Page 37 - EH 73 May 2024
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FACE TO FACE  |  EASTERN HORIZON     35







           As a specialist in Korean         as “mind creates the world” and   and adaptability are hallmarks of
           Buddhism, what would you          “one is in all, all is in one.” On the   Korean Buddhism.
           regard as its uniqueness          other hand, Seon (Chan; Zen)
           compared to Japanese Buddhism,    Buddhism advocates for the direct   Christianity has grown rapidly
           or even Chinese Buddhism?         realization of Buddha nature within   in South Korea over the past
                                             one’s own mind as a pathway to    century, eclipsing even the
           Korean Buddhists have often       enlightenment.                    Buddhist population. This is
           touted the concept of “Unified                                      very different compared to
           Buddhism” as a defining feature   Other Buddhist schools, aside from   Christianity’s lack of success in
           of Korean Buddhism, emphasizing   Hwaeom and Seon, can be seen      Japan. What are the main reasons
           its inclusivity of various Buddhist   through their traces in practice. In   for this?
           schools. However, this notion has   contrast, Chinese Buddhism saw the
           faced criticism from scholars in the   flourishing of diverse schools, and   Christianity played a pivotal role in
           United States. They argue that it   Japanese Buddhism was influenced   shaping modern Korea, a contrast
           oversimplifies the diverse landscape   by Tendai, Lotus Sutra, and esoteric   to its impact in Japan. Since 1867,
           of Korean Buddhism. Indeed, the   Buddhism. Notably, Cheontae       Christian missionaries arrived in
           uniqueness of Korean Buddhism lies   (Tiantai; Tendai) Buddhism,    Korea alongside Western forces,
           not in a singular identity but rather   traditionally considered a doctrinal   and at that time, Christianity was
           in its historical and social context.   school in China and Japan, was   perceived as an advanced religion
                                             reclassified as a practice tradition in   and culture by the Korean people.
           The suppression of Buddhism       Korea since the Goryeo Dynasty.   Its introduction brought about
           during the Joseon Dynasty                                           significant changes, including
           influenced the formation of the   Despite enduring a 500-year period   advancements in education,
           current structure of Korean       of official suppression during    healthcare, and cultural norms.
           Buddhism. The Joseon royal court   the Joseon Dynasty, Buddhism     Women and individuals from
           consolidated Buddhist schools     remained deeply ingrained in the   lower social classes were afforded
           into two categories: doctrinal and   collective consciousness of the   opportunities for education
           practice schools, thus preserving   Korean people. This resilience   and societal advancement. For
           two distinct traditions within    is a testament to the enduring    instance, in 1885, the American
           Korean Buddhism. The doctrinal    vitality of Korean Buddhism, which   missionary Horace Allen founded
           school, represented by Hwaeom     gradually reclaimed its status    Kwanghyewon, the first Western-
           (Huayan) Buddhism, emphasizes     as an official religion in modern   style hospital, and commenced
           the interconnectedness of mind    Korea, boasting the second-largest   teaching Western medicine to
           and world, with teachings such    number of followers. This resilience   16 students the following year.





           Ven Domun and Ven Pomnyun         Bhikshuni Dae Haeng (1927–2012)   Ven Wolju (1934-2021)
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