치유와 구도의 시학으로서 「십우도」

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to approach ‘Ten Ox Herding Pictures’ as the Poetics of Healing and Seeking Dharma, focusing particularly on Seon thought and Seon poetry revealing the enlightenment by using transcendental metaphors. Healing does not only aim at overcoming physical and spiritual problems and pathological phenomena but also has an extended meaning to recover the true nature in the all-inclusive perspective toward holistic introspection and awakening of human beings. Considering Seon practice in healing perspective, it is significant for us to trace Seon thought and Seon poetry which seem to combine psychological well-being and spiritualization. If we call "sudden enlightenment" obtained from a spiritual journey 'a vertical unfolding,' then empirical course to integrate psychological obstacles inherent within the mind could be 'a horizontal unfolding.' Just as 'a horizontal unfolding' is the pivot of mind operation, so 'a vertical unfolding' is the core of spiritual awakening. Consequently, I tried to explore healing aesthetics formed by the cross of spiritual work and psychological work revealed in the course of seeking after truth of 'Ten Ox Herding Pictures.' In writing Seon poetry, the Seon experience toward awakening focuses on the relations of the true nature and it seems to be similar for the poet to focus on the relations of the true objects in poetry writing. In this process, if a poet had 'enlightenment experience,' then he who tries to express the search for existence could be referred 'the poetic true-self' rather than 'the poetic self.' Since experiences are created and interpreted only by the mind operation, Seon thought and Seon poetry can become a powerful device of healing.