古庵 祥彦의 선사상과 의의 고찰

Abstract

Great Master Goam Sang-eon (1899~1988) was taught by several masters of his time including his eunsa (his greatly respected teacher) Jesan (1862~1930), and beopsa (Dharma teacher) Yongseong (1846~1940), and inherited the tradition of Korean Seon (Zen) by attaining inga (sanction) from Master Yongseong, In the forefront of teaching sentient beings in his capacity as jongjeong (supreme patriarch) of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, Goam stabilized the order and enhanced the status of Korean Buddhism. Goam emphasized in his teaching the essence of Zen thought, namely the self-awakening of original enlightenment 本證自覺 as the One Mind. He unfolded his thought of original enlightenment, stating that, if one rightly understand the One Thing 一物 and correctly uses the One Mind, one can directly achieve sainthood as the radiance of the Buddha’s compassion permeates everywhere. Furthermore, Goam emphasized teaching students Ganhwa Seon and chanting as a means of attaining enlightenment; however, he made it clear that all the practice methods, whether hwadu investigation or chanting, aim at helping to see one’s intrinsic nature. Retaining this view in mind, Goam, as a Zen master, put an emphasis on practicing with rigorous spirit for attaining enlightenment. This can be observed in full from his image embodied as a Bodhisattva of compassion. Considering that Buddhism including Zen pursues seeking bodhi above and saving sentient beings below, the fruit of Buddhist practice should take the form of compassionate activities. Goam’s compassionate life and practice of ‘merely going on the blade of a sword’ 但行劍上路 provide a lesson for today’s practitioners, who wander and struggle around only looking for personal advantages, to ruminate upon.