백용성스님의 초기수행과 보광사·도솔암의 인연

Abstract

Yong-Seong Seon master achieved the extinction of his karma through his early practice of worship (禮拜), recitation of Darani (陀羅尼 持誦). Then, he attained his first illumination with the koan of the letter Mu (無), under Soo-Wer sunim's guidance in Gowunsa. The identity of Soo-Wer sunim has been controversial in the academic world. On examination through careful research, he has been found to be Soo-Wer Yeong Min(水月永旻) of Gowunsa. The confusion regarding his identity is thought to have continued because there were several contemporary Buddhist teachers who achieved Boolmangnyeomji (不忘念智) through similar practices. This article presents the reasons and courses of Seon Buddhism's embracement of Yong-Seong's early Darani practice. As Yong-Seong sunim practiced and examined Cheonsuju(千手呪) and Yukjaju(六字呪), he translated the related Buddhist sutras into Korean - 『CheonSooGyung(千手經)』 and 『YukJaYeongGamDaeMyeongWangGyeong (六字靈感大明王經)』 respectively. YukJaju is found in the fourth volume of 『BoolSulDaeSeungJangUmBoWangGyeong (佛說大乘莊嚴寶王經)』 translated by CheonSikJae (天息災) in the late 10th century. YukJaJu is a mantra well-known as Om Mani Padme Hum. Yong-Seong sunim recited this mantra along with DaeBiJu (大悲呪). In the translated edition of 『YukJaYeongGamDaeMyeongWangGyeong(六字靈感大明王經)』, he put stress on the importance of recitation of YukJaJu by quoting an metaphor from the sutra 'all Buddhist sutras are husk of rice whenYukJaJu is the very core of rice itself.' The last thing this article focuses on is his early practice mainly done in Bogwangsa and Dosolam. His age then was between 19 and 21, and his three main activities in these places during this period have been discovered. The first one was what he expressed as 'the bottom of a barrel vanished' in his first song of enlightenment. He attained this first illumination at the age of 19 through recitation of DaeBiJu and YukJaJu. At age 20, he was introduced to the Buddhist script titled 『YukJoDanGyeong(六祖壇經)』 in Bogwansa and adopted it later as a guide book for his DaeGakGyo (大覺敎) movement. When he was 21, he vanquished his koan of the letter Mu and composed his second song of enlightenment. Yong-Seong Seon master's strong ties with Bogwansa Dosolam is considered valuable and this connection provided the solid basis for his independence movement of March 1 and for his Great Enlightenment movement(大覺運動).