김일엽의 선(禪)사상과 불교 선시(禪詩) 고찰

Abstract

Kim Il Yeop(1896~1971) is early modern women and feminist, went into Buddhism and finished her life as a Zen Priest. In 1933, Il Yeop entered the Buddhist priesthood for experiencing religion. In March 1934 (lunar year) receiving the commandments of Buddhist nun, she got the name of ‘HayeopdangㆍBaekreon DoyeopㆍBuddhist nun’ from Esteemed Priest Mangong. Then she concentrated on Goodness and ascetic practice, and wrote books for public propagation. Kim Il Yeop gave priority to asceticism than scriptures as Mangong’s ‘SaGyeo YeapSeon’ which indicates eradicating scriptures and entering Goodness, devote bravely to find ‘mind inside mind, original oneself. In other words, realizing sincere sense of sovereignty of one’s existence and try to find wisdom like Buddha by realizing emptiness which doesn’t get jammed of any boundaries from realized the nature of Buddha. This is ideology of Zen Buddhism and her teacher Mangong’s dying injunctions and Goodness ideology that Il Yeop pursued. After entering the Buddhist priesthood drifted apart from writing books, she still wrote 20 pieces of Buddhist poetry and showed an aspect of Zen Priest. Buddhist poetry exhibits Buddha hood through fulfillment as languages based on Goodness, and it needs intensive practicing of Goodness. Il Yeop showed apprehension of the truth by her poetry which she learned through Goodness ideology and fulfillment from experiencing Goodness. Buddhist poetry of Il Yeop consists of thirst and awareness about ‘consciousness of oneself’ and ‘absence of ego which makes wholeness of time and place equals emptiness’. This is ironically indicated by condensation and metaphor which are rhetoric method of Buddhism, and it shows subtle stage of Goodness above language.