운서주굉(雲棲袾宏)의 방생결사에 나타난 수행론 = 거사(居士)들의 수행을 중심으로

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

In the late Ming Dynasty during Yunxi Zhuhong’s (雲棲宏) lifetime, many Confucian elite were fascinated by Buddhism. With the support of Buddhist temples and monks, these Confucian elites engaged in Buddhist cultivation practices and formed Buddhist associations with their like-minded peers. There was such a pervasive interest in these and similar Buddhist activities that the period has been characterized as a time of thriving Confucian Layperson Movements. Zhuhong, who was an active participant in these Buddhist Assemblies (particularly Societies organized to Free Living Beings), crafted a theory of self-cultivation (Praxiology) which combined Daoism and Buddhism - Pure Land and Chan (Zen). Drawing on Zhuhong’s leadership and thought, Societies for Freeing Living Beings acquired a system of teachings and rituals which served as a specific cultivation praxiology. Hence members of these societies came to uphold precepts against alcohol and meat consumption as well as participate in rituals associated with the freeing of animals at regular “Freeing of Living Beings” Assemblies. Furthermore, participating society members or Confucian Lay Buddhists tabulated each of their individual acts of merit performed throughout the day and recorded their results on an improved Merit/Demerit Table. They also performed “Nianfo/Nembutsu Samadhi” (念佛三昧) which combined practices of meditation and Buddhist invocations. And during “Freeing of Living Beings” Assemblies, they practiced merit and virtue by performing nembutsu, chants and releasing animals. Zhuhong was, through his reinterpretations, able to craft teachings and practices which - by combining Buddhist acts of compassion and Confucian practices of edification - satisfied elite Confucian Buddhist Laymen who identified with both Buddhist and Confucian traditions.