佛敎 관점에서 본 은희경 소설 『새의 선물』- ‘바라보는 나’와 ‘보여지는 나’를 중심으로 - = Eun Hee-kyung`s Novel “The Gift of Birds” from a Buddhist Perspecyive: Focusing on the ‘Observing Self’ and the ‘Observed Self’

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study aims analyze the protagonist Jin-hee`s divided self “The visible self” and “The observing self” in Eun Hee-kyungˊs novel A Gigt from a Bird from a Buddhist perspective, while exploring the confusion of self-identity in modern individuals and the potential for healing. Based on the Thirty Verses on Consciousness-Only, Jin-heeˊs self-division can be interpreted as the discriminative functions of the sixth consciousness(mano-vijñāna) and the seventh consciousness(manas). This structure parallels the Buddhist meditative practices of mindfulness(sati) and Insight(vipassanā). The symbolic “gift from a bird” presented at the end of the novel represents liberation from attachment to the self, corresponding to the Buddhist notions of non-self (anātman) and the wisdom of non-dependence. This study particularly emphasizes that A Gift from a bird was composes within a framework Buddhist thought, thereby illuminating the intersection between literary inquiry and Buddhist practice. While literature highlights the multiplicity and complexity of the self through self-reflection and the search for healing, Buddhist practice fundamentally aims to dismantle attachment to the self in pursuit of liberation from suffering. Jin-heeˊs self-observation and reflective distancing do not culminate in the Buddhist experience of non-self. Nevertheless, her exploration of the self can be understood from the perspective of dependent origination, and her receptive and observational stance toward reality resonates with mindfulness-based approaches to psychological healing. In this regard, the significance of this study lies in applying the Yogācāra model of consciousness and Buddhist meditation theory to Eun Hee-kyungˊs literature, thereby elucidating the meaning of Buddhist self-formation and healing. Furthermore, it suggests the possibility of addressing modern experiences of self-division and Identity crisis through Buddhist perspectives.