『네 사중주』에 나타난 T. S. 엘리엇의 시간 인식에 대한 고찰: 선(禪)불교적 시간을 중심으로

Abstract

The main purpose of this paper is to present ‘directionality’ for the proper understanding of Four Quartets in terms of Zen Buddhism. In the Four Quartets, T. S. Eliot considers the relationship between life in time, a life of bondage and suffering, and life in eternity, freedom, and happiness. The basis of the poem remains Eastern with the Bhagavad-Gita as the primary source of inspiration beyond his belief as an Anglo-Catholic. Furthermore, the spiritual leader of Hinduism, Maharishi’s Vedic Science is the most comprehensive discussion of the relationship between life in time and life in eternity. Therefore, Four Quartets has many points of view and voices which interlace Christian, Hindu and Buddhist philosophies and traditions. Zen is unity consciousness: individual life raised to the level of the universal, and the temporal raised to the level of the eternal. Time and timelessness are fundamental to Zen. It is a way of simply seeing life without abstractions and preconceptions beyond time. Zen is also defined as waking up in the present and Zen is beyond time and timelessness. From these perspectives, we can see the relationship between Four Quartets and Zen Buddhism.