원불교 이상사회론의 의미와 해석 방향

Abstract

The paradigm of ideal society may originate in the negativephenomena of the real society such as chaos and disorder caused incorruption and graft. As the public desire for the new change iscombined with the superior ability of leaders in the real society, theparadigm of ideal society can upspring and have strong socialinfluence. Although general people may know the impossibility of therealization for the ideal society, they can not abandon their ownwish for it. As the major characteristic of utopia is ‘too ideal’, theparadigm of utopia can be meaningful in seeking the change in theharmony with the real world. Due to public dream to ideal society,human being’s history and civilization have been steadily developedfor it. The ideal society as the goal of change is like the milestoneof unachievable mirage. However, due to the goal to the idealsociety, our society have steadily improved its irregularities. In thispoint, the unachievable ideal society has the goal oriented meaningin the pursuit, rather than in the attainment of it. The paradigm of ideal society in Wonbuddhism is not simply religious ideal society, but was to gather strong social energy for thechange of unreasonable society in those days. As acquired Creationand Maitreya ideology provided the thought basis, Mirukbulkwanand Yongwhaheisang include the characteristics of Wonbuddhism idealsociety, which means the harmonious world of spirit and materialcivilization. To be a leading role in this society, it is required toexert serious effort of religious and spiritual seeking such as Vajrasutra. As the essentials of ideal society can be distorted in the pursuit, itshould hold its own values of rationality, pluralism, and universality. Also, Wonbuddhism should not settle for the present fate of country,morality, and religion, but exert its own practical effort to realizethe ideal society and keep the sound criticism and the innovativeand progressive spirit for the present society.