By Chun Ock-bae
Contributing Writer
Master Jinul (1158-1210) of the Goryeo Kingdom -- together with Master Wonhyo of the Silla Kingdom -- is one of the two most important figures in the history of Korean Buddhism.
Master Jinul is seen as the founder of the Korean ``Seon" (in Japanese, Zen) School and there is ample evidence for the significant influence that he had on important aspects of Korean Buddhist doctrine and practice.
Jinul passed the royal examination for monks at age 24. At that time, the exam was held on a national level as a system for qualifying monks to take up official positions or become abbots of monasteries and temples. So passing this exam was a gateway to a successful career in the community of Buddhist monks.
Yet, Jinul gave up the career offered to him and joined a Seon community in Boje Temple. He had entered the Buddhist order at a time of crisis in Korean Buddhism, in terms of doctrinal and philosophical disputes as well as political corruption that had crept into the monastic system. Thus Jinul established, at Boje Temple, a new movement which he called the "Concentration and Wisdom Community," wherein he encouraged the participants to form "a retreat community dedicated to the development of 'Samadhi' (concentration) and 'prajna' (wisdom)."
Herein specific meditation techniques were used to gain concentration, while other specific techniques were applied to gain wisdom. This is a standard formula in Indian Buddhism and Jinul insisted that both wisdom and concentration must be practiced simultaneously to achieve an awakening.
But Jinul also encouraged the study of Buddhist principles as found in the Buddhist texts (sutras) and sutra commentaries. He insisted that such study was a necessary component of Buddhist cultivation. He took this stance amidst arguments on the nature of meditation in the community of monks, who were divided between a Seon meditation view and doctrinal and scholastic views.