Seon Thought in Korean Buddhism

Seon Thought in Korean Buddhism
Author: Jin’gak Hyesim, Jinjeong Cheonchaek
Publisher: Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism
Total Pages: 442
Release: 2023-12-15
Genre: Religion
ISBN:
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This book is a translation of the bound volume of the Seonmun gangyo jip 禪門綱要集 (Collection of the Essential Outlines of the Seon School) and the Seonmun bojang nok 禪門寶藏錄 (Record of the Treasures of the Seon School), both of which are late Goryeo materials, essential for understanding the philosophical feature and identity of Korean Seon. The Seonmun bojang nok by the thirteenth-century master Jinjeong Cheonchaek 眞靜天頙 compiles the recorded sayings of Seon masters. Cheonchaek was the fourth patriarch of Baengnyeonsa 白蓮社 (White Lotus Society) of the Cheontae school. He also left the Hosan nok 湖山錄 (Literary Collection of Hasan). The Seonmun gangyo jip summurizes the essence of Seon though, and there is a controversy surrounding its authorship, in particular, whether the author was Cheonchaek or Jin’gak Hyesim 眞覺慧諶 (1178–1234). This book confirms as its author Hyesim, Bojo Jinul’s disciple, who promoted ganhwa Seon. The Seonmun gangyo jip of 1531 edition has survived. It consists of five chapters: “Chapter of the Three Saints”; “Conversation of the Two Worthies”; “Theory of a Foolish Man”; “Compilation of [Blue] Mountain and [White] Cloud”; and “Three Sentences of Yunmen.” The first three chapters discuss the essential thought of the Linji school. The Seonmun bojang nok was published in three volumes by Cheonchaek in 1293. It was published a few more afterwards. The first volume has “Discussing the Differences Between Seon and Doctrinal Buddhism in Twenty-Five Sections”; the second volume, “Wherein All Lecturers Revert to and Submit to [Seon] in Twenty-Five Sections”; the thrid volume, “Buddhist Lords and Ministers in Thirty-Nine Sections.” It is also well-known as the first material that records Jin’gwi 眞歸 josaseol, a theory that Seon was transmitted to Śākyamuni. These texts had a huge impact on Seon monks of Joseon, including Cheongheo Hyujeong.

The Ontology of Seon

The Ontology of Seon
Author: Koh Hyeonggon
Publisher: Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism
Total Pages: 348
Release: 2023-12-15
Genre: Religion
ISBN:
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It analyzes Seon from the western philosophical perspective by comparing and contrasting Seon with the German philosopher Heidegger’s ontology. Koh Hyeonggon 高亨坤 (1906–2004) was one of the first generation scholars in the field of Korean philosophy, who served as a professor in the department of philosophy at Seoul National University, after graduating from Keijo Imperial University. He was a pioneer who attempted to understand Buddhism from the western philosophical perspective, studying Seon Buddhism while majoring in Husserl and Heidegger. The Seon ui segye (The World of Seon) is his magnum opus that represents his philosophy of unifying the East and the West. The Seon ui segye (1994) consists of nine chapters. The main parts are first three chapters: chapter 1, “General Explanation”; chapter 2, “Presnece of Being”; chapter 3, “Ontological Explanation of Seon.” Chapter 4 to chapter 7 are “The Beginning and Development of Haedong Jogyejong,” “Examination of Hwaeom sillon,” “Chusa’s ‘Baekpa mangjeung 15 jo’ (Fifteen Points of Baekpa’s Delusion),” and “Chusa’s Seon,” dealing with the history of Korean Seon school, Bojo Jinul’s view of Seon practice, and the Seon debate in the nineteenth century. Chapter 8, “Seon Dialogue,” and chatper 9, “Modern Thought’s Transformation and Seon Thought,” interprets Seon and compares it with modern philosophy. This English translation focuses on chapter 3, “Ontological Explanation of Seon,” which investigates Seon through Husserl’s phenomenology and Heidegger’s ontology from the perspective of the presence of Being, along with the translator’s introduction.

Buddhist Thought of Korea

Buddhist Thought of Korea
Author: Koh Ikjin
Publisher: Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism
Total Pages: 466
Release: 2023-12-15
Genre: Religion
ISBN:
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This is a translation of the Han’guk ui Bulgyo sasang, the magnum opus of Koh Ikjin 高翊晉(1934–1988), a renowned scholar of Korean Buddhism that surveys the Korean Buddhist thought and serves as a guide for its development. As a professor in the Department of Buddhist Studies at Dongguk University, Koh researched the Buddhist thought from India to Korea. In addition to the Han’guk ui Bulgyo sasang, he left several works, including the Aham beopsang ui chegyeseong yeon’gu (Research on the Systems of Āgama’s Dharma Teaching), the Han’guk godae Bulgyo sasangsa (History of Ancient Korean Buddhist Thought), and the Hyeondae Han’guk Bulgyo ui banghyang (Direction of Contemporary Korean Buddhism), which show his extensive scholarship. This book consists of four chapters: (1) “An Interpretation of Korean Buddhism from the Perspective of History as the Mind’s Manifestation”; (2) “Iryeon’s Perception of History and the Dan’gun Myth”; (3) “Origins and Development of Korean Buddhist Philosophy”; (4) “Buddhist Ethics and Korean Society.” Chapter 1 explains the perspective of history as the mind’s manifestation and the emergence and transmission of the Taego lineage. Chapter 2 deals with the Dongmyeong wang-pyeon, Iryeon’s view of the Dan’gun myth through the Samguk yusa, and the rationalist moralist view of history. Chapter 3 examines main concepts in the history of Korean Buddhist philosophy, such as the concept of emptiness as seen in the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras of the Mahayana tradition, Seungnang’s Madhyamaka view of emptiness, Woncheuk’s Yogācāra view of emptiness, Wonhyo’s Hwaeom view of emptiness, and Jinul’s Seon view of emptiness. Chapter 4 explores ethical doctrines of Buddhism, Buddhist ethics established in Korean society, and contemporary significance of Buddhist ethics.

Find the Treasure Within

Find the Treasure Within
Author: Seon Master Daehaeng
Publisher: Hanmaum Publications
Total Pages: 39
Release: 2014-05-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN:
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This is a collection of frequent questions and answers from the Dharma talks of Seon master Daehaeng. These cover basic issues such as why life feels empty, how to become a more spiritual person, why life seems unfair, and is there such a thing as previous lives. Her answers are very down to earth, and filled with a deep sense of non-duality.

The Selected Works of Korean Buddhism

The Selected Works of Korean Buddhism
Author: Ven. Jinwoo
Publisher: Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism
Total Pages: 17
Release: 2023-12-15
Genre: Religion
ISBN:
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This project was designed to introduce the intellectual heritage of Korean Buddhism to all over the world by selecting representative works of Korean Buddhist tradition in various fields and publishing them in English. For a six-year period from 2018 to 2023, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism supervised the project with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and has been publishing ten representative Buddhist works in English. Buddhism has been the central axis of Korean culture and thought for thousands of years, and has exerted considerable influence to the present. Buddhism, which originated in India and settled here in Korea via China, maintains both local particularity and global universality. Various works on philosophy, history and culture of Korean Buddhism need to be published to introduce the originality and excellence of Korean Buddhism to the world. The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism previously published The Collected Works of Modern Korean Buddhism(2017): English translations of carefully selected Korean Buddhist works as part of the Globalization Project of Korean Buddhism. Succeeding and further developing upon the previous undertaking, this project aims to inform the world of Korean Buddhism, which not only served as an indispensable spiritual asset for Korean people but also provided them with the locus of universal discourse. The ultimate goal of this project is to expand the worldwide base for Korean studies, promote the globalization of Korean Buddhism, and improve the “brand equity” of Korean tradition.

The Orthodox Path of Seon

The Orthodox Path of Seon
Author: Toeong Seongcheol
Publisher: Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism
Total Pages: 420
Release: 2023-12-15
Genre: Religion
ISBN:
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This is a translation of the book that records Seongcheol’s 性徹 (1912–1993) sermons to audience with his explanations. Seongcheol was one of the most renowned Seon monks in modern Korea, who also served as the supreme patriarch of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. He tried to recover the tradition of Korean Seon practice by organizing a Buddhist society at Bongamsa in 1947. He became the first head-monk (bangjang) of Haeinsa Monastery in 1967 and preached the dharma sermon for a hundred days (baegil beommun). He left many works, including the Han’guk Bulgyo ui beommaek (Dharma Lineages of Korean Buddhism, 1976) and the Bonji punggwang (Scenery of the Original Ground, 1982). This translation used the Seongcheol Seunim pyeongseok Seonmun jeongno (Seonmun jeongno with Seongcheol’s Annotation, 2015), consulting with the Jeongdok Seonmun jeongno (Perusal of Seonmun jeongno, 2022). The Seonmun jeongno 禪門正路 is a record of sermons that discuss the sudden awakening and hwadu investigation in Seon. It consists of nineteen chapters: (1) “To See Your Own Nature Is to Become a Buddha”; (2) “Sentient Beings Have Buddha Nature”; (3) “Two Types of Afflictions and False Thoughts”; (4) “Unsurpassed Perfect Enlightenment”; (5) “Realizing the Truth that All Dharmas Are Unborn”; (6) “No Thought Is the True Tenet”; (7) “Protecting No Mind”; (8) “Awake or Asleep, Being Consistent”; (9) “Gaining Life in Death”; (10) “Great Perfect Mirror-Like Wisdom”; (11) “Inside and Outside Are Brilliantly Clear”; (12) “Constantly Serene and Constantly Illuminating”; (13) “Discursive Awakening Followed by Gradual Cultivation”; (14) “Partial Penetration and Partial Attainment”; (15) “With Erudition There Is Only Discursive Knowledge”; (16) “Abrupt Exhaustion of All Contaminants”; (17) “A Clear-Eyed Patriarchal Master”; (18) “Mysteries and Essentials, Real and Provisional”; (19) “Eliminating the Seed of Buddhahood.” In this book, Seongcheol criticizes Bojo Jinul’s sudden awakening-gradual cultivation and insists the sudden awakening–sudden cultivation, which later triggered the intense debate of sudden and gradual in Korea.

A Collection of Modern Korean Buddhist Discourses

A Collection of Modern Korean Buddhist Discourses
Author: Choe Namseon and others
Publisher: Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism
Total Pages: 603
Release:
Genre: Religion
ISBN:
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A Collection of Modern Korean Buddhist Discourses consists of twelve articles which were carefully selected from Buddhist journals of the modern period. These articles critically discuss the past and the present of Korean Buddhism and offer the prospect for the future by dealing with various topics in different fields, such as history, religion, literature, politics, society, and culture. The authors include not only renowned scholars of Buddhist studies, such as Gim Beomnin 金法麟 (1899–1964), Kim Yeongsu 金映遂 (1884–1967), Gim Taeheup 金泰洽 (1899–1989), and Baek Seonguk 白性郁(1897–1981), as well as prominent figures in Korean studies and Korean literature, such as Choe Namseon 崔南善 (1890–1957) and Yi Gwangsu 李光洙 (1892–1950). The twelve selected articles are as follows: ① Choe Namseon, “Overview of Korean Buddhism: A Diachronic Approach to Korean Buddhism” (1918) ② Yi Gwangsu, “Buddhism and Korean Literature” (1925) ③ Baek Seonguk, “To Establish a Modern Buddhism” (1926) ④ Gim Taeheup, “Research on Religion and the Development of Social Work” (1926–1928) ⑤ Gim Byeokong, “A Concern for Korean Buddhism: The Words Addressed to All Korean Buddhist Clerics” (1927) ⑥ Choe Namseon, “Korean Buddhism: Its Position in the Cultural History of the East” (1930) ⑦ Yu Yeop, “Buddhism and the Trend of Social Thought” (1931) ⑧ Kang Yumun, “Overview of Korean Buddhism for the Last Hundred Years” (1932) ⑨ Gim Beomnin, “On the Separation of Religion and Politics” (1932) ⑩ Heo Yeongho, “Foundations and Errors of Anti-Religion Movement” (1932) ⑪ Mong Jeongsaeng, “Examining the Causes of Korean Buddhism Facing a Crisis” (1932) ⑫ Gim Yeongsu, “On the Principle Teachings of Korean Buddhism” (1933)

The Gyeongheo Collection–Prose and Poetry by the Restorer of Korean Seon

The Gyeongheo Collection–Prose and Poetry by the Restorer of Korean Seon
Author: Gyeongheo
Publisher: Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism
Total Pages: 471
Release:
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ISBN:
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The Gyeongheo Collection is a collection of dharma talks and other literary works by Gyeongheo Seong’u 鏡虛惺牛(1849/1857–1912), one of the representative Korean Seon masters of modern times. Gyeongheo was tonsured at the age of nine, and he studied Buddhist doctrine on the one hand and promoted Ganhwa Seon practice on the other. Geongheo also established a meditation practice society. In his later years Gyeongheo dedicated himself to the edification of the common people in the northern area of the Korean peninsula. Among his prominent disciples are Hyewol 慧月 (1861–1937), Man’gong 滿空 (1871–1946), and Han’am 漢岩 (1876–1951). The Gyeongheo Collection is a significant work in that it enables us to see the process of evolution and transformation of Seon tradition during the period of modernization. This work consists of dharma talks, prefaces, records, letters, accounts of conduct, eulogies offered up to portraits of famous monks, hundreds of Seon verses (in both five character and seven character formats), and so forth. Among the poems written in regulated verses with five logographs per line, “How to Be a Monk” is a guide book of practice for monks and nuns. “The Pure Regulations” includes the rules and regulations of the Seon monastic community. The verses also contain unconventional features of Seon teaching. “The Song of the Way to Enlightenment” is the verse written on Gyeonheo’s attainment of the state of enlightenment. Besides, The Gyeonheo Collection contains essays on various topics, such as the exhaustive realization within one’s mind required in Ganhwa Seon practice, the adoption of Pure Land thought, the importance of monastic precepts and the Pure Rules, societies and movements focused on meditation, the synthesis of practice and doctrine, the edification of the masses and songs such as “Sŏn meditation” (Chamseon gok) introducing the daily life of Seon, the establishment of Seon monastic community and education, and so on. The base script for The Gyeongheo Collection is Han’am’s hand-copied edition (1931), which also includes a brief biography of Gyeongheo written by Han’am himself. For the translation, this script was compared to the printed edition published in 1943 by Jung’ang Seonwoen, which is prefaced by Han Yongun 韓龍雲(1879–1944), the prominent Korean monk and writer.