Acceptance from the Perspective of Won-Buddhism: The Meanings and the Roles

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to examine the meanings and the roles of acceptance from the perspective of Won-Buddhism. First, the meanings of acceptance in psychology were surveyed. Acceptance can be approached as either self-acceptance or psychological acceptance. The first is an attitude to ‘recognize, admit and accept as they are’ not only various aspects of oneself but also the reality and environment in which one is located. The second is to ‘willingly and fully experience’ internal events ‘with awareness of them as they are’ without avoidance. Then, the meanings of acceptance from the perspective of Won-Buddhism were studied. Considering that the Won-Buddhist perspective includes a dimension of religious truth, acceptance in Won-Buddhism can be divided into acceptance in the relative sense and acceptance in the absolute sense. Acceptance in the relative sense is to acknowledge and take all the discriminating and phenomenal events happening to oneself as the results of what one has done based on the truth of cause and effect. Acceptance in the absolute sense is to recognize, observe and experience as they are all the discriminating thoughts and phenomena arising from the original nature of the truth devoid of any discrimination. The roles of acceptance were explored focusing on the cases of Won-Buddhist mind study. The results revealed that acceptance has influences on bringing about psychological stability, insight, right action and gratitude. Acceptance could happen any time in the process of mind study, and repeated acceptance through continued mind study had effects on psychological and spiritual growth. The current study has a significance in that acceptance, on which attention had not been paid in Won-Buddhism, was explored It can be suggested that Won-Buddhist mind study programs focusing on acceptance be developed referring to the psychological studies on acceptance. This will elaborate the understanding on the detailed process of mind study in Won-Buddhism. Also, by incorporating the general and non-religious theme of acceptance, approaches of mind study can be extended to provide more popular opportunities for concrete and realistic character development for general people.