Exploring the Essential Meaning of Prayer in Human Life and ....

[진영]

In Korean 한글번역

https://cafe.daum.net/enlightenment-k/dcM5/485?svc=cafeapi

인간 삶 속기도의 본질적 의미 고찰과 진영쌍검류 수련을 통한 비교분석

 
 📘 Title:
Exploring the Essential Meaning of Prayer in Human Life and a Comparative Analysis Through the Practice of Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu


 
Today, I happened to come across an explanation of prayer that someone had posted on social media.
Although it lacked much of the true essence of what prayer really means,
it suddenly sparked in me the idea of comparing it with the core philosophy of Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu practice.

🧭 Introduction: Understanding the Essence of Prayer

Let us begin by reflecting on the original meaning of the word *prayer*.

Based on its essential significance, this essay compares the core of prayer
 with the foundational philosophy of Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu practice.

Since the word *prayer* may seem awkward or out of place in the context of martial arts, 
let us first briefly explain it for clarity.

If prayer is an act of approaching the Divine with sincerity, 
then the core philosophy of Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu lies in sensing the energy of nature
—its resonance, its love—and realizing its truth through harmony and balance.

In other words, 
approaching the love of nature, recognizing it as a real force through the body, 
and awakening to it lead to a more abundant and relaxed life.

If prayer is about encountering the Divine to obtain what one needs or longs for, 
then the heart of mental training is about encountering nature and becoming one with it—gaining what is needed in life by accumulating love through that connection.

Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu Haedong Kumdo training can be seen 
as a spiritual and physical practice for life itself.


✨ Etymological Analysis of "Prayer" (祈禱)

The word *Prayer (禱)* is composed of two Chinese characters.
Let us examine each of them through the traditional method of character decomposition (破字 / *paja*).

🔹 祈 (*Gi* – “to pray”)
Structure: 礻("shi" radical meaning divine/spirit) + 斤 (“axe” symbol)

Interpretation:
- 礻 (the 'divine' radical) represents the *Shin (神)*—a sacred being or divine force—often associated with rituals, offerings, or spiritual connection.
- 斤 (axe) was historically used in sacrificial rituals and symbolizes decisive will, strength, and separation.

👉 Therefore, 祈 means:
“To earnestly implore before the Divine,”  
“To appeal with a heart full of determination.”

The axe (斤) adds the nuance of a strong will to step forward with resolve, expanding the meaning to include facing the Divine with conviction and sincerity.

🔹 禱 (*Do* – “to invoke / beseech”)
Structure: 礻("shi" divine radical) + 壽 (abbreviated form of “long life”)

Interpretation:
- 礻 again refers to the Divine.
- 壽 originally means “longevity” and carries the connotation of blessings (福), lifespan (壽命), and sacred wishes (祝願).

👉 Therefore, 禱 means:
“To ask for blessings and life from the Divine,”  
“To offer sincere invocations or benedictions.”

🧭 Combined Understanding:
 
祈禱 (Prayer) is the act of:
“Approaching the Divine with a heart full of earnestness and unwavering will (祈),
and invoking blessings and the essence of life itself with reverence and hope (禱).”
 
Both characters share the 礻 radical, underscoring the essential theme of:
● Connection to the Divine,
● Communication with the invisible,
● Expression‎ of truth, sincerity, and heartfelt intent.

🧭 The Essence of Prayer and Its Connection with the Training Philosophy of Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu


 
1️⃣ The Etymological Core of Prayer
 

Component	Meaning
祈	示 (Divine) + 斤 (Axe): Approaching the Divine with resolute will and sincerity
禱	示 (Divine) + 壽 (Life): Wishing for blessings and long life from the Divine
Core Meaning	A sincere act of petition offered before an invisible, transcendent being

❝ Prayer is the expression‎ of deep inner sincerity and determination.
It is the act of realigning one’s life by seeking direction through true connection with the invisible Divine. ❞


 
2️⃣ The Prayerful Attitude Within Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu Training
 
 

In Prayer	In Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu Practice
🙏 Reverent approach before the Divine	🌿 Lowering the body and mind before the laws of nature – an encounter with the natural order
🔨 Sincere and decisive heart, like an axe	🥋 Understanding the flow of energy and the principles of the universe through a single sword cut
🕊️ Faith in the unseen	🌌 Awareness and resonance with the flow of Ki – contemplating the principle of spontaneous bodily movement
🌱 Desire for blessings	🧘‍♂️ Inner purification through disciplined body and mind – cultivating harmony in life

❝ Training in Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu is not merely technical.
It is a way to immerse the body in the rhythm of natural energy,
recognize the essence of Ki through the body, reflect through movement,
and unite with nature through breath. ❞


3️⃣ Differences and Common Ground Between Prayer and Kimu Training
 
 

Category	Prayer	Kimu Training
Object	Divine (神)	The love of nature (resonance or energy)
Method	Verbal or heartfelt petition	Bodily, breathing, and movement-based awareness – sensing, seeing, hearing
Starting Point	A desperate request to an external being	Union with nature through the origin of one’s true mind – where the body-self and mind-self become one
Goal	Awaiting a response and hoping for realization	Transforming consciousness – finding, experiencing, and awakening from within

⚔️ The practice of Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu ultimately becomes
a movement guided by the love of nature—
a movement that transforms one’s life through an integrated experience.

4️⃣  Final Reflections – Prayer, Healing, and Integrated Training in Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu
 
 
If Prayer Is a Silent Cry of Truth, 
Then Kimu Training Is a Moving Prayer
On the path of training that harmonizes body and mind,  
prayer becomes a still moment of inner resonance,  
while Kimu becomes a dynamic encounter with nature through movement.
 

🌿 What Is “Prayer” in the Context of Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu?
 

1) The Essence of Prayer – “Dialogue with the Divine, Encounter with Nature”

Prayer is not merely an act of asking for blessings.  
It is the moment when one lays down the small, limited self  
and meets with the one and only Divine – Nature –  
in a deeply sincere experience that alleviates human suffering.


🔹 The training of Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu:

•  Is the practice of aligning with the laws, rhythms, and truth of nature
• Contemplates the origin of all movement and life
• Awakens realization through embodied awareness

2) “Prayer” and “Training” Are Not Separate
 

Category	Prayer	Mind-Body Training
Form	Expressed through words and intention	Embodied through the body and movement
Direction	Petition toward the Divine	Encounter with and unification with nature
Essence	Expression‎ of heartfelt sincerity	Practice of internalizing that sincerity through the body
Result	Awaiting a response	Awakening, transformation, and the ability to love more deeply

3) What Does It Mean to “Draw Near to the Divine”?

It means to awaken.  
It means to trust.  
It means to love.  
It is the path of balance, wisdom, and harmony.


🌌 Drawing close to nature (the Divine)
is the same as living truthfully.
To believe in the Divine
is to sincerely commit oneself to live in harmony with that flow.


4) Healing Is Also a Continuation of Prayer

Healing is not merely the removal of illness.  
It is the act of realigning oneself with the flow of nature.

If prayer is a meeting with the Divine,  
then healing is a moment of entrusting oneself to the hands of nature—  
a moment that leads to restoration and grace.

Both require not controlling oneself, but releasing oneself.

When that happens, it is the resonance or loving energy of nature that moves and heals.


💧 “Earnestness” is the gateway that opens the heart
and connects us to the Divine.
That moment can be called prayer, healing, or awakening.


5️⃣ Conclusion – Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu Is the Practice of Harmonizing the Physical and Mental Self

“Spontaneous natural movement” means to surrender to the natural current that guides us.

This state integrates encounter with nature, prayer, training, and healing into one unified experience.

If one understands the essence of Vipassana,  
one can also grasp why the healing discipline of this system is called:

**Vipassana-Acupuncture** – a method of silent realization through energy resonance.

🔹 Therefore,

The training of Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu is not dependent on any religious belief.  
It is a devoted practice to reestablish our connection with the original flow of Nature (the Divine).  
It is a path of wisdom, love, and balance.

This path leads us to:
 
● Recognize the energy of nature through the sword,
● Perceive how it functions through the body,
● Awaken wisdom through personal experience,
● Refine both martial art and the way we live.

This is the essence of Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu practice.
 
 
🖋 Jeong Seong, Kim  
 Founder & President  
 Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu ☆ United World Haedong Kumdo Federation  
📅 July 30, 2025
 
 
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