[A Sip of a Book] Asked a Monk... How Can We Eliminate Suffering?

Editor's NoteSome sentences encapsulate the entire content of a book, while others instantly resonate with the reader’s heart, creating a connection with the book. We excerpt and introduce such meaningful sentences from books.

This is a commentary collection by Jinwoo Sunim, the Chief Abbot of the Jogye Order, on the work 'Manseondonggwijip' by Yongmyeong Yeonsu (永明延壽 904?975), a revered Seon master from the Song Dynasty in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. ‘Manseon (萬善)’ means ten thousand kinds of good deeds, and ‘Donggwi (同歸)’ means one path; the book contains Yongmyeong Yeonsu’s teachings aimed at unifying the Buddhist sects that were divided during the chaotic late Tang period. 'Manseondonggwijip' condenses the essence of Yongmyeong Yeonsu’s representative 100-volume work 'Jonggyeongnok' into three volumes, but its content remained difficult for the general public to understand. Therefore, Jinwoo Sunim added commentary to the summary section ‘Chongsong (總頌)’ at the end of 'Manseondonggwijip' to enhance comprehension. The book mainly focuses on the theme, "How should one eliminate suffering?" Jinwoo Sunim points out that modern people create suffering themselves by discriminating right and wrong and harboring anger, wrath, and resentment, and introduces ways to break free from the habitual bondage of suffering.

The 'Manseondonggwijip' held at Yongheungsa Temple in Damyang, Jeollanam-do, is said to be an edition printed in 1071 at Jingde Temple (景德寺) in Dongwu (東吳), China, one year earlier than the version included in the currently circulated Daejeong Sinsoo Daejanggyeong. It is natural that it was later transmitted to Goryeo as well. According to the colophon of the Yongheungsa edition, it was published at Hyeongwonsa Temple (螢原寺) in Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do, but the exact printing date is unknown. By the time it was passed down to the Joseon-era Seon master Cho-ui Uisun (艸衣意恂, 1786?1866), it was already severely damaged. In 1855, the missing parts were directly supplemented and recopied by the master himself. Therefore, this book is a mixture of the original woodblock print and Cho-ui’s manuscript. - p.5~6

The phrase ‘Manseondonggwi (萬善同歸)’ means returning with one mind through countless good deeds in both the secular and transcendental worlds. The countless good deeds, Manseon, are explained as the cause (因) of enlightenment and the return to the fruit (果) of becoming one Buddha and one assembly. - p.9~10

'Manseondonggwijip' can be regarded as an introductory text advocating the unity of Seon (Zen) and Gyo (doctrine). It was written by Yongmyeong Yeonsu, a representative master of the early Northern Song Seon revival period, for sincere practice. It consists of 114 sections in a question-and-answer format. The countless good deeds, ‘Manseon,’ are taught to ultimately return to the ultimate truth (one mind). The book systematizes the teachings of various scriptures and sects. - p.11

When something good arises, something disliked naturally arises as well. In the discrimination between impermanent pleasure and pain, sentient beings revolve through samsara by saying ‘good’ and ‘bad.’ In other words, the discrimination of pain becoming pleasure and pleasure becoming pain leads to a cyclical life. The mass of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ is the same. This is called karma (業). - p.25

No matter how complicated and noisy the world is, everything operates perfectly according to cause and effect through dependent origination. If I do not see, hear, or discriminate as good or bad, it is exactly the Pure Land (淨土). Everything seen, heard, and moved is nothing but a wondrous function. - p.35

Manseondonggwijip Chongsong | Written by Jinwoo | Published by Jogye Order Publishing | 248 pages | 22,000 KRW

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.