『육조단경』에서의 견성의 의미 = The Significance of the Insight into the Original Nature in the Platform Sutra

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

In the Platform Sutra, we can find the term ‘the insight into the original nature(見性)’ often. Hui-neng stresses on the importance of the insight into the original nature over and over again, and speaks of the practice based on the looking at his own nature as that which it really means by that word.
Through the few examples of the insight described in the Platform Sutra, it is can be said that all needed for the insight is not the seating meditation nor the cultivation of mindfulness. The concerning to his bodily training or concentration of mind with the intentional effort to get rid of delusion is noting but a effort to be a non-living being. Human mind is naturally of flux and moving. How could it be fixed to tranquillity like a piece of wood or a rock. But, then, what should be done to get insight into his own nature?
First, the dialogue with the master is the most important. With his questioning and answering, he can take look back his original face instantly, and no more left to be practiced for himself. Wouldn’t it have been called as the insight into the nature rather than the practice? Nature is just to be seen, but not to be practiced because it is originally pure. It is thus Sudden Enlightenment.
Furthermore, it is in this context that Hui-neng strongly recommend to read the Diamond Sutra and the Platform Sutra over again. To say again, the sutras can be regarded as a training masters. To read carefully the sutras is to get the dialogue with the masters. The practical usefulness of written language is now regarded as extremely important fact. However, it is supposed to be not mess with the language.
By the way, when he came to be accepted by his master, it will be useless unless he ask for his questions earnestly. Thus, he have to keep his sincerity in mind before the encounter with his master. Next step to the insight into the nature will be looking away from the other’s shortcomings. That other’s faults are found means that he has a fault. Nevertheless, if he keeps looking at the other’s shortcomings, quarrel is arisen and his own nature will be disappeared. Thus, to be seated and be stable on his place is not his body folding legs, but his original nature. The only thing to be not unstable is his own nature.
The original face of mind is not to be practiced but just to be looked. There is no any dualistic state that the observer take a look at the observed. The original nature transcends that kind of dualism. The observer is the observed. Also, the Insight is the Nature itself. The original nature is perfect. Thus, to see everything as it is to take a look at its perfection.
We, here, need to reconsider what is the ultimate meaning to be get a insight into the nature. This does not some sequent steps at all. If the steps are established, that is not the Sudden Enlightenment, nor immaculate practice.
Thus, the insight described in the Platform Sutra can be regarded as not only the end of the practice but also the way to attain it. It means that the end and its way are not divided from each other, and does not come to the dualistic. It is also said to be the beginning of Sudden enlightenment or immaculate practice.
From this standpoint of view, we does not practice simply to attain the insight into the original nature, which also should be our one way of practice itself. The insight should have to pursue by itself as a way to reach to it.