함인재(含忍齋) 정국채(鄭國采)의 정좌(靜坐) 수행에 대한 비판적 고찰

Abstract

Born at Gyeongsangu-do (慶尙右道), Haminjae Jeong Guk-chae was a non-government Confucian scholar who was belonging to Noron(老論) group and acting mainly during the early 19th century. Devoting himself to the studies in his whole life, Jeong is the one who achieved great scholastic achievements in the field of Jeongjuhak (程朱學), Yehak (禮學, Ritual studies) and Nonghak (農學). In addition to the foregoing, Jeong tried to faithfully inherit Geogyeonggungri(居敬窮理) which is one of the two major values of neo-Confucian Gongfulun. Especially, Jeong made persistent efforts for learning neo-Confucian theory of cultivation(涵養說) which is a theoretical premise of sit still meditation, that is to say the spirit of Wèifāshíxīntǐ(未發時心體), a state that thoughts remain in silence. Same as the deceased, Jeong was convinced that practice of sit still meditation is a shortcut to the world of learning to become a sage. The process of his sit still meditation was not smooth, of course, but the intensity far outweighed the theory of reflection(省察說) which is the Gongfulun while stirring (已發). However, “always awake state[常惺惺]” was not detected on the letter Jeong left immediately before he died, and only continued disease and tired circumstance are discovered. And with a doubt that does the sitting in meditation Jeong performed accords with the teachings of Confucianism, a problem that if it was a method that includes educational effectiveness for self-realization is also raised. In that sense, the theory of mind-cultivation and criticism of Zen Buddhism(禪佛敎) performed by Seogye(西溪) Park Sae-dang (朴世堂) and Dasan(茶山) Jeong Yak-yong(丁若鏞) provide a meaningful opportunity for introspection.