SEOUL (UCAN) -- According to a book recently published by South Korea's largest Buddhist denomination, Buddhism in the country now accepts "Southern" Buddhist disciplines such as "Vipassana" (insight meditation), as well as Tibetan Buddhist practices.

The Research Institute for Buddhist Studies of Korean Buddhism's Jogye Order published the 967-page volume, "Study of Buddhist Practices," on June 30. The book presents 10 Buddhist practices found in the country: prayer to Amitabha as a Buddhist saint, "mantra" or incantation, the big bow, reading Buddhist scriptures silently and aloud, writing Buddhist scriptures by hand, drawing Buddhist pictures, keeping the commandments, doing penance, "Samatha-Vipasyana" or putting the active mind to rest, Vipassana and Tibetan practices.

The Jogye Order comprises 90 percent of South Korea's Buddhists and follows the Mahayana ("Great Vehicle") school of Buddhism, or "Northern" Buddhism. This tradition spread from India into Tibet, China, Korea and Japan.

Years ago, Vipassana was criticized as a practice of the Hinayana ("Small Vehicle") school of Buddhism, also called "Southern" Buddhism. But it now is "undeniably a firm Buddhist tradition" in South Korea, the book acknowledges. It also says about 15,000 South Koreas practice Vipassana every year. Citing a survey that a Buddhist newspaper conducted in 2003, the book says some of those people go to India and Myanmar to carry out the practice.

Buddhist scholars claim this development shows Korean Buddhism is becoming more open and progressive to meet the current spiritual needs of Buddhists.

Venerable Misan, a Buddhist monk and professor at Joongang Sangha University, told UCA News on July 28 that though the Jogye Order has become ever more open to various Buddhist practices, this does not mean Korean Buddhism is losing its Seon (Zen) Buddhist tradition. "Rather, practices from other traditions help us find and solidify our identity," he said. The Buddhist monk also pointed out that his order published the book in an effort to meet the people's spiritual needs in an increasingly open society.

Venerable Misan, a contributor to the book's Vipassana section, explained that Vipassana and Tibetan Buddhism were introduced here around 10 years ago. According to the monk, moreover, the Jogye Order plans to publish a detailed guidebook of Buddhist practices later this year.

Venerable Cheong-hwa, executive director of the Jogye Order's Bureau of Education, states in the book that religious practices long confined to monks and nuns are now considered the concern of every Buddhist. However, he added, his order cannot yet offer a unified and systematic direction for practice.

The monk further noted that the book clarifies the scriptural origins of popular practices in the hope this will spark more study of Buddhist practices.

Jogye Order's Bureau of Education in November 2002 organized a committee to study and discuss Buddhist practices. Since then, it has held five workshops.

Eighteen monks, professors of Buddhism-run colleges and other experts wrote articles for the book. Three contributors dealt with Vipassana and three others with Tibetan Buddhist practices. Vipassana and Tibetan Buddhist practices take up around 230 of the book's pages.

The Vipassana section deals with the practice as presented in the early scriptures and in Korea today. Included in the Tibetan Buddhist practices section is a history of Tibetan Buddhism, its tantric practice and education process in Tibetan monasteries. It also points out that Korean Buddhism has been unfamiliar with certain aspects of Tibetan Buddhism, such as "Rin Po Che" (incarnation). According to this belief, after a high monk attains Nirvana, he is born again in the world to complete his job.

Ryu Jei-dong, a religions scholar, told UCA News on July 28 that Vipassana and Tibetan Buddhism have been influenced by the "rational" characteristics of the modern Western world. Ryu asserted, however, that Koreans need not reject new trends in Buddhism. The "new trends" in Korean Buddhism, he elaborated, were introduced because Korean Buddhism was critical of itself, seeing that it could not progress with only its Zen-centered traditions, and also because monks returning from studies abroad began to think change was needed.

Father Gabriel Hur Sung-jun, who directs St. Benedict House of Meditation, agrees that Korean Buddhism seems to be growing more "inclusive." The Benedictine priest told UCA News on Aug. 2 he appreciates the book for its "inclusive" attitude. The Catholic Church, he added, also needs to respond to people's spiritual needs in modern times.

Regarding Catholic practices, the priest, author of a book on Lectio Divina (divine reading), said the Church has "spiritual treasures" not yet discovered and practiced. He suggested that simple prayer, such as "centering prayer," meditation and calling on the name of Jesus, is more appealing these days than sophisticated and intellectual prayers.

According to a survey the Gallup Korea institute conducted in 2004, 53.5 percent of 1,500 respondents claimed to have a formal religion, 24.4 percent identified themselves as Buddhists and 28.1 as Christians.

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