Book Introduction

It includes interviews with seven disciples who practiced under Master Baekbong, as well as the biographies of three of his greatest disciples: Ilsong, Jaun, and Seoun. It also includes interviews with three monks who had connections with Master Baekbong before or after becoming monks: Mu-bi, Seong-u, and Ji-hwan. The deep Buddhist connections and aspirations of Master Baekbong's disciples, as well as the wisdom and expedient methods of his guidance, are vividly captured in these interviews and biographies. Furthermore, the interviews with the monks offer a perspective from a monk's perspective on the layman Master Baekbong, confirming that there is no distinction between monks and laypeople in the Tao..

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

Master Baekbong Kim Ki-chu, revered as the "Korean Vimalakirti" of the 20th century, is a prominent figure in the Buddhist community. Although he entered Buddhism well into his fifties, he quickly attained profound enlightenment through diligent practice. He then spent the next 20 years living in secular life, devoting himself to guiding his students and edifying sentient beings with his "Geosapung(居士風)" Buddhism. He was a remarkable Zen master who followed him, and his compassionate, passionate sermons inspired many to understand the dignity of life. Consequently, many disciples opened their once-closed minds, shed the blinders of right and wrong, and let go of their attachments 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." The master's sermons were recorded on over 300 tapes, and his disciples even published extracts from them in books like "Let's Meet in Tusita Heaven" and "The Empty Space Dharma Gate." Thus, the master's teachings are explained in detail and repeatedly in numerous books. However, those who had not yet met the master envied those who had studied under him and were curious about how he guided his disciples, what actions and practices he engaged in, and how he spent his days. Therefore, in 2011, disciples who studied under Master Baekbong planned to publish a book, containing their stories of receiving guidance from the master and of observing his words and actions. This led to the publication of "Gonggyeopin" (Man of Empty Kalpa). However, after the book was published, more disciples with compelling stories were discovered, particularly those that portrayed the master's later years, not included in "Gonggyeopin," leading to the planning of a sequel. In planning this sequel, the disciples decided to differ slightly in character from "Gonggyeopin" To enable readers to view Master Baekbong from the perspective of a monk, the author interviewed monks who had a connection with him and included their stories in the book, thereby sharing the sangha's perspective on him with readers. The author also included the lives of three of Baekbong's great disciples, who greatly contributed to his public teachings and who also overcame great obstacles in the practice of the mind, in hopes of leaving behind their stories of seeking the Way, practicing, enlightenment, and compassion. "Gonggyeopin" was published after eight years of labor, and this book, too, was started in 2014 and completed in five years. Reading this book will help readers understand that the long labor was not in vain. Along with the publication of this book, "Gonggyeopin" was revised and republished as "Gonggyeopin 1." .

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

Part 1 The Story of the Seven Disciples

1. Monk Hwangbyeok(黃檗) and Baekbong speak the same language................ Chiheo

2. I only wanted to talk about Master Baekbong............................... Chosan

3. Advance one step at the head of a hundred-foot pole....................... Tanyeon

4. When I take one thought away, all dharmas disappear...................... Yeonhwadang

5. Find yourself as the void................................................. Ilji

6. Are you suffering? Study Buddhism!........................................ Banyasim

7. BaekBong is my one and only teacher....................................... Gawoon

Part 2 Stories of the three monks

1. The realm of the Way transcends the distinction between monasticism and laity... Monk Mubi

2. The connection translating Seonmunyeomsong in exchange for New Year's money... Monk Seongwoo

3. Frogs croak croak on the snowy foot of the mountain....................... Monk Jihwan

Part 3 Stories of the three great disciples

1. A blind man and a mute man were fighting, and the Buddha laughed loudly... Ilsong

2. Everyone sings the song of peace with a flute without a hole.............. Jawoon

3. Originally Neither black nor white, neither blue nor yellow. ............. Seowoon

Excerpt from the text

Monk Hwangbyeok(黃檗) used to say,"I am the void." Hwangbyeok and Baekbong are connected. It's Hwangbyeok's viewpoint. The same is Baekbong's viewpoint. That's the Baekbong's level. (Chiheo, Noh Gyu-hyeon)

I had the thought for a moment to make a comparison, but I erased it. I wanted to talk purely about Master Baekbong. I didn't include anyone else. Hwangbyeok(黃檗) and Joju(趙州) were both mentioned in my other papers. I also quoted them many times in my research paper on Natsume Soseki. Sutras were mentioned too. But I was stubborn at that time when I wrote a paper on Baekbong's literature. "let's just do this." I really didn't want to compare him to anyone. A paper should include comparisons, but I didn't want to compare. I just wanted to focus on Baekbong. (Chosan, Jin Myeong-sun)

One of the things, my teacher said, that I like the most is his interpretation of, "Advance one step at the head of a hundred-foot pole." That resonates deeply with me now. He's saying that there's something else to do after achieving enlightenment. "You have to step down from the top of the 100-foot pole. You have to come to relative world." No one teaches this. But our teacher kept saying that until the very end. (Tanyeon, Jang Cheol-sun)

My mind is empty, and within that empty space, the lectures arise, the readings arise, and the listener hears. While I was quietly listening, the teacher shouted, "Yeonhwadang!" That's how it happened, right? (The deciple flinched.) Suddenly, "Yeonhwadang!" At the moment I became one with the empty space. He asked what the difference is between Vulture Peak where Buddha preached and Borim seonwon where I was sitting. If you look closely, Vulture Peak and Borim seonwon are also empty space, right? I knew they were one instantly, transcending time and space. They were one! That's how I realized. (Yeonhwadang, Ahn Jeong-ok)

If the result was wrong even though I was doing very well, isn't that my responsibility? And based on the result, if I hear that "You committed a sin, so you're going to hell!" I find it hard to accept that. So, when I was in college, I sought out many people I could discuss it with including catholic priest. "What is sin?" "Tell me how to avoid sin!" No one gave me a concrete answer. Mostly, I heard, "Isn't it enough just to not do anything wrong?" (Ilji, Jang Baek-gi)

I lived a very difficult life. I probably created some of my own emotional pain. But I'm now free from suffering, and my life is happy, so I just love it. For example, when I look at nature, nature as it is truly beautiful! In the past, even when I looked at nature, my mind would be filled with thoughts like, "What should I do? I'll eat and live like this. I'll eat and live like that." So, how could I see nature as it is? Now, nature is just as I see it. "If it's good, it's good. If it's bad, it's bad." It comes in as it is. (Panyasim, Park Sook)

I bowed three times and knelt before the Master. "Answer! Answer the first question!

'In a place where there is no going or coming, what is the living and what is the dead?'

He said so. I gave him the prepared answer. I don't remember it now. The teacher listened intently, then suddenly shouted, "What? What? You're corrupted by false doctrines! You're such a wretch!" He was so angry. His face flushed red. Then he stormed into his room. All the students who had moved in were watching. In a word, it was miserable! My pride was crushed! It was hell! That place was hell! (Gaun, Hong Seung-dong)

That's right. I went to Namcheon-dong a few times. Whenever I went there to hear a sermon, a huge crowd gathered. The atmosphere was truly amazing. It was something I'd never felt at any other temple. Everyone who came could feel, how should I put it, a certain passion for the essence of Buddhism. There was a passion, a passion! I hadn't felt that kind of passion in other Zen centers or in the recollections of Zen masters. That passion was special! (Monk Mubi)

That's when I asked Baekbong. "Did you drink alcohol when you took up a Kōan?" He said he did. "Did you smoke?" He said he did. And then, "Did you sleep with our wife?" He then asked very clearly, "Why don't you do that good thing?" When I heard the answer, "Why don't you do that good thing?" all my thoughts crumbled! So, all my unnecessary preconceptions crumbled. The moment I heard that! (Monk Seongwoo)

There were roses blooming in front of the house , and Master Baekbong asked, "What color is that flower?" I answered something. I think I answered, "It has no color." So Master Baekbong was very pleased, saying, "That's right," while striking the floor with a bamboo clapper. He then asked about the Three Passes of Borim, and I answered them. When I did all that, he approved. He had the pen name 'Muyeong (無影)'. The character '無' meaning 'absence' and the character '影' meaning 'shadow'. He said he was thinking of giving it to his first disciple and gave me that pen name. (Monk Jihwan)

Why is the mountain called Naejangsan?
It must have hidden my rice bowl inside it.
How many years have passed since the leaves were hit by frost every year?
In the red blanket of the maple forest, a whale hatched eggs.
(Ilsong, Jeong Yeong-mo)

My father lamented. "If I had studied Buddhism early, I would have done better in my civil service career." He kept telling us, "Let's go!" But we didn't want to go. Finally, we followed his will in high schools, and that's where we've been ever since. It's all thanks to my father that I still study at Borim Seonwon. Because of my father's insisitance and guidance, I, now approaching sixty, am studying this. I've been blessed with his grace my entire life." (Jawoon, Lee Jeom-jun)

The eyes are slit sideways, the nose is upright, like the Tathagata.
There's no emptiness in emptiness, but it's still emptiness.
Don't say that they share the mind-seal.
Originally, it's neither black nor white, nor blue nor yellow.
(Seowoon, Jin Yong-seon)