A Comparative Study on Hanulnim of Donghak and No-Self of Buddhism

ABSTRACT

Donghak is a Korean religion established by Suwun Choi who experienced a mystic encounter with God, Hanulnim. Hanulnim is the Absolute Other which exists beyond human beings; the one and only God of all other monotheistic religions. In that sense Donghak has nothing in common with Buddhism which emphasizes realization through self cultivation while placing no weight on the grace of God. On the other hand, a new aspect of Hanulnim is observed in Suwun’s exegesis on the 21-letter incantation. According to his explanation, Hanulnim works as Ultimate Energy while existing both inside and outside of humans, having no fixed substance and gaining strength only after having embraced others. It has an inherently human characteristic because it needs human assistance to produce achievements. When Hanulnim works as Ultimate Energy, we can think of Donghak in relation to Buddhism. The Holy Spirit existing inside of humans can be compared to the concept of No-Self in Buddhism while the Energy existing outside of humans may be compared to the doctrine of Dependent Arising. When a Donghak practitioner overcomes the self oriented greed through the proper workings of the Holy Spirit and Energy, he resembles a Buddhist practitioner who clings to nothing through realization of the doctrine of No-Self and Dependent Arising. Emphasis upon mind cultivation is also common to both religions.