The Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment: Korean Buddhism's Guide to Meditation (with Commentary by the Son Monk Kihwa) (SUNY series in Korean Studies)

The Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment, used in monastic education for more than a millennium, is a concise guide to the key paradigms of the practice systems of the East Asian meditational schools (Ch'an, Son, and Zen). Contained in its twelve chapters are definitive explanations of the meaning of innate and actualized enlightenment, sudden and gradual enlightenment, the true nature of ignorance and suffering, along with numerous examples of methods of contemplation that accord with and reflect the basic Ch'an views on enlightenment and practice. Although the Sutra was popular throughout the East Asian region, it attained its highest canonical status within the Korean Chogye school, where it is still a key text in the core curriculum of modern-day monks and nuns. The Sutra is translated here in full, along with the eloquent and revelatory commentary of the Choson monk Kihwa (1376-1433). The Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment......Page 0 CONTENTS......Page 5 PREFACE......Page 6 ABBREVIATIONS AND CONVENTIONS......Page 9 INTRODUCTION......Page 10 What Is the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment?......Page 11 Assimilation of Buddhism in East Asia.......Page 12 Indigenous Schools.......Page 13 Indigenous Texts.......Page 15 Major Soteriological Issues of the Ch'an-Hua-yen Definitive East Asian Texts......Page 16 Resolving Dualistic Opposition in the East Asian Scriptures: Essence-Function.......Page 18 Texts Most Closely Related to the SPE.......Page 20 Tsung-mi and the SPE's Chinese Historical and Commentarial Course......Page 22 Early Scriptural Influences in Korea......Page 24 Delayed Arrival of the SPE......Page 26 First Appearances of the SPE in Korea......Page 27 The SPE in the Works of Chinul......Page 28 After Chinul......Page 30 General Observations......Page 32 Kihwa's Life......Page 33 Kihwa's Main Works......Page 35 Kihwa's Analysis of the Relationship of the Worded and Wordless Teachings......Page 37 Correcting the Scriptures......Page 39 Kihwa's Treatment of the SPE......Page 41 Hyujong (Sosan Taesa)......Page 43 Later Choson......Page 44 Scholarship......Page 45 The Future, the West, the Practitioner......Page 47 Title......Page 48 Content Overview......Page 49 Kihwa's Introduction to the SPE......Page 54 TRANSLATION......Page 57 Notes on Textual Divisions and Markers:......Page 58 The Meaning of Tae ("Great" )......Page 59 The Meaning of Kwang ("Extensive" ¬)......Page 60 The Meaning of Won ("Perfect" )......Page 61 The Meaning of Kak ("Enlightenment" )......Page 62 The Meaning of the Relative Placement of the Words of the Title and the Importance of their Distinct.........Page 64 The Semantic Relation of the Individual Words to Each Other......Page 67 The Explanation of the Relationship between the Triplet Compounds of the Title......Page 68 Categorization by the Words of the Title......Page 69 Categorization by the Three Levels of Capacity......Page 70 Categorization by Interpenetration......Page 71 Comparison with the Hwaomgyong......Page 72 The Meaning of "Sutra-Fully-Revealed-Doctrine-Scripture......Page 73 1. Mañjusri Bodhisattva......Page 78 Mañjusri's Question on the Dharma-Practice of the Causal Stage......Page 79 The Buddha's Answer......Page 83 The Definition of Ignorance......Page 85 Ignorance Lacks Substance......Page 88 The Dharma-Practice......Page 89 The Gatha......Page 92 2. Samantabhadra Bodhisattva......Page 94 Samantabhadra's Questions on the Possibility of Practice......Page 95 Illusion Is Baseless......Page 99 Separation from Illusion......Page 102 The Gatha......Page 106 3. Universal Vision Bodhisattva......Page 108 Universal Vision's Question on Expedient Means......Page 109 The Buddha's Answer......Page 110 The Meditation on No-Self......Page 111 Body and Mind are Illusory Filth......Page 113 Perfect Enlightenment Is Like a Mani-Pearl......Page 114 The Permeation of the Senses by Purity......Page 116 The Permeation of the Universe by Purity......Page 118 All Things are Equal and Changeless......Page 119 Perfect Mutual Interpenetration......Page 120 Detachment in Nonduality......Page 122 Sentient Beings are Originally Perfect Buddhas......Page 123 The Gatha......Page 127 4. Vajragarbha Bodhisattva......Page 129 Vajragarbha's Questions on the Paradox of the Coexistence of Enlightenment and Ignorance......Page 130 Samsara's Disorienting Power......Page 133 The Simile of Illusion and Sky-Flowers......Page 136 The Simile of Purifying Gold......Page 138 The Futility of the Use of Discrimination......Page 139 The Gatha......Page 142 5. Maitreya Bodhisattva......Page 144 Maitreya's Questions on the Severance of the Root of Transmigration......Page 146 The Buddha's Answer......Page 147 Attached Love/Desire as the Root of Transmigration......Page 149 The Causes of the Various Rebirths......Page 150 The Nonattached Compassion of the Bodhisattva......Page 151 The Five Natures and the Two Hindrances......Page 152 The Vow of the Bodhisattva......Page 157 The Gatha......Page 159 6. Pure Wisdom Bodhisattva......Page 161 Pure Wisdom's Question on the Distinctions in Level of Practice......Page 162 The Buddha's Answer......Page 163 In Reality, There are No Stages......Page 164 The Worldling's Accordance with the Enlightened Nature......Page 166 The Advanced Bodhisattva's Accordance with Perfect Enlightenment......Page 168 The Tathagata's Accordance with Perfect Enlightenment......Page 170 Direct Accordance with the Nature of Enlightenment......Page 171 The Gatha......Page 172 7. Power and Virtue Unhindered Bodhisattva......Page 174 Power and Virtue's Question on the Types of Meditation......Page 177 Samatha......Page 179 Samapatti......Page 181 Dhyana......Page 183 The Gatha......Page 188 8. Voice of Discernment Bodhisattva......Page 190 Voice of Discernment's Question on the Application of the Three Meditations......Page 191 The Buddha's Answer: The Twenty-Five Applications......Page 193 Applications Initiated with Samatha......Page 194 Applications Initiated with Samapatti......Page 195 Applications Initiated with Dhyana......Page 196 Simultaneous Consummation of All Three......Page 197 The Method of Choosing an Appropriate Application......Page 200 The Gatha......Page 201 Explication of the Twenty-Five Applications: The Parable of the Castle......Page 202 9. Purifier of All Karmic Hindrances Bodhisattva......Page 206 The Question of Purifier of Karmic Hindrances: The Removal of Obstructions......Page 209 The Buddha's Answer: The Four Traces......Page 210 The Explanation of the Four Traces......Page 212 The Errors that Result from Not Perceiving the Action of the Four Traces......Page 218 The Subtlety of the Traces......Page 219 Overcoming These Hindrances and Finding a Teacher......Page 221 The Gatha......Page 223 10. Universal Enlightenment Bodhisattva......Page 225 The Question of Universal Enlightenment: The Curing of Maladies......Page 226 Finding a Genuine Teacher......Page 228 The Naturalist Malady......Page 230 The Annihilation Malady......Page 231 Interacting with the Genuine Teacher......Page 232 The Gatha......Page 234 11. Perfect Enlightenment Bodhisattva......Page 236 Perfect Enlightenment's Question for Those Having Difficulty in According......Page 237 The Buddha's Answer: Further Expedients......Page 238 Retreats, Ritual and Repentance......Page 239 Expedients for Entry into Samatha......Page 241 Expedients for Entry into Samapatti......Page 243 Expedients for Entry into Dhyana......Page 244 The Case of Further Inability to Practice......Page 245 The Gatha......Page 246 12. Most Excellent of Worthies Bodhisattva......Page 248 The Questions of Most Excellent of Worthies: Transmission of the Teaching......Page 249 The Names of the Sutra......Page 250 Merits of Studying and Practicing the Sutra......Page 251 The Gatha......Page 252 Guarantees of Protection by Supernatural Beings......Page 253 APPENDIX: RE-TR ANSLATION OF THE SUTRA OF PERFECT ENLIGHTENMENT ACCORDING TO THE AMENDMENTS BY KIHWA.........Page 255 1. Mañjusri Bodhisattva......Page 256 2. Samantabhadra Bodhisattva......Page 258 3. Universal Vision Bodhisattva......Page 260 4. Vajragarbha Bodhisattva......Page 264 5. Maitreya Bodhisattva......Page 267 6. Pure Wisdom Bodhisattva......Page 270 7. Power and Virtue Unhindered Bodhisattva......Page 273 8. Voice of Discernment Bodhisattva......Page 276 9. Purifier of All Karmic Hindrances Bodhisattva......Page 280 10. Universal Enlightenment Bodhisattva......Page 283 11. Perfect Enlightenment Bodhisattva......Page 286 12. Most Excellent of Worthies Bodhisattva......Page 289 Introduction......Page 293 Kihwa's Introduction to His Commentary......Page 299 1. Mañjusri......Page 302 3. Universal Vision......Page 303 4. Vajragarbha......Page 305 6. Pure Wisdom......Page 306 8. Voice of Discernment......Page 307 9. Purifier of All Karmic Hindrances......Page 309 11. Perfect Enlightenment......Page 311 12. Most Excellent of Worthies......Page 312 Classical East Asian Buddhist Texts: Chinese Titles (excluding SPE-related works)......Page 313 Classical East Asian Buddhist Texts (not commentaries on SPE): Korean Titles......Page 314 Chinese Commentaries Contained in Buddhist Canonical Collections......Page 316 Modern Works......Page 318 A......Page 322 C......Page 323 D......Page 324 F......Page 325 H......Page 326 K......Page 327 M......Page 328 P......Page 329 S......Page 330 T......Page 332 V......Page 333 Z......Page 334 The Sutra Of Perfect Enlightenment, Used In Monastic Education For More Than A Millennium, Is A Concise Guide To The Key Paradigms Of The Practice Systems Of The East Asian Meditational Schools (ch'an, Son, And Zen). Contained In Its Twelve Chapters Are Definitive Explanations Of The Meaning Of Innate And Actualized Enlightenment, Sudden And Gradual Enlightenment, The True Nature Of Ignorance And Suffering, Along With Numerous Examples Of Methods Of Contemplation That Accord With And Reflect The Basic Ch'an Views On Enlightenment And Practice. Although The Sutra Was Popular Throughout The Eastasian Region, It Attained Its Highest Canonical Status Within The Korean Chogye School, Where It Is Still A Key Text In The Core Curriculum Of Modern-day Monks And Nuns. The Sutra Is Translated Here In Full, Along With The Eloquent And Revelatory Commentary Of The Choson Monk Kihwa (1376-1433).--book Jacket. Chinese Origins And Effects -- The Sutra Of Perfect Enlightenment In Korea Before Kihwa -- Kihwa (hamho Tukt'ong) -- The Spe After Kihwa: The Choson Period -- The Sutra Of Perfect Enlightenment Today -- Overview Of The Sutra Of Perfect Enlightenment -- Translation -- Kihwa's Introduction -- Manjusri Bodhisattva -- Samantabhadra Bodhisattva -- Universal Vision Bodhisattva -- Vajragarbha Bodhisattva -- Maitreya Bodhisattva -- Pure Wisdom Bodhisattva -- Power And Virtue Unhindered Bodhisattva -- Voice Of Discernment Bodhisattva -- Purifier Of All Karmic Hindrances Bodhisattva -- Universal Enlightenment Bodhisattva -- Perfect Enlightenment Bodhisattva -- Most Excellent Of Worthies Bodhisattva -- Kihwa's Revised Edition Of The Sutra. Translated And With An Introduction By A. Charles Muller. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 307-315) And Index. The Sūtra of Perfect Enlightenment, used in monastic education for more than a millennium, is a concise guide to the key paradigms of the practice systems of the East Asian meditational schools (Ch'an, Sǒn, and Zen). Contained in its twelve chapters are definitive explanations of the meaning of innate and actualized enlightenment, sudden and gradual enlightenment, the true nature of ignorance and suffering, along with numerous examples of methods of contemplation that accord with and reflect the basic Ch'an views on enlightenment and practice. Although the Sutra was popular throughout the East Asian region, it attained its highest canonical status within the Korean Chogye school, where it is still a key text in the core curriculum of modern-day monks and nuns. The Sutra is translated here in full, along with the eloquent and revelatory commentary of the Chǒson monk Kihwa (1376–1433).