[One Thousand Characters a Day] Hwaeomgyeong for Humanities Readers <1> - 'I' and 'My Interests'

Editor's NoteThis is the third installment in the series "Buddhist Scriptures for Humanities Readers," which distills the core contents of Buddhist scriptures into easy and accessible language. This week, Asia Economy introduces to the readers of "One Thousand Characters a Day, Ten Thousand Steps a Day" the book by Professor Park Boram of Chungbuk National University. As its name suggests, the is a scripture that describes the Buddha’s world adorned with all kinds of flowers. What kind of world is this? If the original text of the , which is vast and seemingly difficult, feels overwhelming, this book serves as a kind of warm-up exercise to enter the world of Hwajeom and as the first step toward alleviating suffering and moving toward happiness. Word count: 1004 characters.

If the is essentially an explanation by bodhisattvas about the Buddha, what relevance does it have to the 'self' who is suffering here and now, wandering in search of happiness? The reveals the true nature of the 'self' here and now and teaches how to govern the mind of the 'self,' so even if one does not know the specifics, it is easy to recognize that it is a story about the 'self.' However, the , at first glance, appears to be about the Buddha rather than the 'self,' so it is easy to think that it might have little to do with the 'self.'

Then, is the contrary to Buddhism’s goal, method, and content of overcoming all suffering by clearly seeing the true nature of the 'self' as no-self and dependent origination, and not very helpful for the inquiry into the 'self' and 'self-interest'? In other words, is it not really Buddhism?

National Treasure No. 277 'Chojobon Daebangwangbul Hwaeomgyeong'
[Photo by Cultural Heritage Administration]

Here, we can find the very unique stance of the toward the 'self' and its significance.

To conclude, the Buddha who fully realized the true nature of the 'self' and overcame all suffering is no different from the 'self' here and now, that is, you who are reading this book. What does this mean? The 'self' who lives by pushing one suffering aside with another suffering is the Buddha? Yet, the says so. Why and how the 'self' is the Buddha, and if so, what the Buddha who is the 'self' here and now should do, is the very content taught throughout the .

Therefore, if the 'self' is the 'Buddha' as the teaches, then the , which expounds on the Buddha, is precisely expounding on the true nature of the 'self.' Since the true nature of the 'self' is the Buddha, there can be no suffering for the Buddha who is the 'self.' In this way, the fully and uniquely reinterprets the content, method, and goal of Buddhism from its own perspective to reveal the original meaning of Shakyamuni Buddha as understood by the , thereby aiming to achieve the goal of liberation and bliss.

- Park Boram, , Bulgwang Publishing, 16,000 KRW