In Korea, there has recently been a hot debate around the theory of sudden enlightenment by Jinul, one of the two greatest scholar monks in the history of the Buddhist tradition of Korea. This debate was provoked by a contemporary monk named "Seongcheol," who criticized Jinul's theory is not perfect due to its emphasis on the need of gradual practice for the ultimate awakening. Since Jinul literally embraces the idea of sudden enlightenment with gradual practice, Seongcheol's criticism has some persuasive power. This debate is important in that it might shed light on the nature of human mind in general in the aspect of its fundamental characteristics. Daosheng, the original proponent of sudden enlightenment in China, emphasizes that the sudden enlightenment of Buddha nature in one's own mind consists in overcoming the objective observation of Buddha nature and perceiving Buddha nature through a spontaneous and subjective self-awakening. Since the ultimate identity of human person in its subjectivity has recently been challenged by some scientists and philosophers, the significance of sudden enlightenment in East Asia, especially in regard with Jinul's theory, might be reexamined in the context of this contemporary challenge so that it can contribute to the deeper discussion on the uniqueness of the nature of human subjectivity.

• Jeidong Ryu(Sungkonghoe University, Korea)