The purpose of this study is to seek a doctrinal foundation for program development that combines Earthing, which focuses on physical healing, and Buddhist meditation to achieve peace of mind and liberation. Just as MBSR or MBCT in the West, which int...
The purpose of this study is to seek a doctrinal foundation for program development that combines Earthing, which focuses on physical healing, and Buddhist meditation to achieve peace of mind and liberation. Just as MBSR or MBCT in the West, which introduce Buddhist meditation methods, are very helpful for mind and body healing, it is inferred that internalizing Earthing in Buddhist meditation will be very helpful for mind and body health. The concept of Earthing was introduced by Clinton Ober in the United States in the early 2000s, and has recently been gaining popularity in Korea in the form of “barefoot walking” in 2023. In this study, I looked at several studies on the physical healing effects of Earthing, which emphasizes contact with the earth. In several studies, Earthing has raised interest even in the category of integrative medicine or alternative medicine, and through scientific and rational research, it has been found that Earthing brings benefits to physical health. In Buddhism, forms of Earthing can already be found in many places among the practice methods that have been passed down for 2,600 years. In the early scriptures, the Buddha's act of touching earth appeared here and there, and in the Mahayana Sutra, the practice and ideas of Bodhisattva using the earth, such as compassion, Ksitigarbha ideology, and Pure Land ideology, are discovered. This study utilizes existing literature and research to understand the characteristics of Earthing and employs methods such as exploring Chinese translated Buddhist scriptures, Buddhist texts, and other research to compile and categorize content related to Earthing within the vast database of the existing Buddha's teachings. The findings of this study reveal that not only were there elements of Earthing in the practice of Buddha Shakyamuni, but also that there were many positive concepts related to the land in Buddhist scriptures and writings. It is also noted that the positive image of the Earth is a universal one for humanity. Therefore, there is nothing foreign about creating a Buddhist meditation program that includes elements of grounding within the Buddhist doctrinal framework. I also believe that if this is programmed and practiced, it can be used positively for mental and physical health and spread. In addition to the main purpose of this study, I created a CEMM program by applying practical methods, including Earthing, which I do every day. I hope that through the CEMM program developed in this way, a Buddhist life that is healthy for both body and mind will spread widely.