Jinul
(1158-1210) Korean monk of the
Goryeo period, who is considered to be the most influential figure in the formation of Korean
Seon Buddhism. Jinul entered the world at a time when the sangha was in a state of crisis, in terms of external appearance as well as internal issues of doctrine. Deeply disturbed at the degree of corruption that had crept into the
sangha, he sought to establish a new movement within Korean Seon which he called the "
samadhi and prajna society" (定慧社) whose goal was to establish a new community of disciplined, pure-minded practitioners deep in the mountains. Jinul eventually accomplished this mission with the founding of the
Songgwangsa monastery (松廣寺) at Mt. Jogye (曹溪山).
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