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

The main purpose of this paper is to examine the troubles which the practitioners meet while investigating the koan and how to deal with them. I think that this method of research can make clear the actual meaning of investigating a koan more deeply. Chapter II examines troubles, which are the main material of koan study and how patriarchs utilize them. Patriarchs' viewpoints of troubles can be divided into two major divisions. One is to discern them habitually and automatically to obsess with it in accordance with the concepts and perceptions hardened by the established system. The other is to accept uncritically the output of such obsession. I think that we can naturally see how the patriarchs transform the trouble into a medicine if we have find out the reality of the trouble they have considered. In chapter III, I examine the ultimate function of the great doubt and examine how troubles act as a fuel to form this doubt in the process of asking and answering between patriarchs. Patriarchs utilize troubles on their own initiative in the critical perspective. During this process, the doubt functions as a center point. The doubt, which is firmly formed, continues its vitality through question and answer, and at the same time, is reproduced as a new doubt, not as an answer.