韓國佛敎의 信行 개념에 관한 硏究

Abstract

Present-days various religions coexist and they used the same term 'Sin-Haeng(信行)'. If they mean it themselves separately or not, it will be a very important work to understand its own concept and it historical meaning within the sphere of the Buddhism. After considering the origin of the word 'Sin-Haeng(信行)' and its usages in the Buddhist sutra, this article develops its meaning in the modern Korean Buddhism. Such study will reveal the general appearance of Sin-Haeng(信行) naturally. In the early Sutras, they separate the religious belief and practice, then they regard that the prajna[般若] is more important than the religious belief. As example in the Dīrghāgamasūtra(長阿含經) only said “getting the religious belief by oneself and then telling it to others for them”. However, Mahāyānaśraddhotpādaśāstra(大乘起信論) divides four religious beliefs and five practices, moreover many Mahāyāna sutras emphasizes the religious belief unlike the early Sutra. The Avatamska Sutra(華嚴經) classifies the four steps such as belief the first, understanding the second, practice the third and enlightenment the last(信解行證). It is a matter of course that Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra(法華經) placed the firm belief of Il-Seung(一乘) and real facts(實相) first of all, and said such belief is the power to approach to the real facts. 'Sin-Haeng(信行)' in the history of Korean Buddhism is as follows. Sin-Haeng(信行) practices of Gwaneum faith(觀音信仰), Yaksa faith(藥師信仰), Amita faith(彌陀信仰), Buddhist invocation(念佛) etc. are the principal axis in the Silla dynasty. The Buddhism of Go Ryeo dynasty was based on the defense its country and its characteristic point is the Buddhist invocation association(信行結社). This article described that Joseon Dynasty's Sin-Haeng(信行) combined the actions of Zen practice, theoertical research and private prayer. Finally this article refers that the meaning of Sin-Haeng(信行) in the modern Korean Buddhism. The Buddhist organization as superstructure should offer the keys that solves many branches of the modern problems and prepare Sin-Haeng(信行) construction as a center of a religious sphere. In brief, this historical understanding of Sin-Haeng(信行) system, offer the theoretical basement and right intention for modern society ; in other words, that has none other than the direction to contact the religious belief and practice from ancient times.