자타의 구분 없는 ‘한마음’의 이해

Abstract

This paper addresses the interpretation of Hanmaeum as articulated by Myogong Daehang (1927-2012), utilizing concepts from vijñaptimātra and results from neurological experiments. Hanmaeum is described as the origin and principle of all things in the universe, from which all phenomena arise. Additionally, it is stated that "In the realm of true nature, there is no distinction between my mind and your mind." The experience of enlightenment, where the distinction between self and others vanishes, corresponds to the stage in the Thirty Verses on Consciousness-Only (唯識三⼗頌) where the differentiation between the perceiver and the perceived ceases. This raises the question how the dissolution of the distinction between self and others relates to our secular life. In our everyday world, we clearly distinguish between 'I' and 'you,' and this distinction seems very evident. However, from the perspective of the Myogong Daehang and Buddhism, these distinctions are merely nominal. This is why we pay attention to experiments related to the mirror neuron phenomenon. It is frequently found that various living things, including humans, do not distinguish between their own bodies and others’ at a neurological level. In other words, the boundary between ourselves and others is more ambiguous than we think and changes every moment. This intermingling of self and others opens up a way to address the issue of knowledge of other minds. Through mirror neuron phenomena, we imperfectly recreate parts of another's mind within our own, and uses these parts to build and update a model of the other's mind. This aligns with Dharmakīrti's argument that one's own mind infers the mind of others through analogy. If Hanmaeum entails the intermingling of self and other minds, then Hanmaeum should be a framework that comprehensively understands both vijñaptimātra and neurological experiments. This suggests a potential point of convergence between Buddhism and science.