β¨ Discovering True Rest Through Sweat and Soil
These days, most of us spend our lives sitting at our desks, staring at computer monitors and cell phones, confined to the four walls of our offices and homes. We are more connected digitally than ever before, yet many of us feel profoundly disconnected from the worldβand from ourselves.
At Santa Clara Meditation, we know that true healing often requires stepping away from the screen and reconnecting with the earth. That is why the Ma-eum Su-ryun curriculum features a highly unique and transformative element: the Farming Program.
Conducted alongside the meditation program starting from Level 4, this hands-on agricultural experience allows participants to step outside, breathe the fresh air, and grow crops like sesame leaves, cabbages, radishes, and blueberries. But this isn’t just about agriculture; it is a profound meditation practice where you can discover and discard your deeply ingrained mental habits while physically moving your body.
πΏ Healing Simply by Being in Nature
Many participants share that just stepping on the earth, feeling the blowing wind, and looking at nature while working in the fields is immensely healing in itself.
“Ah, so this is how we are originally one with nature.” “As someone who only knew how to ride the subway and drive cars, stepping on the dirt here made me think, ‘Ah, so this is how we are originally one with nature.’ It was so good. I had never experienced that before.” β Lim OO (Level 4)
“I feel a sense of reward and joy…” “…when the sesame leaves and lettuce I harvested with my sweat are served on the dinner table at the Main Center that day.” β Moon OO (Level 7)
“The living things come alive.” “Even though it’s my first time, it’s fun. It’s rewarding too. When you water them, the living things come alive.” β Kim OO (Level 4)
π Changing Lifelong Habits of the Mind
We all have habits we wish we could break: the tendency to give up when things get hard, being lazy, quitting out of frustration, or abandoning plans after just three days.
As you move your body during the farming training, you become acutely aware of the habitual minds that arise. Through Mind Subtraction, you can find the root causes of these patterns and discard them on the spot. By overcoming the resistance of your body and mind, genuine confidence naturally emerges.
“When I looked back on myself… I realized that I experienced discomfort in my interpersonal relationships because I was so conscious of others due to my desire for recognition. However, while doing the farming training, I saw myself habitually moving with that exact mind. Since I acknowledged and discarded that mind again, my interpersonal relationships became much more comfortable… Because I focus only on what I need to do in each moment, my efficiency increases.” β Han OO (Level 5)
“I usually didn’t do any farming or physical activities, so when I came here and moved my body, it was hard at first… I thought I wouldn’t be able to get up the next day, but amazingly, I woke up feeling even more refreshed in the morning. Now, farming is actually fun, and I feel like my body is gradually getting lighter.” β Hwang OO (Level 4)
π§ Detox: Releasing Toxins from the Body
Did you know that the stress and unexpressed emotions unknowingly accumulated inside you can actually block the flow of energy in your body?
Through farming training, you move your usually stiff body and break a sweat. At the same time, when you reflect on and discard the minds ingrained in your body, the stress vanishes, and the toxins trapped in your cells are released.
“My body has improved a lot. It’s because I discard my mind while farming. My back used to be in really bad shape, but amazingly, it doesn’t hurt now. I think it hurt because I had the mind that it was hurting. As I did the mind subtraction according to the method, the mind I had regarding people disappeared the most. It’s amazing.” β Choi OO (Level 6)
π “The First Real Rest I’ve Ever Had”
For many high-achieving professionals, the idea of physical labor seems daunting or even unnecessary. But for Dr. Lee Nam-gyu, a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, it became the ultimate release.
A Scientist’s Reflection: “Having physical limitations, I couldn’t even serve in the military, and I had almost never done any physical labor. Yet, there I was, staggering while carrying compost, stepping on a shovel with one foot, and planting seedlings. Although my movements were clumsy, I was so amazed and grateful that I was doing these tasks joyfully.
Not only did I overcome my fear and limitations of thinking ‘I can’t do it because I’ve never done it,’ but my preconceived notion that ‘physical labor’ was somehow unsightly completely collapsed.
The best part of all was that my brain, which had never rested once in my entire life, got to rest completely. I never knew that moving my body vigorously could put my mind so much at ease. A life where I thought being a Ph.D. and doing research were everything… When I let go of myself, I naturally bowed my head as I began to understand the wisdom of nature and the principles of the world one by one. The anger and hatred that had filled me completely vanished, too.”
Whether you are looking to break old habits, detoxify your body, or simply give your overworked brain a genuine rest, letting go of the mind is the path to true freedom. We invite you to begin your journey of self-discovery and lasting peace at Santa Clara Meditation! β¨
