This book is a translation of the bound volume of the Seonmun gangyo jip 禪門綱要集 (Collection of the Essential Outlines of the Seon School) and the Seonmun bojang nok 禪門寶藏錄 (Record of the Treasures of the Seon School), both of which are late Goryeo materials, essential for understanding the philosophical feature and identity of Korean Seon. The Seonmun bojang nok by the thirteenth-century master Jinjeong Cheonchaek 眞靜天頙 compiles the recorded sayings of Seon masters. Cheonchaek was the fourth patriarch of Baengnyeonsa 白蓮社 (White Lotus Society) of the Cheontae school. He also left the Hosan nok 湖山錄 (Literary Collection of Hasan). The Seonmun gangyo jip summurizes the essence of Seon though, and there is a controversy surrounding its authorship, in particular, whether the author was Cheonchaek or Jin’gak Hyesim 眞覺慧諶 (1178–1234). This book confirms as its author Hyesim, Bojo Jinul’s disciple, who promoted ganhwa Seon. The Seonmun gangyo jip of 1531 edition has survived. It consists of five chapters: “Chapter of the Three Saints”; “Conversation of the Two Worthies”; “Theory of a Foolish Man”; “Compilation of [Blue] Mountain and [White] Cloud”; and “Three Sentences of Yunmen.” The first three chapters discuss the essential thought of the Linji school. The Seonmun bojang nok was published in three volumes by Cheonchaek in 1293. It was published a few more afterwards. The first volume has “Discussing the Differences Between Seon and Doctrinal Buddhism in Twenty-Five Sections”; the second volume, “Wherein All Lecturers Revert to and Submit to [Seon] in Twenty-Five Sections”; the thrid volume, “Buddhist Lords and Ministers in Thirty-Nine Sections.” It is also well-known as the first material that records Jin’gwi 眞歸 josaseol, a theory that Seon was transmitted to Śākyamuni. These texts had a huge impact on Seon monks of Joseon, including Cheongheo Hyujeong.

This project was designed to introduce the intellectual heritage of Korean Buddhism to all over the world by selecting representative works of Korean Buddhist tradition in various fields and publishing them in English. For a six-year period from 2018 to 2023, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism supervised the project with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and has been publishing ten representative Buddhist works in English. Buddhism has been the central axis of Korean culture and thought for thousands of years, and has exerted considerable influence to the present. Buddhism, which originated in India and settled here in Korea via China, maintains both local particularity and global universality. Various works on philosophy, history and culture of Korean Buddhism need to be published to introduce the originality and excellence of Korean Buddhism to the world. The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism previously published The Collected Works of Modern Korean Buddhism(2017): English translations of carefully selected Korean Buddhist works as part of the Globalization Project of Korean Buddhism. Succeeding and further developing upon the previous undertaking, this project aims to inform the world of Korean Buddhism, which not only served as an indispensable spiritual asset for Korean people but also provided them with the locus of universal discourse. The ultimate goal of this project is to expand the worldwide base for Korean studies, promote the globalization of Korean Buddhism, and improve the “brand equity” of Korean tradition.

This is a collection of sermons from one of Korea's greatest Zen masters, with instruction in meditation techniques.

Wisdom, warmth, and humor from a renowned Zen Master. The compassion, humor, and practical intelligence of one of Korea's foremost Zen masters shines throughout this new collection of Dharma talks. On each page, Master Daehaeng reveals how everything in daily life, even the ugly and difficult parts, can become the fuel for our spiritual growth. Her illuminating insight will guide the reader toward an understanding of her ultimate teaching -- know yourself, trust yourself, and go forward, no matter what your current life situation might be. At turns laughing and scolding, always engaging, Zen Master Daehaeng exhorts, cajoles, and instructs readers in their practice. These Dharma talks -- gathered over several years -- are like having Master Daehaeng at your side, urging you on. The question-and-answer sessions with students are particularly enlightening; readers will find that the students' questions mirror their own and that Master Daehaeng’s responses guide them on.

유학의 근본 원리는 어느 나라 유학이냐를 막론하고 ‘유학 자체의 사상’을 이루는 근본 요인이다. 그런 만큼 ‘한국의 유학사상’이란 한국의 유학자들이 그 근본 원리를 지난날 한국의 각 실정(환경)들에 적합하게 적용하여 일구어낸 사상적 성과가 아닐 수 없다. 한국 유학사상의 근본적 특징은 ‘인존사상이 그 핵’이라는 사실로 귀착된다. 인존사상은 공자의 ‘인본정신’과 통하는 한편, 단군신화의 ‘홍익인간 정신’과도 맥을 같이한다. 때문에, 인존정신을 중핵으로 하는 ‘한국의 유학사상’은 오늘의 우리에게 삶의 예지를 공급하는 원천으로 기능할 사상이지, 결코 흘러간 일과적 폐물이 아니다. 옥돌도 갈고 닦을 때 옥의 참모습이 드러나듯 사상도 그 점에서 마찬가지다. 지난날 한국유학의 ‘특수성 구명’에 필자가 천착한 이유이기도 하다.‘머리말’ 중에서

Chinul (1158–1210) was the founder of the Korean tradition of Zen. He provides one of the most lucid and accessible accounts of Zen practice and meditation to be found anywhere in East Asian literature. Tracing Back the Radiance, an abridgment of Buswell’s Korean Approach to Zen: The Collected Works of Chinul, combines an extensive introduction to Chinul’s life and thought with translations of three of his most representative works.