The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the reason why the system of Won Buddhist practice is “gradual cultivation after sudden enlightenment”. Sotaesan includes “secrets on cultivating mind” in because he is aware of falling into void quiescence after sudden enlightenment and emphasized to find the right path after awakening. In Korean Buddhism, there have been many heated debates between “gradual cultivation after sudden enlightenment” and “sudden cultivation upon sudden enlightenment”. It is connected with judgement of the state of enlightenment. Chinul considers “sudden enlightenment” as the awakening and explains that “gradual cultivation” is required to accomplish one’s study of knowing and practicing. Also, it can be considered as the process of gradual cultivation after sudden enlightenment in terms of mahayana practice such as “seeing one’s original nature and attaining buddhahood” and “attaining buddhahood and delivering sentient beings”. It is hard to categorize Won Buddhist practice into suddenness and gradualness’s three ways. As the process of practice, “sudden enlightenment after gradual cultivation” is suggested as the general way of practice for the ordinary practitioner, and “sudden cultivation upon sudden enlightenment” is accepted for the highest spiritual capacity. In main stream of the doctrine, “gradual cultivation after sudden enlightenment is strongly emphasized in the system of Won Buddhist practice. Although Sotaesan stresses the importance of seeing one’s original nature which means sudden enlightenment, he warns ending up only seeing one’s original nature. The need of practice for attaining buddhahood after enlightenment is very important. Through gradual cultivation after sudden enlightenment, we can attain buddhahood and further deliver sentient beings as the final goal. Gradual cultivation after sudden enlightenment is considered as the right path for the practice, because it is universal and accessible to the people. In Won Buddhism, enlightenment is not only about the original nature but also the principle of the universe and further human life. It provides the background to enlightenment that is requested in the time of great opening, enlightenment that synthesizes the three religions(Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism) and enlightenment which is realistic. We need to go forward a life of gratitude and make buddha offerings through enlightenment and the effort of practice.
