Buddhism and Character Education: Necessity, Character, and Method:Templestay in Korean Buddhism

Abstract

This paper aims to how Buddhist teaching attributes to character education in Korean society. It takes three steps to elaborate on this topic: first is necessity of character education through a religious approach, second is templestay in Korean Buddhism as Buddhist teaching-based character education, and third is the Noble Eightfold Path for Buddhist teaching-based character education. The experience of religious spirituality is an essential factor to improve the human beings’ character. In the first step, it deals with why the necessity of character education through religious approach is required in the Korean society. It is because, although the Korean society has become more materially abundant, the Korean social situation has gotten mentally worse due to dehumanization and immorality. Buddhist teaching-based character education is characterized by the Noble Eightfold Path with eight elements: right understanding, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right meditation. Here, “right” refers to a skilled sense of balance of the Middle path that is not biased towards extremes under any circumstances. The Noble Eightfold Path is divided into three stages from the perspective of character education. The first stage is establishing the right perspective of the world. It is related to right understanding and right resolve. The second stage is developing morality and spirituality based on the right perspective of the world. The development of morality is related to right speech, right action, right livelihood, and right effort. The development of spirituality is related to right mindfulness and right meditation. The third stage is completing the Noble Eightfold Path by developing the perspective of the world, morality, and spirituality, fostering the Middle path, and leading a right life. Consequently, the Noble Eightfold Path, through the perspective of the world, morality, and spirituality, changes one's life fundamentally and forms an integrated character. This integrated character is called the character of the Middle path.