경봉스님의 선사상 일고(一考)

Abstract

This paper is focused on the life and thought of Seon Master Gyeong-Bong(鏡峰, 1892-1982) with his analects『the sea of Dharma(法海)』,『Who are you?』,『the news of Samsogul』. He experienced all the suffering that modern Korean people had done. Born in 1892, he could not avoid the suffering of the Japanese Imperialistic rule and the Korean War, and he saw with his own eyes these historical event. When he was 16 years old, he entered the Buddhist priesthood. In winter of 20 years after, 36 years old, the wall around him had been crumbled suddenly and he could see clearly without any obstacle and experienced the profound shape of a circle. He practiced severly for 20 days. Watching candle flickering in the wind he had enlightened at the dawn of the last day. All question had vanished at once. After that marvelous day he had preached many disciples and lay-Buddhist Buddha's teachings that he enlightened to the last moment. Also he readjusted structures of Tong-do temple and built bridges, 18 stone lanterns. After he passed into nirvana, his disciple bhikkhu Myeong-jeong published 『the news of Samsogul』 that collected the encounter dialogue of seon(禪問答) and letter writings that corresponding with Gyeong-Bong and other Seon Master Han-Am(漢岩), Yong-Seong(龍城), Man-Gong Wol-Myeon(滿空月面), Hyo-Bong(曉峰), Won-Myeong(元明) etc. This book comes into its own as an important research material for a look-into nearest Korean Buddhism. He and Gu-ha(九河, 1872-1965) had carried on a seon-lineage of Yeongchuk-Chongnim, the full monastic training temple that started by his master Seong-Hae(聖海). The seon-lineage have been carried on by both Wal-Ha(月下, 1915～2003), Gu-ha's disciple and Byeok-An(碧眼, 1901-1987), his disciple. Wal-Ha was nominated for the first Bangjang(方丈), the head of Yeongchuk-Chongrim. His thought can be classified into four kind. First, to live a rakish life in the world of suffering. He lived a active, vivid and vigorous life in this world to set a model to the afflicted and wandering young people. Second, everyday life is enlightenment(平常心是道). There is Tao(道) in all kind of human behaviour like moving, sitting, lying etc. Third, he practice Seon combining with study of doctrine. he had read all kind of analects of Seone Master and the Sutras like Avatamsaka-Sūtra(華嚴經), Saddharmapundarīka-Sūtra(法華經), Prajñāpāramitā-Sūtra(般若經) and others. Fourth, There is a Pure-Land(淨土) in Consciousness only. Gyeong-Bong is one of the great Seon Master in modern Korean Buddhism. His thought and life had strong influenced upon Bhikkhu, Bhikkhuni and lay Buddhist.