Wonhyo's Theory of "One Mind": A Korean Way of Interpreting Mind

This paper outlines Wonhyo's theory of the One Mind as it is presented in his over 20 extant works. According to Wonhyo, the One Mind manifests itself in two aspects: "true-thusness" and "arising-and-ceasing." In the first aspect, the One Mind is intrinsically pure and unchanging, able to see all things equally and without discrimination. However, in the second aspect the One Mind is subject to causality and manifests itself in various delusions, thereby appearing impure and ephemeral. Thus, the One Mind is the source of both enlightenment and delusion. We analyze the paradoxical relationship between these two aspects and how they open the path to enlightenment. Here Wonhyo distinguishes between original enlightenment, non-enlightenment and actualizing enlightenment. In the final section, we show what kind of subjective personhood is implied in Wonhyo's understanding of the One Mind and the various kinds of enlightenment.