Book Introduction

Deciples of Baekbong Kim Ki-chu talk about their master who was called the Vimalakirti of Korea
It tells the stories of eleven people who studied under Baekbong. Their stories of their awakening and practice, their encounters with their mentor, their teachings, and their subsequent experiences unfold in a captivating narrative. Like the journey of Sudhana, their journey of spiritual enlightenment will deeply resonate with those dedicated to spiritual practice. This book is also about Baekbong. Through the stories of his disciples, we can discover what Baekbong's daily life was like as a Zen master and as a layman, and how he enlightened his disciples. It will also offer valuable insights for those who mentor future generations.  This book is a revised edition of a book originally published by [Bium and Communication Publishing] in 2011 and 2016 under the title [Gonggyeopin].

Biography of Baekbong Kim Ki-chu

Born in Yeongdo, Busan in 1908, he dropped out of Busan Second Commercial School and participated in the nationalist movement. He was arrested for violating the Public Security Preservation Act and served a year in prison. He was subsequently designated a "person under special surveillance," subject to surveillance and interference by the Japanese until liberation. After liberation, while serving as the secretary-general of the National Foundation Preparation Committee, he opened a granary and distributed rice to starving citizens, which constituted a violation of law, proclamed by the Commander in Chief, United States Army Forces, and led to a five-year sentence. While acquitted in a retrial, he had already served two years in prison. He later founded schools and engaged in various social activities before turning his attention to politics and joining the Liberal Party. However, the April 19 Revolution led to its bankruptcy along with the party, and he fled Busan. He spent his time in Seoul and Incheon, drifting aimlessly, until, in the summer of 1963, he encountered Buddhism, received the Koan Nothingness(無), and meditated on it. He reached a profound realization the following January. After lecturing on the Diamond Sutra in Incheon and Seoul, he opened Borim Seonwon in Yuseong, South Chungcheong Province, in 1970, where he taught university students and monks. After moving the Seonwon to Busan in 1972, he greatly influenced the Seon movement. He passed away in 1985 at a Seonwon in Jirisan Mountain. His works include "Lecture on the Diamond Sutra," "A Commentary on the Vimalakirti Sutra," "Seonmun Yeomsong Yoron" (15 volumes), "Baekbong Seon Poetry Collection," and "Absoluteness and Relativity."

Publisher's Review

The daily life and teachings of Master Baekbong, the "Vimalakirti of Korea."
The story on Master Baekbong, born from eight years of research and interviews.
Master Baekbong Kim Ki-chu is a towering figure in the Buddhist world, revered as the "Vimalakirti of Korea" of the 20th century. Although he entered Buddhism well over 50 years old, he quickly achieved profound enlightenment through diligent practice. He then remained a layperson for over 20 years, devoting himself to guiding his students and edifying sentient beings with his "Geosapung(居士風)" Buddhism. He is an outstanding Zen master who followed him, and his compassionate and passionate sermons taught many to understand the dignity of life. As a result, the doors of his once-closed hearts were opened, the scales of right and wrong and discrimination fell from his eyes, and many of his disciples were able to let go of their obsessions and delusions, achieving true freedom and peace of mind. Master Baekbong left behind numerous works, including "Diamond Sutra Commentary," "A Commentary on the Vimalakirti Sutra," "Anthology of Poetry," "Absoluteness and Relativity," and the 15-volume "Lecture on Verses on Zen Precedents." Over 300 tapes recording his sermons exist, and his disciples have even published extracts from them in books like "Let's Meet in Tusita Heaven" and "Lecture Void." Thus, the master's teachings are explained in detail and repeatedly in these books. However, those who have not met the master inevitably envy those who studied at his feet. They are curious about how he guided his disciples, what actions he took, what practices he engaged in, and how he spent his days. Therefore, the disciples who studied under Master Baekbong, planned this book in 2009. Coincidentally, Jeon Geun-hong(Cheongbong) had collected stories of study from his fellows from 2004, and editors of this book read through all of them and selected ten interviews. After two and a half years of interviews, recordings, and verification, this book finally published in 2011. It took a full eight years to publish, beginning from 2004 when a diciple began to collect fellows's stories. Master Baekbong's deeply moving story of seeking enlightenment, and enlightenment, along with the candid accounts of his disciples' practice, which one personally witnessed and heard, contain much that is deeply meaningful to both lay Buddhists and monastic practitioners. The stories of profound Buddhist connection with the master, their earnest aspirations, and the ardent efforts of Master Baekbong's disciples who must balance their practice with daily lives, will serve as an opportunity for each individual to examine their own studies.

About the Author

At the age of 29, he met Master Baekbong and became his student. The following year, he lived with the Master and received direct instruction. He got a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering at Seoul National University and also received a master's degree in business administration from Korea University. He has worked as a management consultant and is the author and translator of eight books, including 'Innovation of Performance-Based Management,' 'Inner Game,' and 'Man of Empty Kalpa 1 and 2.', etc. rocky1035@daum.net

Index

Preface

The Practice and Enlightenment of Master Baekbong's Disciples

1. Break the Void!
- Muksan

2. Forget Everything I Know with the Sound of Striking Bamboo
- Jacheong

3. Let's Act Well in the Fields of Life!
- Daewoo

4. An empty kalpa person who transcends life and death
- Cheongbong

5. Freedom and dedication of merit are not two
- Ilsimhaeng

6. Believe, decide, and rush forward
- Muyeom

7. When the detachment to forms falls away, there is no obstacle in life and death
- Myeongseong

8. There should be no giver, no receiver, and no gift
-Yeoun

9. Let go of everything, and you will be the master of the world!
- Chundang

10. Everything is truth and absolute affirmation
- Sisters Jeong Seon-ju and Yeong-ju

Excerpt from the text

“Where are the Buddha's eyes?”
I asked. The master answered, "they are there.", pointing to my own eyes. Yes. I was so delighted that I couldn't just sit there. So I left the meditation center. ... At that moment, something like a white thread flowed from my eyes. It was about seven feet long... Whether I drive, or walk along the mountain path, it was always there, right in front of me. After about a week, it disappeared. Master Baekbong's sermons are so sacred, and his power so powerful! (Monk Muksan)

(Compared to 36 years ago), now, there's no more 'What is this?'. The doubts of 'Who am I?' have disappeared. That's completely different. So the saying, 'All things are born of me' is now clear. Master Baekbong said, 'Emptiness is born of me,' and that is the truth. It's not like, 'Emptiness is not me, so know that,' but rather, 'Emptiness is born of me.' (Yacheong Hwang Jeong-won)

Master Baekbong came from the Seon tradition, but I think he is a rising star who has created a new Seon movement of this era. He lived as a lay Buddhist, and through that practice, he promoted the wisdom he gained from that practice. He opened up the path of Zen that constantly moves toward the Buddha in life, increasing wisdom. (Daewoo Seong Tae-yong)

What I truly experienced was Gonggeopin(man of empty kalpa). There's nothing else. It's believing that I am the Buddha and entering the path of Buddhahood. Gonggeopin means that everyone is one. Whether you're a lay Buddhist, me, someone new to this practice, or someone who refuses to study, we're all the same. It's a practice that doesn't lose sight of that. (Cheongbong Jeon Geun-hong)

Even when sitting in meditation, I recall "me without color, sound, or smell." Then, after a moment, I recall "me without color, sound, or smell." I repeat this. At first, I have to recall the entire phrase, but later, I can do it with just "me." But I also recall the previous phrase every once in a while. (Ilsimhaeng An Gyeong-ae)

"Believe, decide, and rush forward." Sentient beings can't do that! That's sentient beings! If we just did that, everything would be over! Wasn't that all that was said in the Buddha's time? If you heard, you would believe, and if you believed, you would be enlightened! But we, sentient beings, can't do that! Master Baekbong spoke very easily, and all we had to do was believe it and rush into it, but we can't do that. With a fox-like mind... Because we lack faith... That's a very good saying, and I also remember the words, "Trust my eyes." Eyes, clear eyes. Unfathomable depths... (Muyeom Lee Su-yeol)

Seosan Daesa said, "Before I became enlightened, I was in the universe, but after becoming enlightened, the universe was within me." That's right. That's right. This liberation from delusion is enlightenment. The self used to be this small, but as you find your true self, it continues to grow. It is awakening to a truly great self. It is awakening to the original, true nature of self. (Myeongseong Kim Myeong-sik)

In these times, the great Buddhist master Baekbong studied at the age of 56. Many people I've met say, "I'm over 50, and I can still do this." It's about giving hope. People are surprised by the fact that even without studying, whether it's koan or whatever, if you diligently practice one thing, there are cases where success comes from it. If you practice with fierce diligence like Master Baekbong, you can reach a higher realm, attain enlightenment, even in a short period of time. Even lay practitioners can do this. (Yeoun Kim Gwang-ha)

If you decide to practice, you must let go of everything, let go. I even made a t-shirt and popularized the saying, "Let go, let go of everything, and you'll become the master of the world!" I only share my own experience. It's based on my own experience, but you can't do it without risking your life. "You only get what you put your life to." That's what I want to say. (Chundang Lee Hwang-woo)

Master Baekbong threw a stone at us. He made us look at that. He made me throw a stone into a pond and say, "Ah!" He opened our eyes. In that moment, I changed. But even this existence which has changed, and is now living like this, is nothing. Because I met Master Baekbong on this Earth, my values ​​changed, and I can breathe and live like this. And he instilled in me the conviction that "this is the right way to live." (Sisters Jeong Seon-ju and Yeong-ju)