Core Texts of the Sŏn Approach: A Compendium of Korean Sŏn (Chan) Buddhism

Jeffrey L. Broughton here offers a study and partial translation of __Core Texts of the Sŏn Approach (Sŏnmun ch'waryo)__, an anthology of texts foundational to Korean Sŏn (Chan/Zen) Buddhism. __Core Texts of the Sŏn Approach__ provides a convenient entrée to two fundamental themes of Korean Sŏn: Sŏn vis-à-vis the doctrinal teachings of Buddhism (in which Sŏn is shown to be superior) and the __huatou__ (i.e., __phrase__; Korean __hwadu__) method of practice-work originally popularized by the Song dynasty Chinese Chan master Dahui Zonggao. This method consists of "raising to awareness" or "keeping an eye on" the __phrase__, usually **No** (Korean **__mu__**). No mental operation whatsoever is to be performed upon the __phrase__. One lifts the phrase to awareness constantly, when doing "quiet" cross-legged sitting as well as when immersed in the "noisiness" of everyday life. __Core Texts of the Sŏn Approach__, which was published in Korea during the first decade of the twentieth century (the identity of the compiler is not known for certain), contains eight Chan texts by Chinese authors (two translated here) and seven Sŏn texts by Korean authors (three translated here), showing the organic relationship between the parent Chinese tradition and its Korean inheritor. The set of translations in this volume will give readers access to some of the key texts of the Korean branch of this influential East Asian school of Buddhism. "The book is a study and partial translation of Core Texts of the Sŏn Approach (Sŏnmun ch'waryo), a Korean anthology of key texts foundational to Korean Sŏn (Chan/Zen) Buddhism. This anthology provides a convenient entrée to two fundamental themes of Korean Sŏn: Sŏn vis-à-vis the doctrinal teachings (in which Sŏn is shown to be superior); and the huatou (Korean hwadu) method of practice-work popularized by the Song dynasty Chan master Dahui Zonggao (1089-1163). This method consists of "lifting to awareness" or "keeping an eye on" the huatou or phrase, usually the word wu No (Korean mu). No mental operation whatsoever is to be performed upon the huatou. The practitioner simply lifts the huatou to awareness constantly, twenty-four hours a day. Core Texts of the Sŏn Approach, which was published in Korea during the first decade of the twentieth century, attempts to encapsulate the entire Korean Sŏn tradition in one convenient volume (and thus functions as a sort of vade mecum). It contains eight Chan texts by Chinese authors and seven Sŏn texts by Korean authors, showing the organic relationship between the parent Chinese Chan tradition and its heir Korean Sŏn. Due to the circumstances of modern East Asian history, Korean Sŏn is much less well-known in the West than Japanese Zen. This book will give readers access to a broad sweep of texts of the Korean branch of this school of East Asian Buddhism"-- Provided by publisher Jeffrey Broughton here offers a study and partial translation of Core Texts of the Son Approach (Sonmun ch'waryo), an anthology of texts foundational to Korean Son (Chan/Zen) Buddhism. Core Texts of the Son Approach provides a convenient entree to two fundamental themes of Korean Son: Son vis-a-vis the doctrinal teachings of Buddhism (in which Son is shown to be superior) and the huatou (i.e., phrase; Korean hwadu) method of practice-work originally popularized by the Song dynasty Chinese Chan master Dahui Zonggao. This method consists of "raising to awareness" or "keeping an eye on" the phrase, usually No (Korean mu). No mental operation whatsoever is to be performed upon the phrase. One lifts the phrase to awareness constantly, when doing "quiet" cross-legged sitting as well as when immersed in the "noisiness" of everyday life. Core Texts of the Son Approach, which was published in Korea during the first decade of the twentieth century (the identity of the compiler is not known for certain), contains eight Chan texts by Chinese authors (two translated here) and seven Son texts by Korean authors (three translated here), showing the organic relationship between the parent Chinese tradition and its Korean inheritor. The set of translations in this volume will give readers access to some of the key texts of the Korean branch of this influential East Asian school of Buddhism Jeffrey Broughton and Elise Yoko Watanabe offer a study and partial translation of Core Texts of the Son Approach (Sonmun ch'waryo), a Korean anthology of key texts foundational to Korean Son Buddhism, which emphasises attaining Buddhahood through the enlightenment of one's own mind. Korean Son is much less well-known in the West than the Japanese Zen tradition; this volume acts as a comprehensive overview of the texts of the Korean branch of this influential school of East Asian Buddhism