The five meanings of 'gamanhi' and the quiet act of prayer

The essay delves into the nuanced meaning of the Korean adverb '가만히' (gamanhi), which translates to 'still,' 'quietly,' or 'without intervention.' The author uses the opening line of poet Lee Moon-jae's work, 'Just closing my eyes quietly is praying,' as a starting point. 'Gamanhi' in this context carries three distinct meanings: moving or speaking without interruption, doing nothing without taking any action, and gathering one's thoughts to contemplate deeply.

The author posits that simply closing one's eyes is not prayer; it is the act of closing them 'gamanhi' that constitutes prayer. This seemingly simple act, the essay suggests, is profound and difficult. Truly closing one's eyes 'gamanhi' reveals the nature of a prayer offered with a settled mind, a prayer that implies having no further desires beyond the present moment.

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Just closing my eyes quietly is praying.

Reflecting on personal experiences of prayer, the author admits to having prayed only a few times, always for others to live. While eyes were closed, they were likely not closed 'gamanhi.' This leads to a contemplation of slowness and stillness, recalling a quote from Lee Moon-jae's prose collection: 'If you have a good book that you keep by your side and cherish, that book will be about slowness.' The essay concludes by wandering through streets that are sometimes too dark and sometimes too bright, pondering the beauty of slowness, a theme that resonates deeply.

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If you have a good book that you keep by your side and cherish, that book will be about slowness.