Seon (zen) Master Gosong

History of cultivation

1906. 10.10 – Born.
1920 - Became a monk at Pagyesa in Palgong mountain.
Practiced around Geumgang mountains.
Practiced Seon in Mangwolsa for 30 years.
1923 – Ordained as Bhikkhu by Master Yongsung senim Senior Member of administration of Chogye Order

2005 - passed away on August 22

Here, we may find the way to attain Buddhahood and the truth that can save you from the cycles of birth and death forever.

Sakamuni Buddha came without coming to this Saha world to save living beings in suffering. Buddha’s appearance is impossible to describe in expression such as “coming”, “going”, “born”, or “died” He is called Yurae meaning coming from the place of Thusness. It is hard to say the empty space comes, goes, be born or die. The very same way, Buddha has come to the world as eternal Truth.

For us who dwell in delusion and distinction, it is not easy to see the realm transcending this apparent world. But the Dharma body of Buddha is omnipresent in the universe that it can appear before all living beings. All forms and materials reflect the nature of Buddha.

We keep trying to find Buddha in human form and miss Buddha who pervades in the universe. He had the human body only to guide mortals. We need to understand the meaning of his appearance first. Then we should try to live according to the Teaching of compassion. If you think that Buddha is somewhere else from our present world, you’d better think again. We need to see Buddha with Buddha’s eye and not living being’s eye.

After Buddha had attained Enlightenment, he said, “Every living beings have the nature of Buddha.” This is clear announcement that the Buddha and living beings have equal nature. There is no doubt about it. When the very “Self Nature” of all beings is revealed, it is of “Original Face”, Banya Seon, and Nirvana. 

Because “the mind, living beings, and Buddha are One” we can attain Buddhahood. We must know this fact and believe it.

But why is it so difficult to become a Buddha? It is because of endless delusion and attachment. Because of Three poisons that we have, it makes difficult to become a Buddha. When we have let go of ‘I’ thought and greed, everyone can become a Buddha. When you have strong belief in that, and start with aspiration, the Right Enlightenment is yours.

We must remember that the Buddha has come to this world just to deliver living beings. He showed us his hard journey to practice. It is because the suffering that, living beings have accumulated from many lives are not possible to overcome without the path of Buddha. The ignorance has to transform into brightness. Therefore he had to show the ascetic practice for six years in the snow mountain. And then showed the neither affliction nor pleasure practice under a Bodhi tree. It is to show that both extremes must be overcome.

He has taught for 49 years. If we can abbreviate his eighty thousand Dharma teachings, it can be “Liberate from suffering to attain happiness” The happiness mentioned here does not refer to our physical pleasure, which slowly takes you to suffering but it refers to eternal bliss.

“Avoid all evil conduct and do all that is good. Doing good from the heart is the teaching of all Buddhas” ‘Chilbultonggyege’ holds the most compact words of Buddha’s 49 years of teaching. Easy it seems to avoid evil action and to do all good. But it is most difficult to do when we start with our greed.

Return to the original mind. Empty yourself. To do that, practice bowing all the time.

Bowing is for humility. Yet, while you bow, your mind is still arrogant. Bowing is to lower oneself to overcome ego. If you don’t conquer yourself, the bowing is mere useless movement. People in old days bowed with humble heart. Today, people bow separately from the heart.

There are many who chase after outward materials. You must let go of distinction of you and I to realize True self. In order to master the Principle, you need to practice to understand law of cause and effect.

While you practice, seek not only to hear teachings. Relying on others always has the limit.

If you let go of greed, you are close to attain “Sookmyungtong”, the divine power to know one’s past lives. You are close to attaining Nirvana, the liberation. You will come to understand that you are indeed Buddha. But people seek Buddha in else where. It is of no use.

These days, people are making movements to bring better politics and quality life. That is not apart from the Buddhist teaching. But two thirds of religious people in the nation were not able to guide non-practitioners. Therefore we are facing a society having poor moral ethics. People harm other’s life for one’s own advantage and kill animals for their own health. Religious people must feel sorry for their lack of effort to guide them to right path.

Offering a beautiful flower of lotus lantern to Buddha is good. But most of all, the best offering is to purify your mind, family, and society.

People nowadays have much knowledge but do not seem to know that truth is found in very mundane life. There are many changes in times but there are also unchanging facts. The sound of river has not changed. Our eating has not changed. The apparent world changes but the fundamental factor does not change. The Self-nature is eternal.

The Buddhists seem to know a good way to live. But some may realize it when they run into hardships in life. When a person is stubborn, nothing goes through them.

There is no good word separate from our life. There is always vital word that dwell as it is in the midst of our daily life. The good word cannot be made intentionally. An artist may paint mountains and rivers but it is impossible to paint it real. The more they try, harder it gets. The natural thing is to see and hear as it is. It is most natural to eat when one feels hungry. 

To a stubborn ear, this fact would be hard to comprehend even if Buddha told them personally. The best way is realizing it personally. If you realize it yourself and have become One with Truth, every word is understood accordingly.

When you have greed without having sense of discretion, your greed will rake you to unreasonable desires. In order for us to free from Three Poisons, and be wise, we need to practice Baramil.

“Banyabaramil” will bring sense of discretion. When you let go of greed for your advantage, you are able to see things in its nature without attachment. But when you don’t know the nature of things, you loose your mind over it and begin to build attachment due to greed. This attachment can lead you to even steal what does not belong to you. This teacup, in its essence, is made of dust. When you return to the origin, you will see the realm of non-form.
Bodhisattva practices to save all beings in the world. If everyone practices the way of Bodhisattva, this very world would be the paradise. In compassion “how can I benefit others?”,  the Buddha appears naturally. The issue is you have to start. When you live with the body and mind of Buddha with great compassion and live by saving living beings, what could be more beneficial? If people have such spirit, this world would be much better place to live.

But in order to save living beings, you must be able to reflect on the nature of the world, how things form and decay. Knowing this truth, you will let go of attachment. When you don’t have attachment, you would not have a place for birth. The ordinary beings without wisdom would naturally have attachment seeking apparent formation. Following false way is like pouring water into broken vase. When we make good deeds, it is like saving in eternal vase. Especially when you serve others not counting its worth, it is the greatest virtue of all. Having no thought on person or the things you give, you attain countless blessing. Have no thought on what you give, thought of receiving, or what is given.

What kind of order is this not reading Sutra or meditate but answer with silence. When there is peaceful joy where there is no place for joy, a thousand year old pine tree shines by the evergreen leaves. (The stanza is given by Master Hanam senim to Gosong senim at the time of giving him Dharma name)