What is a famous book on Korean Buddhism?
The Compass of Zen by Korean Zen Master Seung Sahn (1927-2004) is one of the most famous books on Korean Buddhism. 
The talks introduce the novice, like me, to the 3 main schools of Buddhism: Hinayana, Mahayana, and Zen. And cover key points such as why we should not form ‘attachments’, the benefits of reading the Sutras, and the misconceptions about meditation. So in this post I’ll review some of the key points that I took from the book.
see more from dramasrok about life in Korea on Facebook Pinterest and Instagram
WHO WAS ZEN MASTER SEUNG SAHN?
‘first attain enlightenment and then instruct others, this is the purpose of Buddhism’.
Seung Sahn was Korean, but lived in the States for many years where he taught Buddhism to western students.
He was a member of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and the Founder of the Kwam Un International School of Zen. This school has its HQ at Seoul International Zen Centre at Hwa Gye Sah Temple to the north of Seoul. And meditation sessions and talks are still held here every week in English.
Transcripts with his distinctive voice
One of the things I like about this book is that it’s a collection of transcripts of some of the talks that he gave in English. As a result, his distinctive voice comes through in the text.
(I say I like this, although he says that we shouldn’t form attachments of ‘like’ or ‘dislike’ as this causes suffering…)
The transcript includes notes on his actions and reactions from the audience during the talks. We are told when he bangs his stick on the table to emphasize a point and when there is loud laughter from the audience when he tells a funny story.
Humour
Another positive point about this book is that it’s filled with humour and comic ‘pride comes before a fall’ stories. Monks who think they have reached enlightenment get a bit cocky or try to show off. But then they realise that they are not enlightened at all!
OVERVIEW OF THE COMPASS OF ZEN
The book is divided into 3 sections where he introduces the 3 main schools of Buddhism in his own unique way. (Although a Zen master, he urges his students to keep an open mind to all schools of Buddhism.)
Hinayana (or Theravada) Buddhism
early Buddhism is the first step to understanding Buddhist teaching. He describes Hinayana as getting to nirvana by bicycle – because you work on meditation to reach a state of emptiness or nirvana by yourself.
Mahayana Buddhism
continues on where Hinayana leaves off and asks What is our function in the world? Practicing Mahana Buddhism is like getting to nirvana by bus because you want to save others from suffering too and everyone arrives on the bus at Enlightenment on the same day.
Zen Buddhism
has no actual road so he says it is like traveling by airplane. (This is where things get trickier to understand!!) Zen means understanding one’s true self. But it can’t be obtained through books because it is ‘before’ speech and thinking. So it doesn’t put emphasis on words or explaining anything. (That’s why meditation is so important)
HOW TO PRACTISE MEDITATION 🤔
This is not a ‘how to book’ so he doesn’t actually give specifics on how to meditate! He simply says that meditation is not special. And that it can be done anytime and anywhere. It’s about emptying the mind. (So maybe there is no need for a how-to explanation, you just DO it?)
Misconceptions about meditation
He points out that some people think that meditation is all about simply reaching a place of peace and happiness. (Yes, I thought that) Or that if you meditate you can get something – a good feeling or a clear mind to improve your martial arts or creativity for instance.
But whilst he acknowledges that meditation can help you achieve something, this is only ‘common people’s meditation’. This way you can’t find your true self.True meditation is done not wanting anything.
ATTACHMENT = SUFFERING
One of his main messages throughout the book is that we should not form ‘attachments’ because attachments equal suffering.
Attachment to property, other people, desires, feelings, the list goes on. Even attachments to the words of the Dharma talks can bring suffering if people start to argue over the meaning of the words.
He says we can even form attachments to meditating. Some people want to meditate because they want to experience the happy and calm feeling that meditation can bring. But then they become attached to this feeling of happiness!
But everything is impermanent and always changing so we can’t keep the happy feeling all day long – when the happy feelings disappears this can bring misery and suffering!
It all makes so much sense!
SHOULD WE READ THE SUTRAS? 🤔
There are 84 thousand sutras! And we can read these to help us understand the teachings of Buddha. But, he says, only practising meditation will allow us to truly experience and understand them.
Because, as he explains, ‘showing a hungry man a picture of a banana will not cure his hunger‘!
I learned a lot from reading the Compass of Zen. But it’s not all easy to grasp. According to Buddhism, the mind is the universe. There is no time. There is no life and death. But through our own thinking, we are in a constant cycle of samsara: the circle of suffering going from birth to old age and to death. And by practising meditation we can find our true self and leave this circle of suffering. I’m not going to say that I fully understood everything that I read. It’s a book that I will read again and again. But suffice to say, meditation is the place to start. OK I’ll have a go. 🤓
see more from dramasrok about life in Korea on Facebook Pinterest and Instagram
Related Posts:
For a great book of short stories that explain Buddhism see Polishing the Diamond by Korean Buddhist Master Kim Jae Woong
