The Healing of Conflict and the Religious Education in Won-Buddhism

ABSTRACT

This study aims at understanding the causes of conflict and explaining the principles and educational cases of healing conflict from th perspective of Won-Buddhist thought. Conflicts that can occur to anyone are identified in three ways: First, conflicts occur out of a desire to do something; second, conflicts arise due to conflicting perspectives of what is considered right, wrong, beneficial and harmful; third, conflicts are caused by confrontations between the strong and the weak. Understanding the causes of these conflicts is the beginning of healing conflict, and a method of healing can be suggested according to each cause. The first is the power of cultivation which can manage desire. The practice of pausing when encountering sensory conditions, as well as chanting and seated meditation, help cope in situations of conflict. The second is the power of inquiry into right, wrong, benefit and harm, considering every being as noble. The third is that the strong and the weak should advance together. If the strong repress the weak, or if the weak oppose the strong, our society will be a world where the stronger prey upon the weak. To overcome this, it is important to eliminate the confrontation between the strong and the weak when creating a protected social system.