불교 수행 프로그램의 실태 분석과 개선 방향

Abstract

Buddhist practice is the way to becoming a Buddha. This distinguishes self-power-faith-based Buddhism from faiths in other power. But Buddhist practice is being perceived as something mysterious by the general public. Considering that Buddhism leads all sentient beings to shed suffering and to reach the liberation realm, the skillful means of Buddhist practice needs to be popularized and to be performed in daily routines. Thus, this paper, for the popularization and daily routine performance of Buddhist practice, analyzes the Buddhist practice program status and presents its improvement direction. Korean Buddhism, which pursues ecumenical Buddhism, has inherited diverse practice methods, but this paper studied phrase-observing meditation (看話禪) , deep bow, remembrance of the Buddha’s name (念佛) , dhāraṇī, reading the scriptures (讀經) , sūtra copying (寫經) , and insight meditation (vipassanā) practice methods. An analysis of the programs according to these Buddhist practice methods revealed these problems: the purpose of program implementation being irrelevant to Buddhism, inappropriate systemization and standardization of programs, a lack of continuous implementation of special programs, and a lack of inspection and guidance efforts for Buddhist practice. With regard to these problems of Buddhist practice programs, this paper presented the improvement direction from the aspect of development direction and implementation direction. From the development direction aspect, first, true Buddhist practice programs with Buddhist identity need to be developed not to meet worldly desires and needs but to cut off these. Second, regardless of Buddhists or non-Buddhists, Buddhist practice programs that everyone can participate in and practice in daily routines need to be developed. Third, certain standardized and consistent Buddhist practice programs according to practice methods need to be developed. Furthermore, from the implementation aspect, first, there is a need to foster experienced specialist instructors who well protect the identity of Buddhist practice from third practice methods and other similar programs and who can guide lay practitioners. Also, today’s Korean Buddhism, which lack inspection of Buddhist practice, should be awakened to boosting the inspection and guidance efforts for Buddhist practice.