백용성 스님의 大覺禪 연구

Abstract

The life of Venerable Baek Yongseong is defined by his unwavering pursuit of Great Enlightenment(大覺). After renouncing secular life, he dedicated himself to endless repentance, hwadu concentration, and scripture reading to attain Great Enlightenment. Following his enlightenment, he devoted his life to practicing the Dharma and founded the Movement of the Religion of Great Enlightenment, driven by his passion for Great Enlightenment Meditation. First, what is Yongseong’s view of the Great Enlightenment? The meaning of Great Enlightenment in the Buddhist scriptures means Buddha; on the other hand, it symbolizes Buddha's enlightenment. He construed the concept of Great Enlightenment as the realization and culmination of innate enlightenment(始覺), primal enlightenment(本覺), and ultimate enlightenment (究竟覺). This interpretation led Yongseong to define Great Enlightenment Seon as Seon(禪), emphasizing the amalgamation of personal enlightenment, self-realization, and the practice devoted to guiding others toward similar levels of enlightenment. Second, what led to the establishment of Yongseong’s philosophy of Great Enlightenment Seon? The four stages of enlightenment achieved through mountain meditation were the basis. His proactive approach aimed to impart teachings not only to Buddhists but also to non-Buddhists and followers of different faiths. Interactions with various religious representatives in Gyeongseong's churches and cathedrals reinforced his commitment to advancing Buddhism through meditation and propagation. This marked the initial phase of establishing the ideology of Great Enlightenment Seon. His involvement in the March 1st Independence Movement led him to reside in Seodaemun Prison alongside 33 representatives from diverse religions, enabling him to study their religious practices and missionary methods. This period marks the establishment of the second phase of Great Enlightenment Seon thought, evolving notably due to his experiences in prison. Third, he emphasized the practice of Great Enlightenment Seon. By popularizing the Great Enlightenment Seon, he sought to socialize enlightenment. Also, he emphasize the popularization of seon practice propagation. The topic of Great Enlightenment Seon was the project to enlighten the people. Lastly, he founded the Religion of Great Enlightenment Movement. He created a community called the Religion of Great Enlightenment to practice Great Enlightenment Seon. To summarize, his legacy as a great guardian of Great Enlightenment lies in his establishment of the Great Enlightenment thought, development of the Great Enlightenment Movement, and the organization of the Religion of Great Enlightenment. His unique meditation practice and propagation teachings were the foundation of this movement, with the ultimate goal being the socialization of enlightenment. Daegak-sa temples were erected in numerous locations to support the Project of the People's Great Enlightenment.