백용성의 사상과 화과원에서의 저술활동

Abstract

Baek Yongseong's thoughts can be described ultimately as 'Daegaksasang(Supreme Enlightenment)'. He established a new Buddhist order 'Daegakgyo(Supreme Enlightenment Foundation)' for the purpose of propagating 'enlightenment' he had reached. 'Supreme Enlightenment' he mentioned contains bongak(本覺), sigak(始覺) and gugyeonggak(究竟覺). Bongak means the original enlightenment itself before Buddha and the buddhist master were born. Sigak indicates we have grasped that the nature of all sattva(sentient beings) is originally enlightenment. And gugyeonggak signifies that bongak and sigak are not two but one complete state. Baek Yongseong dedicated his whole life to the propagation of Daegaksasang he had mastered. Hwagwawon is rather similar to a 'Buddhist monastery' or monastic teaching center than to a farm or orchard in its nature. Hwagwawon Back Yongseong dreamed of was a pure and immaculate practice hall, a monastic teaching center in which zen meditation, doctrines and vinaya(orders) were trained and taught all together. In fact, a meditation hall was opened and operated there. A retreat certificate issued in the year of 1938 by Baek Yongseaong, the supreme patriarch of Seonjong Chonglim of Joseon Buddhism, has been handed down to date. With these evidential documents, it seems that Hwagwawon played a role of 'monastery' secluded from the outside. Even after Baek Yongseong passed away, Hwagwawon was a practice hall where his disciples intensely cultivated and pursued Buddhist studies. His view of Buddhism can be grasped through the three books Baek Yongseong wrote in his late years. He put systematically in order the core doctrines of Daegakgyo he had established in Cheonggongwonil(Pure Sky and Round Sun). And in booklets The Truth of Odo and Odo Is Do, he plainly described the meaning of Supreme Enlightenment preached in Daegakgyo. It is needless to say these were written to propagate the idea of Supreme Enlightenment widely. The Truth of Odo and Odo Is Do were especially written after Daegakgyo had been dissolved. Daegakgyo was disbanded around the year 1936 and incorporated in Joseon Buddhism Seonjong in 1938. Nevertheless, Baek Yongseong created The Truth of Odo and Odo Is Do on his sickbed in order to spread the idea of Supreme Enlightenment. We understand from these facts that though Daegakgyo had to be dissolved due to various unfavorable circumstances, Baek Yongseong didn't give up his belief in Supreme Enlightenment to the end.