Living Meditation: Bright Reflection in Taoist and East Asian Traditions

The Korean phrase Myung Sung literally translates as bright thought or clear reflection. In modern Korean, it is also the standard term for “meditation.” In English, the concept has been presented as Living Meditation, an embodied, everyday mindfulness woven into the fabric of ordinary life.

Although Myung Sung is distinctly Korean in name, its roots are Sino-Korean, derived from the Chinese characters 明 (ming, bright/clear) and 想 (xiang, thought/reflection). Comparable ideas appear across East Asian traditions: in Chinese Taoism, alignment with the Dao emphasizes clarity and flow; In Japanese, Meisō is the most direct equivalent, while Ichigyō Zanmai describes being fully absorbed in a single activity, similar to the idea of “Living Meditation.” Thus, “Living Meditation” is not confined to one culture, it is a shared practice of engaging fully and harmoniously with life.

This article critically examines the guiding principles of Living Meditation (Myung Sung), situating them within Taoist philosophy, Zen practice, and modern mindfulness research.

Taoist and Cultural Foundations of Living Meditation

Taoist philosophy views life as an ongoing process of aligning with the Tao, or the natural order of the universe. The Tao emphasizes balance, spontaneity, and effortless action (wu wei) (Kohn, 2020). In Korea, these ideas merged with Confucian ethics and Buddhist practices, producing unique expressions such as Myung Sung. In Japan, Zen Buddhism developed a parallel emphasis on mindfulness in daily activities, from tea ceremonies to martial arts (Suzuki, 1956).

The literal meaning of Myung Sung being “bright reflection” captures the essence of Taoist and Zen practice: illuminating the mind, clarifying perception, and cultivating awareness moment by moment. By viewing meditation as an active, daily process, Living Meditation stands apart from traditions that encourage withdrawal from worldly concerns. Instead, it insists that clarity, harmony, and enlightenment are found in the midst of life.

Mindfulness and Living Meditation

Western psychology defines mindfulness as “moment-to-moment awareness of one’s experience without judgment” (Kabat-Zinn, 2015, p. 148). Myung Sung aligns with this definition but extends it. Rather than being limited to seated practice, it emphasizes that every action, from working to communicating to parenting, can become an act of mindful clarity.

This mirrors Taoist teaching on yin-yang balance and Zen’s shikan taza (“just sitting”), but it goes further in emphasizing relational legacy. Myung Sung asks not only how one lives in the present, but also what seeds of goodness and compassion one leaves for future generations. This collectivist orientation aligns with East Asian traditions of intergenerational responsibility (Li, 2007).

Developments in mindfulness research indicate that these interventions can be successfully adapted to diverse environments, including schools, workplaces, clinical settings, prisons, and military contexts, confirming their wide applicability in contemporary society (Creswell, 2016).

The Eight Principles of Living Meditation

1. Know Your True Self

Self-awareness is described as the foundation of all growth. To know the “true self” is to recognize both the visible and invisible aspects of being. Taoism encourages similar introspection, while Zen uses the term kenshō (“seeing one’s true nature”) to describe this realization.

2. The True-Right-Correct Method

Decision-making is guided by balancing the true (inner feelings), the right (socially beneficial actions), and the correct (harmonious integration of both). This echoes Taoist ethics of balance and the Confucian Doctrine of the Mean (zhongyong).

3. Stop Being Drunk on Your Own Thoughts

In Korean, the phrase Doe Chi literally means to be “drunk on” something or caught up, clouded, and overly attached to one’s own mental noise. This principle warns against excessive attachment to rigid beliefs. Taoism also cautions against clinging to fixed ideas, while Zen emphasizes detachment from discursive thinking.

4. How Will You Be Remembered?

Legacy is framed as the planting of seeds for future generations. Confucian philosophy similarly stresses filial piety and the continuation of virtue across time.

5. Seek Connectedness and Honor

All beings are interrelated, and honor means living with respect, integrity, and compassion. Taoist cosmology views humans as part of a larger web of qi (vital energy), while Confucian ren emphasizes relational humaneness.

6. Change Your Reality for the Better

Living Meditation insists that inner states shape external realities. Taoist practice of aligning qi with the environment parallels this principle, while modern psychology recognizes the transformative power of reframing thought patterns (Beck, 2011).

7. It Only Takes One Match to Light a Thousand

Small actions produce ripple effects. Taoist yin-yang dynamics and Zen karmic teachings both affirm that even minor choices influence larger outcomes.

8. Be Like Bamboo

Bamboo, strong yet flexible, symbolizes resilience. Taoist writings and Zen poetry both use natural metaphors to highlight adaptability, balance, and endurance.

The Three Pillars: Meditation, Medicine, and Movement

Living Meditation is supported by three interconnected practices:

Meditation – continuous mindfulness integrated into daily activity.
Medicine – natural remedies and holistic care, paralleling Chinese and Japanese traditional medicine.
Movement – practices such as Qigong, Tai Chi, or martial arts, uniting body, mind, and spirit.

These three dimensions resemble integrative health frameworks that modern medicine increasingly recognizes (Rakel, 2017).

Conclusion

Though the term Myung Sung originates in Korea and literally means “bright reflection,” its essence transcends culture. Chinese Taoism calls for clarity and balance through the Tao; Japanese Zen offers expressions such as meisō, ichigyō zanmai, and kenshō. English captures it as “Living Meditation,” underscoring its practical, everyday application.

Across languages and traditions, the message is consistent: meditation is not withdrawal from life but illumination within it. By practicing Living Meditation, individuals cultivate clarity, resilience, compassion, and legacy becoming, in essence, living embodiments of bright reflection.

Language	Term	Literal Meaning	Common Use / Context
Korean	Myung Sung	Bright reflection, clear thought	General word for meditation; reframed as “Living Meditation”
Chinese	Míng Xiǎng	Bright reflection	Classical and modern meditation term
Japanese	Meisō	Closing the eyes and reflecting	General meditation term, closest literal match to Myung Sung
Japanese	Ichigyō Zanmai	Samadhi in one activity	Zen concept of mindfulness in everyday action, similar to Living Meditation
Japanese	Kenshō	Seeing one’s true nature	Zen awakening experience, parallels “Know Your True Self”
English	Living Meditation	Practical mindfulness in daily life	Translation/adaptation of Myung Sung for modern contexts

References:

Beck, J. S. (2011). Cognitive behavior therapy: Basics and beyond (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.

Creswell, J. D. (2016). Mindfulness interventions. Annual Review of Psychology, 68, 491–516. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-042716-051139

Kabat-Zinn, J. (2015). Mindfulness. Mindfulness, 6(6), 1481–1483. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-015-0456-x

Kohn, L. (2020). The Taoist experience: An anthology. SUNY Press. https://archive.org/details/thetaoistexperienceliviakohn

Li, C. (2007). An Introduction to Chinese Philosophy: From Ancient Philosophy to Chinese Buddhism ? by JeeLoo Liu. Journal of Chinese Philosophy, 34(3), 458–461. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6253.2007.00432.x

Rakel, D. (2017). Integrative Medicine: Fourth Edition. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328497403_Integrative_Medicine_Fourth_Edition

Suzuki, D. T. (1956). Zen Buddhism: Selected writings. Grove Press. https://archive.org/details/zenbuddhismselec00dais

Mass Psychology, Hysteria, and the Wellness Perspective

Mass psychology, also called crowd psychology, examines how individuals’ behavior, thoughts, and emotions are shaped by being part of a larger group. Early thinkers such as Gustave Le Bon (1895/2002), Sigmund Freud (1922/1959), Leon Festinger (1954), and Floyd Allport (1924) explored phenomena such as emotional contagion, suggestion, and conformity, showing that people can act very differently in a group than when alone. Le Bon argued that when individuals join a crowd, they may lose critical judgment, become easily swayed by suggestions, and display heightened emotionality.

Understanding Mass Psychosis

Mass psychosis refers to collective disruptions in perception or judgment, when large groups of people adopt beliefs, behaviors, or emotions that seem disconnected from rational assessment. In such states, ego strength can weaken, leaving individuals vulnerable to overwhelming waves of fear or delusion.

A common precursor is what Freud (1922/1959) and later theorists described as free-floating anxiety; ageneralized fear or unease not tied to a specific cause. Contemporary research defines it as persistent anxiety without an identifiable object, often making individuals more susceptible to suggestion (Tyrer, 2018). When large numbers of people experience this form of anxiety, the psychological environment becomes fertile ground for collective panic.

Mass Hysteria Through History

Mass hysteria (sometimes termed collective hysteria or conversion disorder) involves groups manifesting physical or emotional symptoms without a medical cause, often triggered by suggestion or fear (Hacking, 2002). Historical examples include the Salem witch trials of 1692–1693, where accusations of witchcraft fueled widespread panic and executions (Norton, 2002).

More modern examples include the panic caused by Orson Welles’s 1938 radio broadcast of War of the Worlds, in which many listeners believed an alien invasion was underway (Cantril, 1940). Other documented cases include fainting outbreaks in schools, unexplained illness among military units, and even the 2016 “clown sightings,” which spread rapidly across media platforms and heightened fear without clear cause (Romano, 2016).

Mass Formation and Collective Behavior

Psychologist Matthias Desmet (2022) reframed this dynamic as mass formation, a process that arises when four conditions converge:

Widespread social isolation
Loss of meaning and purpose
Free-floating anxiety without clear cause
Frustration or anger lacking a specific outlet

When these conditions are present, a unifying narrative or authority can provide focus, giving individuals a sense of belonging and solidarity. While this can create cohesion, it can also reduce critical thinking and increase conformity to potentially destructive patterns. Desmet (2022) argues that aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic illustrated this process, as widespread fear and social disconnection amplified collective susceptibility to authority and groupthink.

The Wellness Connection

From a wellness standpoint, understanding mass psychology, hysteria, and mass formation is essential for both individual and community health. Recognizing how free-floating anxiety and social isolation can feed collective fear allows us to take proactive steps toward resilience.

Practices such as mindfulness, meditation, stress reduction, and intentional community building counteract these forces (Creswell, 2017). Media literacy and critical thinking further strengthen individual autonomy, enabling people to resist being swept into narratives that thrive on fear. By cultivating self-awareness and balanced perspectives, individuals protect their mental well-being while also fostering healthier collective environments.

Examples of Mass Psychosis:

“War of the Worlds” radio broadcast (1938) — Newspaper headlines reported that thousands of Americans were plunged into panic over an Orson Welles radio play, convinced that America was under a deadly Martian attack.

Mount Pleasant, Mississippi (1976) — School officials suspected drug use after 15 students fell to the ground writhing, but no drugs were found and hysteria is assumed to be the culprit. At one point, one third of the school’s 900 students stayed home for fear of being “hexed”.

San Diego (1988) — The U.S. Navy evacuated 600 men from barracks; 119 were sent to San Diego hospitals with complaints of breathing difficulty. No evidence of toxins, food poisoning, or any other cause was found.

North Carolina (2002) — Ten girls developed seizures and other symptoms at a rural North Carolinian high school. Symptoms persisted for five months across various grade levels. Incidents tended to happen outside of class, with half of all incidents estimated to have occurred around lunch hour. Half of the affected were cheerleaders or former cheerleaders.

2016 clown sightings — Sightings of people in evil clown costumes in the United States, Canada, and 18 other countries were dismissed as a case of mass hysteria, stating that a fear of clowns (which is common in children and adults) may be an underlying cause.

References:

Allport, F. H. (1924). Social psychology. Houghton Mifflin. https://pure.mpg.de/rest/items/item_2246895_6/component/file_2281854/content

Cantril, H. (1940). The invasion from Mars: A study in the psychology of panic. Princeton University Press. https://archive.org/details/invasionfrommars0000hadl/page/232/mode/2up

Creswell, J. D. (2017). Mindfulness interventions. Annual Review of Psychology, 68, 491–516. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-042716-051139

Desmet, M. (2022). The psychology of totalitarianism (Els Vanbrabant, Trans.). Chelsea Green Publishing. https://ia600508.us.archive.org/25/items/the-psychology-of-totalitarianism-2022-mattias-desmet_202308/The%20Psychology%20of%20Totalitarianism%20%282022%29-%20Mattias%20Desmet.pdf

Festinger, L. (1954). A theory of social comparison processes. Human Relations, 7(2), 117–140. https://doi.org/10.1177/001872675400700202

Freud, S. (1922). GROUP PSYCHOLOGY AND THE ANALYSIS OF THE EGO (J. Strachey, Trans.). https://peachf.org/images/SoScience/PsyGroupAnalysisEgoFreud.pdf

Hacking, I. (2002). Mad travelers: Reflections on the Reality of Transient Mental Illnesses. Harvard University Press. https://archive.org/details/madtravelersrefl0000hack/page/2/mode/2up

Le Bon, G. (2002). The crowd: A study of the popular mind. Dover Publications. (Original work published 1895) https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/125518/1414_LeBon.pdf

Norton, M. B. (2002). In the Devil’s snare: The Salem witchcraft crisis of 1692. Vintage. https://archive.org/details/indevilssnare00mary

Romano, A. (2016, October 12). The great clown panic of 2016 is a hoax. But the terrifying side of clowns is real. Vox. https://www.vox.com/culture/2016/10/12/13122196/clown-panic-hoax-history

Tyrer, P. (2018). Recent advances in the understanding and treatment of health anxiety. Current Psychiatry Reports, 20(7). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-018-0912-0

Kung – Mudo – Budo

Three Martial Worlds, One Shared Philosophy

Across East Asia, the martial arts are far more than systems of combat. In their deepest form, they are paths of personal transformation that unify physical skill, mental discipline, and moral responsibility. While each culture frames this idea differently, the underlying message is consistent: mastery of technique is inseparable from mastery of self.

In China, this idea finds expression in the concept of Kung (功), the refined skill and capability gained through sustained effort, whether in martial arts or any other discipline. Kung is not simply physical power; it is the culmination of patient, deliberate cultivation of mind and body over years or decades.

In Korea, the term Mudo (무도), literally “The Martial Way,” places emphasis on the journey of training. It describes a life lived according to the values and discipline of martial practice, with skill as the natural outcome of a moral and dedicated path.

In Japan, Budo (武道), also “The Martial Way,” draws from Bushido, Zen, and Shinto traditions. It frames martial training as a lifelong spiritual and ethical endeavor, where combat proficiency is a vehicle for self-perfection and service to others.

While the terminology and historical contexts differ, Kung, Mudo, and Budo all hold to a shared truth: martial arts are not solely about defeating an opponent, but about shaping character, nurturing wisdom, and aligning one’s actions with a higher ethical standard.

Kung vs. Mudo vs. Budo

Kung (功) in the Chinese Context

In Kung Fu: History, Philosophy and Technique, (Chow, 1978) Kung (功) refers to skill acquired through hard, disciplined effort, especially in the martial arts.

In this context, it’s about the internal and external mastery that results from persistent training, including moral discipline, mental focus, and physical conditioning.

While it’s rooted in Chinese martial culture, it’s not limited to combat; Kung can apply to any art or craft perfected over years of dedicated practice.

It emphasizes process and cultivation, not just end results.

Mudo (무도) in the Korean Context

Mudo literally means “Martial Way” (武道) — mu (무, 武) = martial/military; do (도, 道) = path/way.

It is a broader ethical and philosophical concept, referring to martial practice as a path of personal development, much like Budo in Japan.

Mudo includes:

Physical discipline (techniques, forms, application)
Moral integrity (using skill responsibly, respect for life)
Character development (patience, humility, perseverance)

In Korean martial traditions (Hapkido, Taekwondo, traditional sword arts), Mudo is both a lifestyle and a moral code.

Budo (武道) in the Japanese Context

Budo literally means “Martial Way” — bu (武) = martial/warrior; do (道) = path/way.

It represents the unification of martial training with moral character and spiritual refinement, drawing from the traditions of Bushido, Zen, and Shinto philosophy.

Budo includes:

Mastery of martial technique (kenjutsu, judo, aikido, kendo, karate, and others)
Ethical conduct (honor, integrity, respect for life)
Personal growth and self-discipline as lifelong endeavors

In Japanese tradition, budo is as much about cultivating the spirit and serving society as it is about combat skill. It treats martial practice as a lifelong path toward self-perfection.

Where They Overlap

Kung, Mudo, and Budo each frame martial arts as a lifelong practice that refines mind, body, and spirit.

All three require ethical restraint, or the principle that skill is to be used justly, never recklessly.

All three value internal development as much as technical proficiency, seeing martial arts as a vehicle for character formation as well as self-defense.

In practice, a master of Kung, a practitioner living by Mudo, and a devotee of Budo would share similar daily disciplines, values, and moral outlooks.

Key Differences

Kung emphasizes effort and skill mastery as the result of disciplined training.
Mudo emphasizes the path and philosophy as a journey of living according to martial ethics.
Budo emphasizes harmonizing martial skills with moral character as the way of the warrior in service to self and others.

Kung is what a practitioner has after years of training.
Mudo is how a practitioner lives while they train.
Budo is how a practitioner walks the path, using martial skill to perfect the self and serve a greater purpose.

The following chart explores the philosophical, linguistic, and cultural parallels between these three concepts, revealing their unique nuances and shared spirit.

Side-by-Side Cultural Comparison: Kung – Mudo – Budo

Aspect	Kung (功, China)	Mudo (무도, Korea)	Budo (武道, Japan)
Literal Meaning	Achievement/skill through effort; “work” or “merit”	Martial Way (Mu = martial, Do = way/path)	Martial Way (Bu = martial/warrior, Do = way/path)
Cultural Root	Chinese martial arts & philosophy	Korean martial arts & Confucian/Buddhist/Taoist influence	Japanese martial arts & Zen/Shinto/Bushido influence
Core Focus	Mastery of skill through disciplined training; balance of internal (Yin) & external (Yang)	Moral/ethical cultivation through martial practice; path of personal growth	Self-perfection, discipline, and moral living through martial training
Scope	Can apply beyond martial arts to any discipline mastered over time	Primarily martial arts but also a life philosophy	Primarily martial arts but with deep ethical, spiritual, and cultural elements
Emphasis	The result of sustained effort and cultivation	The journey of training and living ethically	The way of the warrior — combining martial skill with spiritual growth
Internal vs External	Explicit balance of Yin/soft/internal and Yang/hard/external	Often integrated, with emphasis on discipline and form as gateways to internal growth	Often integrated, but with clear philosophical codification (e.g., Zen influence)
Ethical Foundation	Rooted in Taoist balance, Confucian ethics, and Shaolin moral discipline	Rooted in Confucian ethics and Korean cultural values	Rooted in Bushido, Zen, and Shinto moral codes
Symbolic Goal	Harmonizing mind, body, and spirit to achieve exceptional skill and moral integrity	Living the martial path as a means of becoming a better person	Walking the martial path to embody honor, discipline, and self-control
Training View	Skill as proof of effort; mastery is the culmination	Martial art as a continuous personal journey	Martial art as a lifelong path to enlightenment and service

References:

“Kung Fu” in Chinese martial arts. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_martial_arts Wikipedia

Cynarski, W. J. (2022). New concepts of budo internalised as a philosophy of life. Philosophies (MDPI). MDPI

Japanese martial arts. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_martial_arts Wikipedia+1

Hirose, A. (2022). Budo (martial arts). mc craftsmanship. MASTER CRAFTSMANSHIP

Sasaki, T. (2008). Budo (the Martial Arts) as Japanese Culture – The outlook on the techniques and the outlook on the human being. ARCH BUDO. archbudo.com

Moenig, U., Kim, M., & Choi, H. M. (2023). Traditional martial arts versus martial sports: The philosophical and historical academic discourse. Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas (RAMA), 18(1), 41–58. ResearchGate

Holt, J. (2023). Physical philosophy: Martial arts as embodied wisdom. Philosophies (MDPI). MDPI

Holistic Health & Wellness Discussions

I have been learning, practicing and studying health and wellness for 45 years, teaching and sharing for 42 years. I feel that I have a lot to share that can benefit the mind, body & spirit. Watch my video of various venues that I have held holistic health discussions.

Contact me to discuss options for you, your business, your group, etc. Good health and wellness are a journey that doesn’t happen overnight. We will all experience some pain and suffering throughout our lives. Learn how to manage it before it comes it comes knocking at your door.

Jim Moltzan – 407-234-0119 or info@MindAndBodyExercises.com

“Do-chi” and Delusion

A Cross-Cultural and Linguistic Analysis

Language encodes cultural experience, shaping the ways in which human emotion, perception, and cognition are described and interpreted. The Korean term do-chi or dochwi offers a compelling example of how metaphorical language conveys emotional states. Typically translated as “intoxication” or “to be drunk on,” the word describes a form of deep emotional or aesthetic absorption. In contrast, the English term delusion signifies a fixed, pathological belief that diverges from reality and resists correction (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). Though both terms involve altered perception, they represent profoundly different cultural and psychological concepts. This essay explores the meaning of do-chi, contrasts it with the clinical construct of delusion, and considers their nuanced intersection in terms of distorted perception.

The Korean Concept of Do-chi

The term Do-chi derives from Sino-Korean roots: to, meaning pottery or transformation, and chwi, meaning intoxication. Its metaphorical sense emphasizes being “intoxicated” or “enraptured” by something positive, such as music, art, beauty, or triumph. In everyday Korean usage, one might hear “to be intoxicated by victory,” or “to be drunk on nature.” In both cases, the speaker describes an overwhelming emotional or sensory experience that elevates one’s state of being.

Importantly, do-chi is not regarded as pathological. Instead, it is often framed positively as immersion, joy, or aesthetic rapture. While the metaphor of intoxication implies a temporary loosening of rational control, the concept remains firmly grounded in human experience and emotional expression. Korean poetry and literature frequently employ do-chi to describe states of heightened awareness, creativity, or transcendence. Thus, the term embodies a culturally sanctioned and even celebrated condition of altered perception.

The English Concept of Delusion

By contrast, delusion is a term situated within psychiatry and clinical psychology. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a delusion is defined as a “fixed belief that is not amenable to change in light of conflicting evidence” (2013, p. 87). Classical psychiatrist Karl Jaspers (1963) emphasized three criteria for delusions: (1) absolute certainty, (2) incorrigibility, and (3) falsity. Unlike do-chi, which describes temporary and often beneficial immersion, delusions are pathological, interfering with functioning and perception of reality.

Delusions occur across a spectrum of psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, delusional disorders, and mood disorders with psychotic features (Freeman, 2007). They can take many forms, such as persecutory delusions (“I am being watched”), grandiose delusions (“I am a prophet”), or somatic delusions (“My organs are rotting”). In every case, the defining element is a belief system disconnected from reality, impervious to logical refutation, and often impairing to social or occupational functioning.

Comparing Do-chi and Delusion

Although both do-chi and delusion involve altered states of perception, their similarities are superficial. Do-chi represents a metaphorical intoxication, a poetic description of being overwhelmed by positive effects. Delusion, in contrast, represents a clinical disorder of cognition, characterized by irrationality and resistance to evidence. The following table highlights these distinctions:

Feature	Do-chi	Delusion
Nature	Metaphorical, emotional intoxication	Clinical, pathological false belief
Relation to reality	Grounded in heightened but real experiences	Detached from reality, impervious to logic
Duration	Temporary, situational	Persistent, often chronic
Valence	Positive, celebratory, aesthetic	Negative, impairing, or distressing
Cultural context	Poetic, every day, literary	Medical, psychiatric, diagnostic

This comparison underscores the cultural gap between the terms. In Korean, do-chi enriches emotional vocabulary by describing states of absorption that bring joy and meaning. In English, delusion restricts the term to pathology, connoting impairment and danger.

Points of Convergence: Distorted Perception

Despite their differences, both terms share a loose thematic connection: the alteration of normal perception. To be do-chi is to lose oneself in joy, art, or triumph, such that ordinary reality fades into the background. Similarly, delusion involves the loss of alignment with consensual reality, though in a maladaptive way. Both reflect the human susceptibility to experiences that reshape perception and cognition. The divergence lies in whether this alteration is culturally celebrated (do-chi) or clinically condemned (delusion).

Conclusion

I have personally known and participated in groups that could be perceived as immersed in their own version of do-chi, intoxicated by their ideals to the point of losing touch with reality. Within such circles, members often became tone-deaf not only to the experiences of those inside the group but also to the perspectives of the wider public. In some cases, these groups even sought to rewrite history, clinging to their own narratives as though they were unassailable truths (Hobsbawm & Ranger, 1983; Janis, 1982). Yet, just because a group collectively sustains a belief does not require others to accept it as fact, especially when credible evidence proves otherwise.

The Korean term do-chi and the English concept of delusion illuminate how language and culture frame altered states of perception. Do-chi signifies a positive, aesthetic intoxication, celebrated in literature and daily speech as evidence of deep human feelings. Delusion, by contrast, describes a psychiatric symptom of false, fixed beliefs that resist correction and impairs functioning. While both terms capture the human capacity to move beyond ordinary perception, their meanings diverge sharply in cultural value and psychological consequence. Understanding these differences underscores the importance of cultural and linguistic nuance in interpreting states of mind across traditions.

References:

American Psychiatric Association, DSM-5 Task Force. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5™ (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

Freeman, D. (2007). Suspicious minds: The psychology of persecutory delusions. Clinical Psychology Review, 27(4), 425–457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2006.10.004

Hobsbawm E, Ranger T, eds. The Invention of Tradition. Cambridge University Press; 2012.

Janis, I. L. (1982). Groupthink Psychological Studies of Policy Decisions and Fiascos. Boston Houghton Mifflin. – References – Scientific Research Publishing. (n.d.). https://www.scirp.org/reference/referencespapers?referenceid=2122583

Jaspers, K. (1963). General psychopathology (J. Hoenig & M. W. Hamilton, Trans.). University of Chicago Press. (Original work published 1913). https://archive.org/details/generalpsychopat0000unse/page/n7/mode/2up

National Institute of Korean Language (국립국어원). (n.d.). Korean-English Learners’ Dictionary. Retrieved from https://krdict.korean.go.kr/eng/