DAESOONJINRIHOE(대순진리회) - Six Steps of Cultivation (공부의6단계)

 

Six Steps of Cultivation

 

 

 

“Cultivation is bringing the mind into a deep state of calm, allowing the eternally abiding spirit of Sangje into one’s elixir field (丹田 danjeon) to enable refinement with the goal of attaining oneness through numinous penetration. This is usually done by reciting a specified incantation while one continually maintains a singular focus that embodies sincerity and reverence for Sangje. This process of Cultivatory Practice (Sudo Gonbu) can be explained as consisting of the following progression of stages: the presentation of offerings and invocation (奉祝 bongchuk), awareness of unease (煩惱 beonnoe), awareness of physical suffering (身苦 shingo), the entry of disturbances (亂入 nanip), the accumulation of essence (聚精 chwijeong), and the opening of the divine-eye (開眼 gae-an).”

 

1. The Presentation of Offerings and Invocation (奉祝 bongchuk)

The Dojeon (The Holy Leader) taught that this is the foundational (pre)stage wherein one selects a location, burns incense, sits in meditation, and recites the Presentation of Offerings and Invocation Incantation while beseeching Sangje for the attainment of numinous penetration. 

 

2. Awareness of Unease (煩惱 beonnoe)

 

As the Tae-eul Mantra is read consecutively, the first stage arises. This is the stage where people go about the process of eliminating distracting thought and cleaning their minds, however, as they eliminate distracting thoughts, unease arises. This is just like how if one is planning to write something new on a piece of paper or on a blackboard, this will involve first erasing any prior writing or doodling.   

 

*Beonnoe: Pain, affliction, or defilement aroused from own your mind: It refers to all the mental functions which obstruct the mind and pollute the mind and body and the basis for all unwholesome actions and things that bind people to the wheel of unavoidable pain and anguish. It is also variously translated as defilements, temptations, worldly passions, or frustrations, that disturb the peace of mind and obstruct the way of enlightenment. 

 

 

3. Awareness of Physical Suffering (身苦 singo)

 

As one continues the process of reading the Tae-eul Mantra, the second stage arises. In this stage one goes about the process of eliminating haziness and negative energy and creating a perfect body completely free of injuries, however, as one proceeds, bodily pain begins arising. This is due to how, in day-to-day life if you thoughtlessly act arrogantly, rude, or speak harshly around another, this will provoke that person to form a cheok (grievance) against you and then that grievance will react in your body leading to injury. Hence, as one attempts to repair these injuries, bodily pain thereby follows. Therefore, if spiritual cultivators are insufficient in their usage of sincerity, respectfulness, and faithfulness, then the stage of awareness of physical suffering will take a long time.

 

 

4. The Entry of Disturbances (亂入 nanip)

 

As one goes through the process of continuing to read the Tae-eul Mantra, the third stage arises. This is the stage that measures a person’s capacity. In this stage, phenomena such as temptation and fear arrive. This is precisely due to how in day to day life the mind may weaken or our strength to overcome difficulties may weaken, or we fear death and for these reasons we abandon correct principles or we faint after being frightened by evil spirits or divine beings might create nonsensical temptations. That is why it is difficult to pass through the stage of the entry of disturbances.

 

 

5. The Accumulation of Essence (聚精 chwijeong) 

 

This is the fourth stage which arises as one continues the process of reading the Tae-eul Mantra. At this stage, one has gained great fluency in chanting the Tae-eul Mantra, the body is comfortable, and one enters into selflessness and thereby, this is the stage wherein limitless energy can gather in one’s body. 

 

6. The Opening of the Divine-eye (開眼 gae-an)

 

This is the fifth and final stage which arises while chanting incantations. This is the stage of numinous penetration where one attains perfect mastery over all truths, past, present, and future, throughout the three realms of heaven, earth, and humanity. This is the stage of omniscience and omnipotence.

 

 

source: Daesoon Jinrihoe Homepage

eng.daesoon.org/