원불교의 선민의식과 다문화사회 교화

Abstract

This study seeks to clarify the pride as chosen people in Won Buddhism for Hanminjok (one ethnic group as Korean people) and to summarize the various edification activities in Won Buddhism today. In the dark period of the Japanese colonial situation, Sotaesan, the Founding Master of Won Buddhism, talked about the pride as chosen people and ethnocentrism, expressing ‘The essential dharmas regarding how the strong and the weak may evolve,’ ‘The fish turns into a dragon,’ ‘The owner of Mount Kumgang,’ ‘the spiritual leading-country and the moral parent-country’ and so on. However, considering the founding motive of Won Buddhism, the pride as chosen people and ethnocentrism in Won Buddhism was to fulfill the mission to save the Korean people who were wandering in the sea of suffering. The characteristics can be found that it was never intended to promote national superiority and relative superiority, but rather to save sentient beings. Besides, this study examines how Won Buddhism is carrying out as a part of edification activities for the multi-cultural society and focuses on how Won Buddhism is complementing the pride as chosen people and ethnocentrism included in the Won Buddhism’s doctrine while doing overseas edification. Based on the doctrines of ‘the Grace of Fellow Beings’ and ‘Everywhere a Buddha Image, Every Act a Buddha Offering,’ the view of Won Buddhism in a multi-cultural society is established: that is ‘the Ethics of Triple Identity,’ ‘United Religions Movement,’ ‘Overseas Edification’ and ‘Edification for multi-cultural society.’ Moreover, due to facing a new era of multi-cultural society, Won Buddhism has a task to implement the edification for multi-cultural society actively. First, it is necessary to prevent that the Ilwonism and the Ethics of Triple Identity conflict with ethnocentrism and the pride of chosen people. Second, it is urgent to prepare strategic edification policies for foreign residents in response to multi-cultural societies. Third, efforts should be made to enhance the members’ understanding, knowledge and interest in a multi-cultural society. Fourth, support should be given to institutions and organizations that are undertaking the edification for a multi-cultural society. Fifth, it is necessary to develop various types of edification method and Won Buddhist doctrinal content suitable for a multi-cultural society.