Korea Journal of Buddhist StudiesISSN:1598-0642(Print)불교학연구회

How can we achieve enlightenment, which is the ultimate purpose of Buddhism? There are two different opinions on this topic in Korean Buddhism. The first one is sudden enlightenment , and the other one is gradual enlightenment . These two opinions may be mistaken as being in contrast with each other. But based on Early Buddhist texts, this study reveals that these two are not contradictory. If we could acknowledge that the sudden enlightenment is not limited to a one-time event and is repeated again and again, we can call this series of enlightenments as gradual enlightenment . Through Early Buddhist texts, I discovered that Buddha’s enlightenment, anuttarasammasaṁdhi was a gradual enlightenment which was composed of the Four Noble Truths(cattari-ariyasaccani ). I explained that the Four Noble Truths includes two rounds of enlightenments , one of which we can call pariññ and the other sacchikiriya . I confirmed that both of these could be regarded as kinds of enlightenment . Based on these facts, I concluded that sudden enlightenment and gradual enlightenment do not oppose each other, and gradual enlightenment includes a number of sudden enlightenments in Early Buddhism. This study arrives at another important point that enlightenment should precede the procedures of practice. I came to understand that the teaching of Four Noble Truths reveals this fact. The first element of Four Noble Truths, dukkha-ariyasacca means to realize the painful realities of life. All the other elements of Four Noble Truths follow this enlightenment . Especially, the last element of Four Noble Truths, dukkhanirodhagaminiya-paṭada means to practice the cultivation of mind on the basis of the previous elements of enlightenments . I think these teachings of Early Buddhism are similar to Chinul(知訥, 1158-1210)’s practice system, and also connected with his thoughts of sudden enlightenment gradual cultivation (頓悟漸修). In modern times, Chinul’s opinion was criticized by Sungchol(1912-1993) who claimed sudden enlightenment sudden cultivation (頓悟頓修). And subsequently, the followers of Chinul and the disciples of Sungchol have been arguing with each other. I expect that the present study will contribute to the reconciliation of this debate and to the increase in our understanding of the similarities and the interactions between Early Buddhism and Korean Buddhism.