동학 수운교의 생사관

Abstract

This study investigates the view on the life and death of Donghak and the unique characteristic of Suwoongyo on the view of the life and death. As mentioned in Donghak that he has the medicine of immortality, Su-woon Choi refuses death. As a result, he proposed hermit (a mountain wizard) as an ideal life. Unlike Chinese Taoism, hermit does not seek his longevity only. But, he views the earth and heaven as one world and focuses on the realization on earth. In Donghak, Su-woon Choi admits that demon is Hanalnim himself, which is a completely contrasting view against the grounds of Neo-Confucianism as demon is not the creature of heaven and earth and yin and yang but it is a supernatural and spiritual entity. In Donghak, the purpose of discipline is to become one with Hanalnim while we are alive. To become one with Hanalnim through discipline while we are alive is the basic belief, having Hanalnim in ourselves. Once we became one with Hanalnim, we can transcend life and death. The theory of Suwoongyo, as Donghak, was created based on the consolidation of Confucianism, Buddhism and Seon(or Daoism). Accordingly, the view on the life and death can be discussed within the boundary of Confucianism, Buddhism and Seon(or Daoism). The view on the universe of Suwoongyo is that Buddha, Hanalnim and the Mind are one. Suwoongyo accepts the Theory of Three Worlds of Buddhism. It views that, by making relations with these Three Worlds, hermit and Buddha can be unified into one and men can be reborn as a universal entity to stand at the center of the universe. The founder of Suwoongyo said that Suwoongyo is the Great Way through Unification of Three. It says that the Three Worlds become one as the way of life and the way of death are unified into one. Accordingly, it is not to divide life and death, but it is to connect them into one to communicate between life and death, leaving no space and distance between these two. As a result, the life mentioned in Suwoongyo is the Universal Self which is open infinitely to this universe. Heart is the main body of the eternal life, and this is originated from the Bulchunshim (Buddha, Heaven and Mind).