF-REFLECTION AND INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Another meaningful part of the study was the change participants reported in their understanding of themselves and their relationships.
According to the article, some participants reflected more deeply on the preciousness of their families and felt gratitude toward family members.
Others reported resolving resentment toward family members, spouses, parents, or in-laws.
Some participants also reflected on past mistakes and felt repentance.
This is important because stress is often connected not only to external situations, but also to unresolved memories, relationships, expectations, and emotional wounds.
Through Ma-eum Su-ryun meditation, participants were able to look back on their lives and let go of the minds that had been creating pain.
This process of self-reflection may help people relate to others with more understanding, gratitude, and peace.
πΏ CHANGING THE MIND FROM WITHIN
The article also introduced a survey on preferred treatments among Hwabyung patients.
When asked what they believed was necessary to heal Hwabyung, many respondents pointed to inner change rather than only outside solutions.
The responses included:
β’ 47.7% said a shift in thinking and forgiveness
β’ 34.4% said resolving the cause of stress
β’ 29.8% said ventilation or hobby activities
β’ 11.3% said hospital treatment
At the same time, 65.8% believed Hwabyung would be difficult to cure.
The article explained that this is because changing oneβs own mind is not easy.
This is where Ma-eum Su-ryun meditation received attention.
The study noted that for Hwabyung and stress-related symptoms, it is important to apply a method that can help people change their own minds.
Ma-eum Su-ryun meditation was presented as a method that supports this process through self-reflection and discarding the accumulated mind.
β¨ A PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC MECHANISM OF SELF-REFLECTION
The paper introduced Ma-eum Su-ryun meditation as a practice in which concentration and insight are integrated.
From a psychotherapeutic perspective, the article described the Ma-eum Su-ryun method as a process of reflectively looking back on oneβs past life and discarding the minds formed from it.
The paper noted that this process contains an important psychotherapeutic mechanism.
In other words, the practice does not only aim to relax the mind.
It helps people examine the root of their thoughts, emotions, reactions, and suffering.
By seeing these inner patterns clearly and letting them go, people may experience meaningful emotional and psychological change.
ποΈ WHY STRESS MANAGEMENT MATTERS TODAY
The article also expressed concern about the high level of perceived stress in Korean society.
It noted that Hwabyung was appearing not only among middle-aged women, but also among middle-aged men.
The paper further suggested that several groups may be at higher risk for stress-related symptoms, including:
β’ Job seekers experiencing youth unemployment
β’ Teenagers under intense academic pressure
β’ Emotional laborers in the service industry
β’ People who must suppress and control emotions at work
For these groups, stress may build up silently over time.
The article suggested that Ma-eum Su-ryun meditation may be used in the future as a method for preventing and managing symptoms related to Hwabyung and stress.
πΏ EMPTYING THE MIND FOR PEACE AND HEALING
The Kyunghyang Shinmun article highlights an important message:
Stress and anger are not only problems to endure.
They are minds that can be understood, reflected upon, and let go.
Through Ma-eum Su-ryun meditation, participants in the study were able to look back on the minds they had accumulated and practice discarding them.
Many reported improvements in emotional symptoms, physical discomfort, confidence, concentration, relationships, and peace of mind.
While meditation is not a replacement for professional medical care when needed, this research suggests that self-reflection meditation may be a meaningful support for people seeking to reduce stress, release anger, and recover a calmer mind.
When the mind becomes lighter, life can become more peaceful.
And when people let go of the minds that cause suffering, healing can begin from within.
π° ABOUT THE ARTICLE
Publication: Kyunghyang Shinmun
Article Title: Korean Society of Stress in Medicine Reveals Ma-eum Su-ryun Meditationβs Efficacy in Improving Anger and Stress
Published: September 16, 2015
