Hanol-gyo

Hanol-gyo (Korean: 한얼교, Hanol gyo or Hanolgyo) is a Korean traditional religion based on the philosophy of Spiritual Transcendence,[1] re-established by Shin Jeong Yil.[2] Hanolgyo can be considered as a religious re-establishment of the national founding philosophy of Korea which foresaw the possibility of an evolution in human consciousness 5000 years ago;[3] it laid the spiritual foundation for the old Korean empire Gochosun (Gojoseon).[4]

The progenitor of Hanol-gyo, Dangun (the founding father of Korea who established the old Korean empire, Gojoseon)[5] initiated the principles of the Hanol Spirit (the teachings on Enlightenment and Awakening)[6] introducing the possibility of spiritual transcendence to its people: the evolution of human consciousness from the ego-state to the transcendental-state.[7]

After 5000 years, the principles of the Hanol Spirit were consolidated into a religious foundation by another awakened being, Shin Jeong Yil, the founder of the Hanol religion (Hanol-gyo).[8] Dangun's famous dictum, well known as the founding principle of Korea is to "unite and benefit all in existence-홍익인간 Hongick Ingan”.[9]

Hanol principle is the teachings on enlightenment and awakening; it pursues self-liberation of consciousness rather than the traditional ways of religious worship.[10]

According to the Official Guidance to Hanol-gyo, Hanol-gyo is an unconventional religion: it allows its participants to practice other religions as well. It regards all enlightened beings (Dangun, Buddha, Jesus, Lao-tzu, Confucius, etc.) as teachers of enlightenment and awakening,[11] and various religions as the pursuit of Universal Truth in different ways. Its aims are to understand and practice Universal Truth, and to overcome all forms of segregation (e.g. Religion, Race, Ideology and so on).[12]

"The founder's Doctrine "Na-Ol is Han-Ol" means “My spiritual essence is the spiritual essence of Han”"[13] HAN is a profound word symbolizing Infinity & Totality and Universal Truth.[14] The native name for Korea is Han Kook, meaning "the Nation of Han".[15]

"Hanol-gyo helps to find one's true nature (Na-Ol) which is one with Han-Ol,[13] and fulfill one's true nature by practicing love, wisdom and devotion — the will of Absolute Benevolence." [16]

In the churches and temples of Hanol-gyo, there are no figures to worship: instead there is an "Empty Chair" that symbolizes the invisible and silent nature of one's true essence beyond one's physical form of self and mental form of ego — the Na-Ol.[17] The invisibility and stillness also reflect the essence of Hanol, which is ultimately one with Na-Ol.[18]

History

In the historical record of Hanol-gyo(한얼교),[19] Shin Jeong Yil (신정일) the Founder, achieved spiritual transcendence, the Awakening in 1965, and spread the teachings on Hanol.[20] He re-established the Hanol religion, which was on the verge of distortion and extinction after 5,000 years of historical turbulence.[21]

"The conversion of 800,000 people to the Hanol Spiritual movement laid a foundation for the creation of the Hanol Spiritual Foundation, which was approved by the Korean Government as a legitimate religion in 1967."[12] The Governmental recognition led to the rapid development of its branches throughout the country[22] and the followers of Hanol-gyo reached 2 million members at its peak. According to the «Encyclopedia of Korean Culture», there were 2 million followers during its heyday. Another survey of the «Current status of religious groups» published by the Ministry of Culture and Public Information shows that there were 520,000 followers in 1982, and approximately 410,000 followers in 1997, with 186 branches located throughout the country including the main temples in the major cities of Seoul, Busan and Daegu.[13]

In 1970, the main temple of Hanol-gyo was built at the heart of the National Sanctuary Mani Mountain (the origin of the Old Korean Empire) and Hanol-gyo began an annual pilgrimage to pray for the peace of mankind.[23] It re-established 5,000 years of tradition initiated by the progenitor Dangun.[12]

In 1998, Shin Jeong Yil published the Hanol Scriptures, the compilation of 36 books containing the profound teachings of the 'Hanol principles' and its applications on philosophy, epistemology, metaphysics, science, economics, politics, society, nature, culture and religion.[24]

In 1999, Shin Jeong Yil died[25] and unprecedented number of holy crystals of sari (sacred matter found among the cremated remains of enlightened monks and Buddha) were recovered.[26] According to the news record,[17] "The sari was opened to the public and well known celebrities, including the spiritual leaders of other religions, paid a visit to witness the sari: Hanol-gyo has been exhibiting the sari at the Commemoration Ceremonies of the Founder."[27]

In the absence of the founder and faced with the major Korean IMF financial crisis,[28] the legal descendant Sewon Shin (a former artist well known as a genius young painter, until he gave up his art and majored in politics, philosophy and economics - PPE at Oxford University)[29] restructured the Hanol-gyo foundation.[30] During his leadership, Sewon refrained from the traditional concepts of ritual and transformed Hanol-gyo into a more liberal, flexible organization.[31] In accordance with the founder's last will on the religious unification, he officially made religious conversion unnecessary and constitutionalized religious multiplicity so that the adherents of Hanol-gyo could participate in other religions as they wish and vice versa.[32]

He also integrated art with the teachings of Hanol principles: he introduced the ”Art of Enlightenment and Awakening” which is the expression of the Hanol spirit in the form of art and architecture.[33] He made it official that the “Art of Enlightenment” could replace the symbolic function of the regional chapels of Hanol,[13] and permitted that particular traditional ceremonies and the formality of rituals could be substituted by simple contemplation on the “Enlightenment Art” or meditation on self-awareness.[34] He implied that “illuminating the uncontaminated lights of Enlightenment Art could represent the quintessence of the Hanol spirit better than a thousand books analyzing or explaining them".[35]

After stabilizing Hanol-gyo, Sewon Shin resigned and returned to his art introducing a new form of art called Transart.[31]

Under the collective leadership of the Board of Hanolgyo, the main temple of Hanol at Kanghwa Mani Mountain was reconstructed in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Hanol-gyo’s re-establishment.[36]

The founder Hanim’s holy crystals of Sari and the engraved plates of the Hanol scriptures were exhibited[37] at the founder’s commemoration ceremony of its 50th anniversary.[38]

Written/publications[39]

Publications after year 2000

See also

References

  1. 1 2 한국브리태니커 온라인 -한얼교, Encyclopedia Britannica online Korea 'Hanol-gyo'
  2. ↑ "신정일(Shin Jeong Yil)". 두산백과. Doosan Encyclopedia
  3. ↑ Hanol-gyo at Hanol-gyo official website
  4. ↑ Hongick Ingan at Encyclopedia Britannica online Korea
  5. ↑ 한국 브리태니커 온라인 ‘단군’ Encyclopedia Britannica online Korea ‘단군 Dangun’
  6. ↑ Hanolgyo - Encyclopedia of Asian Philosophy Oliver Leaman, Routledge, 2001. p.383
  7. ↑ A guidance to Hanol-gyo
  8. ↑ Shin Jeong Yil, the founder of Hanol-gyo - Hanol-gyo official website
  9. ↑ 홍익인간(Hongick Ingan) Encyclopedia of Korean Culture
  10. ↑ 한얼말씀 26권 p.217-222 (The Hanol Scriptures)
  11. ↑ 종교합일사상 (The Religious Unification) Encyclopedia of Korean Culture
  12. 1 2 3 두산백과 ‘한얼교’ Doosan Encyclopedia 'Hanol-gyo'
  13. 1 2 3 4 한국민족문화대백과 ‘한얼교’ Encyclopedia of Korean Culture Hanol-gyo
  14. ↑ <만년성서> <The Sacred Book of 10,000 Years> p. 6~8 Junghwhasa publications
  15. ↑ 한국민족문화대백과 ‘한’ Encyclopedia of Korean Culture ‘Han’
  16. ↑ <한얼의 서> p.160 <The Scriptures of Hanol>
  17. 1 2 단군의 홍익인간 뜻 계승한 민족종교 한얼교 (코리아 라이프 2008년6월 P.88 이강훈 기자) ‘Hanol-gyo, the succession of the progenitor Dangun’s Hanol Spirit (Korea Life June 2008 issue P.88 Journalist, Kanghoon Lee)
  18. ↑ <한얼의 서> p.213 <The Scriptures of Hanol>
  19. ↑ 한얼말씀 36권 p.365-366 (The Hanol Scriptures)
  20. ↑ 신정일 (Shin Jeong Yil) Encyclopedia of Korean Culture
  21. ↑ <만년성서> 도서출판 정화사 <The Sacred Book of 10,000 Years> p. 274~275, p.297 Junghwhasa publications
  22. ↑ 전환기의 한국 종교 p.251 서울대학교 종교학과 종교문화 연구실 편. 집문당. 1986년 출판 Korean Religion in the Period of Transition p.251 Seoul National University’s Department of Religious Studies research center, published in 1986
  23. ↑ 마니산 성지순례기도행사 JoongAng Ilbo. September 21, 1987. The Annual pilgrimage to Mani mountain
  24. ↑ 한얼교 한사상, 지적혁명으로 민족의 새천년 하늘 연다 시사매거진 1999년 11월호 ‘Hanol-gyo’ Hanol spirit, a new millennium and intellectual revolution (Monthly Current Affairs Magazine November 1999 Issue)
  25. ↑ 한얼교 창교주 신정일씨 별세 (연합뉴스 1999년4월6일 이희용 기자) Shin Jeong Yil, Founder of ‘Hanol-gyo’, Deceased (Yonhap News, April 6th, 1999 Journalist Hee Yong Lee)
  26. ↑ 한얼교 창교주 유골서 사리 28과 발견 (연합뉴스1999년4월20일) 28 pieces of rare sari found in the cremated remains of Shin Jeong Yil, Founder of ‘Hanol-gyo’ (Yonhap News, April 20th, 1999)
  27. ↑ 화제의 종교 행사 2002년 4월 4,5일 창교주 신정일 한님 한성제 3주년 추모행사 (정경뉴스 2002년 5월호 p. 152~155) The Religious Focus April 4 and 5, 2002, the 3rd anniversary exhibition of Sari in commemoration of Shin Jeong Yil, the founding leader of Hanol-gyo (May Issue of Political Economy News, 2002, P. 152~155)
  28. ↑ 홍익인간의 절대적 가치에 뿌리를 두고 진화해가는 한얼교 (시사뉴스저널 2014년3월호) The continuing evolution based on Hanol Spirit, Hanol-gyo(Current Affairs News Journal, March 2014 issue)
  29. ↑ Naver "Sewon Shin"
  30. ↑ 모든 존재를 널리 이롭게 하라는 홍익인간의 정신을 이어받은 한얼교 월간파워코리아 2014년3월호. Hanol-gyo, The successor of Hanol Spirit "benefit all in existence" (Power Korea. March 2014 issue, P. 64)
  31. 1 2 Commemoration in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Hanol-gyo’s re-establishment. (Power Korea. February 2015 issue, P. 71~77)
  32. ↑ Hanol-gyo official website
  33. ↑ Art of Enlightenment and Awakening official website - Han art & architecture
  34. ↑ 반세기 맞은 민족종교 ‘한얼교’ 故 신정일 법통의 한얼정신 인류 의식진화의 길을 제시하다. Hanol-gyo, facing half a century commemoration, initiation of intellectual revolution of humanity by the founder Shin Jeong Yil, Political economy news, April 2015 issue
  35. ↑ Hanol-gyo official website – Hanol Temples
  36. ↑ 50년 맞은 한얼교, ‘한얼절’ 기념행사 진행 Ceremony of its 50th Anniversary, Hanol-gyo (Seoul Shinmun, April 4, 2015
  37. ↑ Hanol-gyo’s 50th anniversary commemoration ceremony Korea Economic Daily TV, April 6, 2015)
  38. ↑ 홍익인간의 정신 계승한 한얼교, 창교 50년 기념하는 한얼절 행사 가져 Preservation of Hanol Spirit, Hanol-gyo’s 50th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony (SBS CNBC, April 6, 2015)
  39. ↑ A guidance to Hanol-gyo
  40. ↑ 정학경서 (The Book on the Reflection of Truth) - National Library of Korea
  41. ↑ 한사상의 본질 (The Quintessence of HANOL Spirit) Google Book Search.
  42. ↑ 「한」思想原論 (The First Principle of HANOL Spirit) Google Book Search.
  43. ↑ 신정일 정신한온학 (The Text book on HANON theory) - National Library of Korea
  44. ↑ 한님의 만년교리 (The Sacred Doctrine of 10,000 years) ISBN 8985121405 - National Library of Korea

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