Monastic Training System of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism

The Organization and Assessment of the Buddhist Practice and Training System

By Ven. Bupjeon, Dean of Hainsa Sangha College

The goal of the pursuit of the Tripitaka (the three baskets of Vinaya, Sutra, and Abidharma) and application of the three trainings (ethics, meditation, and wisdom) is to accurately understand and apply the principles of Buddhism in actuality.  From this point, it is not an exaggeration to say that education and application are everything to the Buddhist practitioner’s life.  Here education refers to correctly understanding Buddhist concepts and application refers to actualization.  Because it is considered that only by properly understanding Buddhist concepts, can we approach the path of correct understanding and education, and that only by taking into account the actual situation can we practice the Paramitas and be innovative.  Accordingly, education and application are synonymous with understanding and actualization.   

In order to embody these virtues, what are the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism’s completion requirements within the training and practice system?  Together with marrying monks and non-marrying monks, the Jogye Order was officially registered in 1962 with the Korean government’s Ministry of Culture and Public Information.  It became the sole order to officially inherit the 1600-year-old tradition of Korean Buddhism.  As such, we can understand that the Jogye Order’s practice and training system is the status of Korean Buddhism.  This text is an attempt to organize and concisely introduce Jogye Order’s monastic training and practice system, and the new direction for which the Jogye Order is working toward. 

Training System Summary

Jogye Order’s training system can be broadly classified as:  1)  Elementary Training (기초교육),  2)  Basic Training (기본교육),  3)  Specialized Training (전문교육),  4)  Extracurricular Training (특수교육),  5)  Re-training (재교육).  First is the postulant (hangja) training for a minimum of five months.  Second is the four years of training for novices (Sami/Samini) undertaken at temple Sangha colleges, Dong-guk University’s College of Buddhism, Joong-Ang Sangha University, or elementary Seon meditation centers (기본선원).  These first two trainings must be completed by all Jogye Order monastics without exception.  When the “elementary training” is completed, one can become a novice monastic (Sami/Samini).  When the “basic training” is completed, one can take the full monastic vows, and attains the qualification and rights of being a Jogye Order monastic.  Third and fourth are “specialized  training” and “extracurricular training” where a monastic can pursuit specific training after receiving full monastic ordination.  Fifth is the “re-training” for monastics who have been ordained 10, 20, and 25 years.  This is not obligatory, but it is the training process necessary to carry out certain responsibilities as set out by the order, and to hold positions in the order, as well as train disciples.

Elementary Training (기초교육)

Postulant (Hangja) Registration

The monastic prospects put aside their past lifestyle, to begin life as a renunciate at a new and unfamiliar temple.  There is a need for the elder monastics to show exceptional interest, consideration, and guidance, so that the postulants acclimate well to temple life and correctly pursuit the monastic path. 

The temple’s elder monks, while living together with the postulants, must observe whether they have what it takes to make future monastics by thoroughly examining the postulant’s resume, maturation process, past awards and reprimands, family situation, and health history.  After closely observing the attitude and behavior of the postulants to determine that they have the sincere motivation of a renunciate, only then are they allowed to stay as postulants. 

The postulant who has taken the first step, must choose a vocation master (Unsa Sunim) that will lead them, and guide them properly as practitioners.  Once the vocation master is selected, the relationship cannot be cancelled without mutual agreement.  Therefore, this selection should be done cautiously.  The vocation master must have been ordained for at least 10 years, is over 30 years old, passed the third level monastic examination, and must be of at least a Joong-deok or Jeong-deok monastic rank.

Hair-cutting Ceremony and Postulant Robes

Hair-cutting ceremony is meaningful because it officially confirms the postulant as a member of the order.  Therefore, this is a formal ceremony, which follows ceremonial procedure with the monastic community in attendance.  After this ceremony, the male postulants wear the brown robes and the female postulants wear orange robes.   

Admission into the Postulant Training Course             

The postulant’s qualifications are: high school graduate, over 15 years old, and under 50.  Once the postulant is trained at the home temple for at least five months, he/she enters the group postulant training course.  The main contents of the training course are:  novice vows, the “Admonitions to beginners” text, life of Buddha, elementary doctrine, and Buddhist ceremonies.  After the completion of the training course, by passing the fifth level monastic examination, the postulant takes the Shramanera/Shramanerika (Sami/Samini) vows and becomes a novice. 

Basic Training (기본교육)

Basic Training Summary

Basic training is required training that can be considered the most important among all the training programs and contents.  Here the novice cultivates the basic knowledge that a fully ordained Bikkhu or Bikkhuni must possess.  This four-year training takes place at the temple Sangha colleges (강원), Dong-guk University’s College of Buddhism, Joong-Ang Sangha University, and elementary Seon mediation centers (기본선원).  During this time, Jogye Order tenets, the Vinaya, original scriptures, Mahayana scriptures, understanding of training education, practice, propagation, among others are widely studied. 

There are 13 temple Sangha colleges (강원) for Shramaneras (male novices/Sami) and 6 temple Sangha colleges for Shramanerikas (female novices/Samini).  Traditional temple life can be experienced at these colleges.  In addition, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the majority of the basic training takes place at these colleges.  Joong-Ang Sangha University is a modern monastic training center built in 1989 by the Jogye Order.  The elementary Seon meditation centers (기본선원) teach the basics necessary for Gan-hwa-seon (Korean Seon training) practice.  After the official registration of the Jogye Order with the Korean government’s Ministry of Culture and Public Information in 1962, the Dong-guk University ’s College of Buddhism was established with the goal of providing modern Buddhist education for monastics.  The temple Sangha colleges (강원) are merely Jogye Order training institutions and not accredited universities.  Joong-Ang Sangha University and Dong-guk University are accredited universities.

The curriculum among these various “basic training” facilities varies more or less, but the temple Sangha colleges (강원) curriculum are all the same.  This was decided at the 1984 Sangha College Teacher’s National Conference.  This curriculum was devised to cultivate the basic understanding necessary for Gan-hwa-seon (Korean Seon training) practice using traditional doctrinal education (사교입선) as the foundation.  To supplement the Vinaya, Hinayana scriptures, and Mahayana scriptures, and to better understand the doctrine from different ideological perspectives, Hinayana Buddhism, Abhidharma, Madhyamika, Chittamatra, Pure Land, Tantric Buddhism, and a Buddhism Overview have been added to the curriculum.  In order to see Buddhism from a historical perspective--History of Buddhist Ideology, History of the Jogye Order, History of Indian Buddhism, History of Chinese Buddhism, and History of Korean Buddhism have also been added.  In addition, to strengthen an understanding of modern subjects--Humanities, Oriental Ideology, Western Philosophy, Literature, and Foreign Language have been added. 

As a reference, the following is the Hainsa Temple Sangha College ’s curriculum for the 2009 (BE 2553) year:

l        1^st Year:  The Buddhist Person I, the Buddhist Person II, Vinaya, Hinayana Buddhism, Abhidharma, History of Indian Buddhism, Understanding Western Philosophy II, Literature I, Literature II, English, Japanese

1학년: 불교적 인간Ⅰ, 불교적 인간Ⅱ, 율장의 이해, 초기불교, 아비달마, 인도불교사, 서양철학의 이해Ⅱ, 문학연습Ⅰ, 문학연습Ⅱ, 영어, 일본어

l        2^nd Year:  Understading the Prajnaparamita Sutra (Diamond Sutra, Heart Sutra, Vimila-kirtinirdesa Sutra, 8000 Poems of the Prajnaparamita Sutra <팔천송반야경>), Understanding Avatamska Sutra, Introduction to the Avatamska school, History of Chinese Buddhism, Understanding Western Philosophy II, Literature III, Literature IV

2학년: 반야경의 이해(금강경, 반야심경, 유마경, 팔천송반야경), 화엄경의 이해, 화엄학 개론, 중국불교사, 서양철학의 이해Ⅱ, 문학연습Ⅲ, 문학연습Ⅳ

l        3^rd Year:  “Awakening faith in the Mahayana,” Shuramgama Sutra, Lotus Sutra, Nirvana Sutra, History of Korean Buddhism, Buddhism Overview I, Buddhism Overview II, Literature V, Buddhist Culture, Buddhist Ceremony

3학년: 대승기신론, 능엄경, 법화경, 열반경, 한국불교사, 불교총론Ⅰ, 불교총론Ⅱ, 문학연습Ⅴ, 불교문화, 불교의례

l        4^th Year:  Seon Texts (Platform Sutra <육조단경>, Entrance to Sudden Enlightenment <돈오입도요문론>, Selected Letters of Master Dahui <서장>, Essence of Seon <선요>), History of Seon ideology, Buddhism Overview I, Buddhism Overview II, Graduation Thesis

4학년: 선어록 강독(육조단경, 돈오입도요문론, 서장, 선요), 선종사상사, 불교총론Ⅰ, 불교총론Ⅱ, 졸업논문.

When the “basic training” is completed, the novice can take the 4^th level monastic examination.  If the test is passed, the novice can receive full ordination of a Bhikkhu or Bhikkhuni.

Specialized Training (전문교육)

Jogye Order’s “specialized training” takes place in Seon meditation centers (선원), the Sangha graduate college (승가대학원), Vinaya schools (율원), specialized Sangha colleges (학림), etc.  Over 2000 Jogye Order monastics in more than 90 Seon meditation centers are keeping the practice tradition by practicing Seon meditation during the summer and winter retreat seasons. 

There is one Sangha graduate university at Eunhyesa Temple in Kyungbuk Province .  Here the specialized and systematic pursuit of scriptures and studies takes place.  Future professors and specialized abilities are cultivated at this university.  Specialized Sangha colleges were created for the systematic education specialized scriptures or text that fits a temple’s tradition and character.  Vinaya Schools (율원) provide systematic Vinaya education.  Goal of the Vinaya Schools is to transmit correctly the monastic traditions and customs, and to prepare the monastics that will transmit the Vinaya. 

Extracurricular Training (특수교육)

The goals of “extracurricular training” are the cultivation of Buddhist arts such as Buddhist culture, Buddhist art, Buddhist music (modern and traditional), Buddhist architecture, and to strengthen the ability to propagate the Dharma.  Another goal is to strengthen specialized training in the fields of Broadcast and Print Journalism that is necessary for Dharma propagation.  In addition, there is a School of Buddhist Ceremonial Song and Dance with a two-year specialized training and three years of additional training. 

Re-training (재교육)

Education Course

Once a Jogye Order monastic has been ordained 10, 20 or 25 years, the monastic must complete the education course that falls under “re-training.”  Through this training, the monastic cultivates the character of a religious leader, is granted an opportunity to strengthen the bond with the other monastics participating in the education course, and is supplied with diverse information to acclimate with the modern changing times. 

Monastic Examination and Monastic Rank

According to the ordination age, the Jogye Order monastic must complete the corresponding training.  After the training, the monastic takes the examination.  After passing the examination, the monastic is bestowed with the corresponding monastic rank.