1. Hoguk Bulgyo Korea’s Nation- Protecting Buddhism
a Dharma-Talk for the
International Seon Center
of Dongguk University, Seoul
March 19th, (2016)
Professor David A. Mason
Korean Public Service Department
Chung-Ang University, Seoul

2. 護國佛敎 호국불교 “Nation Protection Buddhism”
Hoguk Bulgyo
護國佛敎
호국불교
“Nation Protection Buddhism”

3. It involves the concept of Karma
Buddhist ethics are traditionally based on the enlightened perspective of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, as stated in the scriptures, and then interpreted by enlightened teachers, and then handed down through cultural traditions.
It involves the concept of Karma

4. The Bhagavad-gītā part of the Hindu epic Mahabharata
Dharma is to perform your Karma, but selflessly

5. Indian Sanskrit term for ethics or morality used in Buddhism is śīla शील, or sīla in Pāli. 戒 계 gye precepts “warn, caution, admonish” NOT “commandments” It is one of 3 sections of the Noble Eightfold Path

6. internal, aware, and intentional ethical behavior, according to one's commitment to the path of liberation ethical compass within self and in relationships not the Western concept of "morality" as obedience to God’s laws, inborn obligation / external constraint, absolute sin, test of soul

7. Karma is moral action which has moral consequences on the actor the core of karma is mental intention accidentally hurting someone is not bad Karma, but having hurtful thoughts or intentions is which leaves scope of intention open

8. the first of the Five Precepts that Buddhists take is: “I accept the training rule to abstain from killing.” for monks, this means any animal some level of vegetarianism

9. Sakyamuni Buddha taught that “right livelihood” means non-violence: not to fight in wars or support them, and not to make or sell weapons, and that “victory” is a kind of suffering. Various Mahayana Sutras restated this There are many modern Buddhist peace activists

10. However, many Buddhist monks and followers have performed acts of violence, including armed service as soldiers Emperor Ashoka, Ceylon and SE Asia, Tibetans, Mongols, Shaolin Monastery, Japanese monks and Samurai

11. usually to defend temple/sect, or by ideology of protecting the Dharma or of spreading “the True Dharma” as a “good intention” with good karma killing to prevent a worse result is viewed as meritorious, good karma

12. skillful or expedient means to accomplish Dharma or do Good
Bangpyeon 方便 방 편
skillful or expedient means
to accomplish Dharma
or do Good

13. Hoguk-sambu-gyeong 호국삼부경 護國三部經 Three Nation-Protecting Sutras
Give justification for killing as soldiers, if it’s for the king / nation

14. Geum Gwangmyeong-gyeong
Hoguk-sambu-gyeong
Inwang-gyeong 仁王經
Benevolent (or Humane) King Sutra
Beobhwa-gyeong
法華經 Lotus Sutra
Geum Gwangmyeong-gyeong
金剛明經 Golden Light Sutra

15. Buddhism was accepted in Shilla in 527, only after Ichadon had himself martyred in front of King Beopheung and miracles occurred the new faith was employed to strengthen the state and unite the populace in its service, including promoting national military defense

16. including the construction of special tutelary temples and monuments, and the training of selected young men as Buddhist-inspired warriors in a system called hwarang-do

17. Shilla’s Hwarang Warriors

18. Great Dharma-Master Won-gwang Beop-sa 원광법사 圓光法士 (to Ch 589, return 599, traveled through Sui)

19. Wongwang’s 5 Principles of Hwarang-do:
Loyalty to king Devotion towards parents Trust your friends Fight without retreat
Kill only when necessary
and then with compassion

20. with Nine-story Pagoda 九層塔
Hwangryong-sa 皇龍寺
with Nine-story Pagoda 九層塔

21. Sa-cheonwang-saji Mt. Nang-san, Gyeongju King Munmu, 674

22. Sa-cheonwang Four Heavenly Guardian Kings
depicted in the Inwang-gyeong
as guardians of the faithful nations

23. Sacheonwang-sa 四天王寺 Four Heavenly Kings Temple-site

24. also under King Munmu: foundation of Beomeo-sa 범어사 梵魚寺 Dharma Fish Temple Offshore Rocks Tomb and Gameun-sa Temple 감은사 感恩寺 themes of national defense against Japan

25. Gameun-saji 감은사지 感恩寺址
Temple-Site

26. Founding King Taejo Wang Geon 太祖王建 declared that the establishment
of the Goryeo Dynasty
was possible because of
the blessing of the Buddha.
As a pious Buddhist he attributed
his military and political success
to Buddhism’s protective powers.

27. He was also a firm believer in pungsu-jiri (風水地理, feng-shui) geomancy, following the teachings and recommendations left behind by the previous century’s Master Doseon, and he constructed numerous Buddhist temples and pagodas according to geomantic principles with a view to increasing prosperity and protection from the energies of favorable sites while curbing forces emanating from unfavorable places.
Both of these factors stemming from the dynasty's founder contributed to the advancement of the
hoguk-bulgyo traditions.

28. – during the 2nd Mongol Invasion of Goryeo, in the Battle of Cheo-in Fortress (now in Yongin County), monk-commander Kim Yun-hu defeated the barbarian horde and killed its leader Sartai with an arrow-shot.

29. 선불교 禪 Seon Bulgyo Korean Zen Buddhism Master-Disciple Lineage disciplined training and national loyalty are is highly important

30. A Unified National Buddhism

31. Based on Mountains

35. 1592-98 Japanese Invasion of Korea
Imjin-waeran 임진왜란 壬辰倭亂
Japanese Invasion of Korea

36. Master Cheongheo Hyujeong,
Seosan 서산 西山
Master Cheongheo Hyujeong,
or Seosan-daesa

39. Pyochung-sa Shrine was erected in 1669 to revere Monk Seosan Daesa

40. Pyochung-sa 표충사

44. Samyeong-daesa

46. Patriotic Defenders of the Nation
Samyeong
Yeonggyu
Seosan
Patriotic Defenders of the Nation

48. Namhan Sanseong Fortress

49. Gun-beopsa 군법사 軍法師 Buddhist military chaplain or Dharma Instructor
Buddhist Chaplains
serving in the Armed Forces
of the Republic of Korea

50. www.san-shin.org Further Information:
“Encyclopedia of Korean Buddhism”
in English, 650 pages with illustrations
by Dongguk University, the Jogye Order and Unju-sa Publishers

51. The Profound Life, Wisdom
Solitary Sage
The Profound Life, Wisdom
and Legacy of Korea’s
“Go-un” Choi Chi-won
New Book
March 2016
Lulu.com
Amazon, etc.
or contact me
30. Records about his actual biography and accomplishments more than 1000 years ago are only fragmentary however, found in various documents surviving from both China and Korea, and in some cases appear to contradict each other. It has been difficult for scholars to separate the folklore myths and legends about his life from the solid facts, and make a coherent story out of them.
31. We can certainly say that he is an important person to remember in the cultural history of Korea, and an excellent figure to promote internationally as a symbol of the best parts of Korea’s traditions. Supreme Court Justice Kwon Soon-il recently made this summary statement:
by Professor
David A. Mason