“The Mind Is Buddha” Pojo Chinul’s Secrets on Cultivating the Mind
Jin Y Park
Buddhist Philosophy April 21, 2009 DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780195328165.003.0031 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | huatou meditation |
| Key points | Traces the evolution of Chinul's thought across three stages, showing how his philosophy of mind underlies his huatou meditation method. |
Abstract
Abstract Pojo Chinul (1158–1210) is one of the most influential figures in Korean Zen Buddhism. Chinul’s Zen is characterized by huatou (or “a critical phrase”) meditation, a version of the encounter dialogue (Chin. gong’an; Kor. kongan; Jap. kō an) method. At the basis of Chinul’s huatou meditation, also known as Kanhua Zen, lies his philosophy of mind. By tracing Chinul’s account of mind, one can gain an understanding of the evolution of his thought, which can be broadly divided into three stages.