Jinul

Jinul (1158–1210)

Jinul, also known as Chinul or by his honorific title Bojo Jinul, was a Korean monk of the Goryeo period whose influence was paramount in the shaping of Korean Seon (Zen) Buddhism. He is widely recognized as the founder of the Jogye Order, an organization he established by working to unify the previously disparate sects within Korean Buddhism into a cohesive and comprehensive tradition. Jinul's teachings emphasized a holistic approach to Buddhist practice, integrating meditation, doctrinal study, chanting, and lectures.

Life and Historical Context

Born Jeong, Jinul left his family at the age of fifteen to be ordained as a monk. He received the ordination name Jinul from Seon Master Jonghwi of the Sagulsan School. Despite his early ordination, Jinul's spiritual training was marked by a degree of self-reliance, as he did not appear to have a permanent teacher. His biographer notes that Jinul's intellect and inclination towards solitude were evident from youth, leading him to draw inspiration from Buddhist scriptures and pursue his own spiritual development through Sŏn meditation. By 1182, Jinul had passed the royal examination for monks, but he declined administrative positions to join the Seon sangha at Bojesa in Pyongyang. Dissatisfied with the community's receptiveness to reform, he moved through several other monastic communities, including Cheongwonsa and Bomunsa.

During this period of dedicated study and practice, Jinul is said to have studied the entire Tripiṭaka and experienced multiple awakenings. He sought to establish a new movement called the "samadhi and prajñā society" (정혜사; 定慧社; Jeonghyesa), aiming to create a disciplined community of pure-minded practitioners in the mountains. This vision culminated in the founding of Songgwangsa on Jogyesan, which became the center for the Jogye Order and its comprehensive approach to Buddhism.

Teachings and Contributions

Jinul's philosophical framework significantly contributed to Korean Buddhism, notably through his concept of 'Essence-Function' (체용; 體用). This concept explores the interplay between the fundamental nature of reality (Essence) and its manifest forms (Function). He articulated a profound view of Nirvana, positing it not as a distant goal but as a sublime essence inherent in all beings – the very nature of Buddha, complete and innate since time immemorial. Jinul taught that this true nature is unchanging, and that all minds are ultimately numinous and aware, even when seemingly caught in delusion.

His magnum opus, the "Excerpts from the Dharma Collection and Special Practice Record with Personal Notes" (법집별행록절요병입사기), completed in 1209, offered an extensive exploration of various Chan Buddhist schools in China, featuring detailed commentaries on the writings of Guifeng Zongmi alongside Jinul's own insights. This work earned him considerable respect, including that of King Huijong of Goryeo, who ordered Mount Songgwangsan to be renamed Jogyesan in Jinul's honor. Following his death in 1210, King Huijong bestowed a posthumous title of honor upon him.