Calm Mind, Subtract Meditation

Subtraction meditation, also known as Maum meditation, is a technique that involves the removal of things from the mind. The word Maum means memory in Korean, and the practice is based on the idea that the human mind is full of pictures or concepts that are stored and dictate our thoughts, emotions, desires, behaviours and health. These images are often of traumatic memories or negative thoughts, and by removing them through meditation, practitioners aim to achieve a sense of liberation and peace.

The method was founded in 1996 by Woo Myung in South Korea and has since gained both supporters and critics. It consists of eight levels, with the first seven preparing the practitioner to leave the false world and enter the real one. The process involves visualising the death of one's physical body, imagining emotions and thoughts being thrown into a black hole, and performing simple chores while associating them with the destruction of one's physical form.

While some practitioners have reported positive experiences and improvements in their mental health, others have accused Maum of being a cult, manipulating people into believing their world is fake, and employing aggressive marketing tactics.

Recognise the false mind

Recognising the False Mind

The concept of the 'false mind' is central to Maum meditation, a syncretic religion founded in 1996 by Woo Myung in South Korea. Maum meditation is a form of subtraction meditation, which involves removing things from the mind. The basic idea is to overcome the 'false mind' by imagining one's death or falling into a black hole.

The 'false mind' is the perception of the world that is clouded by our own thoughts, interpretations, and judgments. It is the idea that our personalities, physical attributes, thoughts, emotions, associations, etc. are temporary and that we need to let go of our attachment to them to find relief from stress and control. This is similar to the Buddhist concept of 'beginner's mind', which Shunryu Suzuki describes as a mind "free from pre-conceptions".

The 'false mind' is also associated with the idea of false memories. Mindfulness meditation, which encourages judgment-free thoughts and feelings, can lead to an increased susceptibility to false memories.

To recognise the 'false mind', Maum meditation uses eight stages. The first seven stages prepare the practitioner to leave the false world and enter the real world. The first stage aims to create oneness between the practitioner and the universe by visualising the death of the physical body and imagining the soul floating off into space. The second stage, which moves the practitioner past feelings, emotions, and thoughts, involves visualising a black hole and throwing one's emotions, thoughts, and spiritual self into it. The third stage destroys one's emotions and memories by imagining possessions on a conveyor belt moving into a fire and being destroyed. The fourth stage and the following stages involve associating simple chores like cleaning dishes with the destruction of the physical form.

While Maum meditation has been criticised and accused of being a cult, some people have found it helpful in removing mental clutter and gaining control over their thoughts and memories. It is important to approach any meditation practice with caution and to be aware of the potential risks involved.

Visualise death and detachment from the physical body

Visualising death and detachment from the physical body is a common practice in Southeast Asian Buddhist monasteries. The Buddha taught that awareness of our mortality helps us live a happier and more meaningful life. This is a central teaching of Tibetan Buddhism, known as one of the "Four Thoughts", which turn the mind towards spiritual practice.

The Maum meditation technique, founded by Woo Myung in South Korea, also involves imagining your physical death. This method aims to help people move out of a "false world" and into the real one. The first stage of Maum meditation involves visualising the death of your physical body and imagining your soul floating off into space.

Death meditation can also involve visualising the decomposition of the physical body. The Satipatthana Sutta and the Kayagata-sati Sutta include sections on cemetery contemplations, which focus on nine stages of corpse decomposition. These include:

• A corpse that is "swollen, blue and festering."
• A corpse that is "being eaten by crows, hawks, vultures, dogs, jackals or by different kinds of worms."
• A corpse that is "reduced to a skeleton together with (some) flesh and blood held in by the tendons."
• A corpse that is "reduced to bones gone loose, scattered in all directions."
• A corpse that is "reduced to bones, white in color like a conch."
• A corpse that is "reduced to bones more than a year old, heaped together."
• A corpse that is "reduced to bones gone rotten and become dust."

Death meditation can also involve imagining your consciousness or soul leaving your body. One source suggests that you imagine your consciousness as a kind of energy, shrinking from every part of your body and concentrating around your heart. You can then imagine this energy leaving your body.

Another source recommends lying flat on your back, closing your eyes, and relaxing each part of your body one by one. Once you are completely relaxed, you can begin to imagine that you are dying. Imagine that all the muscles in your body, along with their tissues and cells, and all your arteries and veins, are losing their strength and vitality. You can then move your attention from the lowest parts of your body to the higher parts, imagining that each region is dying.

Death meditation can be a powerful tool for self-reflection and spiritual growth. However, it is important to approach it with caution and respect, as contemplating one's death can be a deeply intense and emotional experience.

Identify and discard the images and concepts that make up the false mind

Maum meditation is a syncrenic religion founded in 1996 by Woo Myung in South Korea. It is a form of subtraction meditation that uses eight stages to help practitioners leave the false world and enter the real world.

The false world is believed to be a self-made world, or a "picture world", that does not actually exist. Humans are said to live in this false world because it overlaps the true world. The false world is made up of pictures or concepts of our lives, thoughts, and memories. These images are stored within our minds and bodies through our five senses and dictate our thoughts, emotions, desires, behaviours, and health.

To identify and discard these images and concepts that make up the false mind, Maum meditation employs a seven-step guided method of subtraction. The process involves three components: recalling the remembered thoughts and images, reflecting on the pictures to increase self-awareness, and throwing away the pictures with a guided visualisation.

• Sit comfortably on a meditation cushion or yoga mat.
• Visualise the death of your physical body and imagine your soul floating off into space.
• Imagine that you are in space and there is a black hole next to you. Visualise yourself throwing your emotions, thoughts, and spiritual self into this black hole.
• Imagine putting everything that defines you (your possessions) onto a conveyor belt that moves towards a fire, destroying them.
• Associate simple chores like cleaning the dishes with the destruction of your physical form.
• Repeat the above process with different chores, imagining your physical form being destroyed more and more with each task.

By following these steps and visualisations, practitioners of Maum meditation aim to detach from the illusionary pictures and concepts that make up their false minds. This process is believed to be necessary for escaping the false world and discovering one's true nature and the true world.

Understand the true self and the true world

Subtraction meditation, also known as Maum meditation, is a technique created by Woo Myung in 1996 in South Korea. It is a controversial practice that has been accused of being a cult. The basic concept of Maum meditation is to overcome the "false mind" and move from a false world to the real world.

Understanding Your True Self

Your true self is the real you beyond your personality. It is the authentic version of yourself, free from the conditioning, illusions, and dysfunctional patterns imposed by society. By connecting with your true self, you can live a life that is aligned with your true purpose and potential.

Understanding the True World

The true world, as conceptualised in Maum meditation, is the real world that exists beyond the "false world" of our perceptions and interpretations. It is a world free from the lens of our personal experiences, where we can perceive reality more objectively.

Stages of Subtraction Meditation for Understanding the True Self and True World

Maum meditation consists of eight stages, with the first seven stages preparing the practitioner to leave the false world and enter the true world:

• Oneness with the Universe: Visualise the death of your physical body and imagine your soul floating off into space, becoming one with the universe.
• Recognising the "False Mind": Imagine yourself in space with a black hole next to you. Throw your emotions, thoughts, and spiritual self into the black hole, destroying your memories and emotions.
• Discarding the Physical Form: Associate a simple chore, like cleaning dishes, with the destruction of your physical form.

4-7. Repetition and Intensification: Repeat stage three with different chores, intensifying the destruction of your physical form with each repetition.

Benefits of Understanding Your True Self and the True World

Practising subtraction meditation to understand your true self and the true world can bring about several benefits, including:

• Increased self-awareness and self-realisation
• Improved mental clarity and emotional peace
• Liberation from societal conditioning and illusions
• Enhanced spiritual connection and awakening
• Greater authenticity, wisdom, compassion, and gratitude

Cautions and Criticisms

While subtraction meditation can lead to positive outcomes, it is important to approach it with caution due to the following reasons:

• It has been criticised for being a cult, with accusations of tricking people into believing their world is fake.
• The technique involves a significant time commitment, with each meditation lasting around three hours.
• There is pressure to pay large sums of money to complete the final stage of training.
• There is limited information available about the technique before signing up, and critics have noted aggressive marketing tactics.
• Some practitioners have reported negative experiences, including feelings of confusion, anxiety, and cognitive dissonance.

In conclusion, while subtraction meditation may offer benefits, it is important to approach it with caution and conduct further research before committing to it as a practice.

Achieve oneness with the universe

Achieving oneness with the universe is a central tenet of many religious, spiritual, and philosophical traditions. Oneness is often described as a state of consciousness in which the individual transcends the sense of self and becomes unified with the world around them. This state is characterised by a deep sense of peace, harmony, and unconditional love.

Community

Being part of a harmonious community can help foster a sense of oneness. Community allows us to open up to new ideas, dissolve our barriers and limiting beliefs, and connect with others in a meaningful way. It provides an opportunity to serve and support others, which can lead to a greater sense of unity and shared purpose.

Meditation

Meditation is a powerful tool for achieving oneness. Through meditation, we can transcend our thoughts and enter a state of pure awareness, where the sense of self dissolves and we become one with the universe. This can be achieved by focusing on our breath, visualising our connection to the universe, or using specific techniques such as the Maum meditation technique.

Conscious Actions

Being conscious of our thoughts, emotions, and actions can help us cultivate oneness. By being mindful of how our choices and reactions affect ourselves and others, we can develop a sense of unity and belonging. We can also practice conscious actions by being more aware of our surroundings and recognising the world as a reflection of ourselves.

Self-Reflection

Self-reflection is a powerful tool for achieving oneness. One practice is to look into your eyes in the mirror and affirm, "I am the universe" or "I am the totality". This helps to remind us of our soul's inherent connection to the universe and can be a powerful way to cultivate oneness.

Love

Love is a unifying force that can help us achieve oneness. When we love, we become one with the object of our love, transcending our sense of self and merging with something greater. By cultivating love for ourselves, others, and the world around us, we can tap into this powerful force and experience oneness.

By incorporating these practices into our lives, we can begin to dissolve the illusion of duality and separation, and instead, embrace the truth of our inherent oneness with the universe.

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