Korea Journal of Buddhist Studies ISSN:1598-0642(Print) 불교학연구

In-Ak’s fundamental teachings concerned the mind. He argued that the ultimate of all Gyos and Seons should eventually come down to illuminating one’s mind. The mind is what everyone is born with, and its operations are the essence to understanding to the workings of everything in the universe. He thus criticized those who left a well-round and pure mind behind by idling years away. His Ilshim can be examined in two directions, namely the Seonggi mind of Hwaeom and the sudden enlightenment mind.First, the old Hwaeom people accepted the perspective of interpreting the seven letters in the title of “Daebanggwangbulhwaeomgyeong” as Ingwa, Yeongi, Ishil, Beopgye, and Busaui by Cheongryang. Regarding the subject, In-Ak said that the content discussed in Hwaeomgyeong was limited to the scope of truth and wisdom, that truth and wisdom was limited to the scope of the mind, and that the mind was used by all beings. It is thus estimated that In-Ak took a more Zen, informal and realistic approach towards the interpretations of Hwaeom than Cheongryang.He also had a different position from Cheongryang who argued that Buddha was pure while people were contaminated. He saw that the mind, Buddha, and people were different manifestations of the same force, insisting that “The minds become the whole even though they are not whole in forms.” In addition, he said that “All laws become one mind when mentioned together” and that “Each law has one mind when mentioned separately,” taking a position that “There are no obstacles between phenomena” in one and many. He placed an emphasis on the practice of Zen Buddhist meditation as a way of study based on such an innate mind.Secondly, when the mind is bright, its owner becomes familiar with every rule, which will naturally reveal itself. When one has a realization in the mind, he or she will see everything as though in a mirror. When one has confusion in the mind, he or she will see everything like the wall. One should thus illuminate his or her mind first if he or she is to know all the rules, which state was defined as sudden enlightenment by In-Ak. Illuminating one’s mind represents a level of understanding of why Jo Sa came from west.In-Ak suggested the control of six sensory organs, namely the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and consciousness, as a specific Seon practice method to have a mind that is as clear as the river. He also explained that if one reduces his or her greed by controlling the outside and stabilizing the inside, his or her mind will automatically become clear. True Buddha happens when there is no worldly desire or useless idea on the mind. In-Ak’s views on Ilshim discussed so far have been passed down since his days and have values for disciplinants to take as guidelines.