Posts by "월간마음수련"

그대는 본고향을 아는가 근원이고 본래인 본바닥이 너의 고향이 아닌가

그대는 본고향을 아는가

인간이 태어난 고향이 고향이 아니고

근원이고 본래인 본바닥이 너의 고향이 아닌가

고향에는 걸림이 없고 막힘이 없고 대자유이고

객지 나가 죄 때문에 고향 오기를 싫어하는 이들은

객지에 허상을 많이 가지고 그 속에 살아서

고향을 잊고 고향 따위는 생각조차 않고 있구나

고향의 부모님은 객지에서 떠돌아다니는

고생하는 자식을 생각하면 가슴이 아플 거야

고향의 부모님은 객지에서 고생하지 말고

고향의 세상 다 줄 테니 또 죄를 다 씻게 해줄 테니

돌아와서 깨끗한 몸 마음으로 살으라고 하신다

 

죄 속에서 재미라고 생각하고 죄 속서만 살고 있으나

죄 속임 모르고 있으니 정말이지 가슴 답답한 지경이구나

객지에서 객사하여 자취가 없이 사라지지 말고

고향 와서 객지 죄 벗고 새 사람 되어

영생불사신 되어 고향에서 부모님 모시고 영원히 살자

근심도 없고 걱정도 없고 스트레스도 없고

탐진치칠정오욕이 없고

인간이 가진 고뇌의 일체도 없는

인간의 관념 관습으로부터 벗어나 자유요 해탈이라

인간세상의 모든 것을 넘어선 자리라

이 고향에서 영원히 마음 편히 자유로이 살자

 

우 명(禹明) 선생은 마음수련 창시자로서, 인간 내면의 성찰과 본성 회복, 화해와 평화에 기여한 공로로 2002년 UN-NGO 세계 평화를 위한 국제교육자협회로부터 ‘마하트마 간디 평화상’을 수상했습니다. 저서로 <이 세상 살지 말고 영원한 행복의 나라 가서 살자> <진짜가 되는 곳이 진짜다> <살아서 하늘사람 되는 방법> <하늘이 낸 세상 구원의 공식> <영원히 살아 있는 세상> <세상 너머의 세상> 외 영역본 등 다수가 있습니다.

주유소 \'알바\'의 미친 존재감

 
 

 

백일성

 
그의 존재를 안 건 두세 달 전이다. 담벼락 하나를 두고 주유소와 우리 사무실은 붙어 있다. 담 너머에서 들려오는 우렁찬 소리에 언제부턴가 신경이 쓰이기 시작했다.

“어셔옵셔~ 얼마 넣어 드릴까요~ 5만 원 주유합니다~ 뭐 도와드릴 거 없습니까~ 감솨~합니다~ 안녕히 가십시오~~!”

일주일에 두세 번 그 주유소에서 기름을 넣는 나로서는 그의 존재를 확인하는 데 많은 시간이 걸리진 않았다. 차를 대자마자 귀에 익은 우렁찬 목소리와 함께 그가 다가왔다. 그의 외모는 외국 모 타이어 회사의 마스코트를 닮았다. 그리고 그는 개그맨 이혁재의 눈을 가졌다. ‘기차 화통을 삶아 먹었냐’는 말이 나올 정도의 우렁찬 목소리로 귀에 익은 멘트를 나열한다. 나는 카드 한 장을 내밀었다. 잠시 후 10여 미터 떨어진 카운터에서 그가 뛰어오면서 외친다. “손님~ 거래 정지 카든데~ 다른 카드 있으세요~?” 난 속으로 생각한다. ‘그런 얘기는 이리 와서 해라. 현금 줄게. 이 눈치 없는 놈아.’

 

 
 
 

 
 

 
이것이 그와의 첫 만남이었다. 얼마 지나지 않아 그는 나를 알아보기 시작했다. 가끔 눈인사까지 나누는 사이가 됐다. 어느 날 주유를 마치고 자동 세차기 앞에서 그와 딱 마주쳤다. 오늘따라 세차기 앞에 쓰여 있는 문구가 눈에 들어왔다. ‘세차 할인권+1,000원’

나는 그 주유소의 5년 단골. 몇 년간 주유를 마치고 할인권을 받고 세차를 하면서 천 원을 내본 적은 없다. 소장님이나 가끔 다른 알바생이 지키고 있어도 눈인사만 나누고 세차를 했다. 빨리 들어오라는 그의 손짓이 보이고 우렁찬 목소리가 들린다. “어서 옵쇼~~”

창문을 열었다. 이혁재의 눈과 다시 마주쳤다. 그가 뭘 원하는 눈치다. 천 원짜리 한 장을 내밀었다. 오늘따라 천 원이 커 보인다. 그런데 그가 뭘 더 원하는 눈빛이다. 난 속으로 생각했다. ‘뭐? 뭐? 천 원 줬잖아?’ 그가 우렁차게 말한다. “손님~~ 세차 할인권과 같이 주셔야 됩니다.” 안 받아 왔다는 내 말에 특별히 봐준다는 듯한 그의 눈빛과 한마디.

“담부터 꼭 받아 오세요~ 들어가세요~ 중립하시고 브레이크 밟지 마시고~ 오라이~” ‘이런… 십자수.’

 

며칠이 지나고 그가 나에게 미친 존재감으로 다가온 사건이 있었다. 밖이 시끄러워 사무실 앞으로 나갔더니 싸움이 벌어졌다. 그 싸움의 당사자들은 우리 사무실 주변에 항상 불화를 일으키고 다니는 앞 건물 부동산 사장님. 내가 붙여준 별명이 ‘꼴통산’일 만큼 나잇값 못 하는 꼴통 사장님이다. 그런데 지금 그 사장님과 맞짱을 뜨는 존재가 바로 그였다. 어떤 사연으로 싸움이 붙었는지는 모르겠지만 꼴통산 사장님이 말 한마디 못 하고 멍하니 서 있는 건 처음 봤다. 극도로 흥분해서 속사포처럼 쏟아지는 그의 말을 그대로 옮기지는 못하고 그냥 느낌만 적어 본다면….

“이런 씹장생… 눈깔사탕… 오징어 먹물… 쪽~ 사시미… 곱창… 줄넘기… 콱~ 쓰리 강냉이… 쓰리 쪽갈비… 요단강 건너… 이 세상 하직… 콱~ 밤길… 뒷짱구… 퍽~!!”

 

 
 
 

 

 
 

 
난 사십 평생에 처음으로 욕에도 랩처럼 음률과 리듬이 있다는 걸 알았다. 세 명의 동료 알바가 와서 그를 끌고 가다시피 하면서 일단락이 됐다.

그는 인상이 험악하다. 그는 눈치도 없다. 그는 융통성도 없다. 그는 앞뒤 안 가리고 대책도 없다. 그런데… 그런 그가… 부럽다.

중년으로 넘어가는 소심한 회사원인 나에게 요즘 그는 미친 존재감으로 다가온다. 그는 개성 있게 생겼다. 그는 당당하다. 그는 타협하지 않는다. 그는 용감하다.

오늘도 악성 거래처와 전화 통화를 했다. 목구멍까지 넘어오는 욕을 참으면서 수화기를 내려놓았다. 담 너머 우렁찬 목소리가 들려온다. “어서 옵셔~ 얼마… 감솨합니다~” 난 끊어진 빈 수화기를 집어 들고 말했다. “수금해줘~ 이 십장생… 십자수…같은 쌔리야~ 눈깔사탕… 오징어… 쪽~ 곱창… 콱~ 쓰리 쪽갈비… 콱~ 밤길… 짱구… 퍽~~!!” 부하 직원이 물끄러미 날 쳐다본다. 속은 시원하다.ㅎ

 

 

 
 
 

올해 마흔두 살의 백일성님은 동갑내기 아내와 중학생 남매 그리고 부모님과 함께 살고 있는 평범한 가장입니다. 인터넷 포털사이트 다음 아고라 이야기 방에 ‘나야나’라는 필명으로 살아가는 이야기를 남기고 있으며, 수필집 <나야나 가족 만만세>를 출간한 바 있습니다.

One Speaks And Acts According To What His Mind Holds

The mind world of man, filled with what belongs to the world, is not real but false images. One who is inside those false images can only speak of what his mind holds but these are only his preconceptions and opinions. Since those who live in the false human world can only speak and act according to what is in their minds, those who speak and act in a way that fits the time they are in live a slightly better life. Their lives and actions reflect the minds that they have taken in.

In any case, the human mind has made a selfish self-made world that cares only about himself. In this world, doing well for himself, being the best and boasting about himself is everything.

However when his human mind disappears and becomes God’s mind, man will live a truly joyful life. He will live divinely; he will have complete freedom and liberation, be without worries and work in the land of God. Being selfless – literally having no self – he will work for the benefit of others and live amassing blessings in the land of righteousness while he is alive. Since the land of righteousness has no death, he will know the oneness of life and death. The land of forever-living immortals where one does not die after death but lives as God, is the land of righteousness. This is what it means for what is false to become true.

When man becomes a true person and he lives as one, he will also do well in society, in the world. The best path for all people is to become complete and true because the correct definition of living well is to live as Truth and live in the land of righteousness.

The first priority in education should be to teach people to become Truth before teaching them the skills and knowledge to make a living. If this happens, the entire world will become more prosperous. This is because people will live for others if the level of their consciousness become higher, or in other words if they come to their original senses. Only when we change our minds to that of Truth that is God, will we be able to live together as one.

When we are reborn with the mind of the sky – or in Korean, Haneol, which literally means one mind – everyone will have wisdom; no one will behave foolishly, and we will no longer be trapped in our individual mind worlds. Our actions will produce true results and everyone will live well and happily. Changing our minds from the false mind to the true mind is the most urgent matter at hand. When this happens, it will become a world where people can live with ease of mind.

Woo Myung founded Maum Meditation. For his outstanding dedication to the service of humanity, he was awarded the Mahatma Gandhi Peace Award by the United Nations International Association of Educators for World Peace (IAEWP). He is the author of numerous books including World Beyond World, The Way To Become A Person In Heaven While Living, Nature’s Flow, Mind and Stop Living In This Land, Go To The Everlasting World Of Happiness, Live There Forever which have been published in English. His other books, Heaven’s Formula For Saving The World, The Living Eternal World, The Book Of Wisdom, and The Enlightened World are in the process of being translated into English as well as Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish.

The Story Of Eun Hee Kim

Eun Hee Kim is 60 years old and a housewife, artist, and the mother of two. Last October she held her first exhibition entitled “Our Pictures” About 10 years ago she became interested in painting Folk Art. At the exhibition she showed 26 pieces of her work; including “Noh-an-do,” a drawing of wild geese and reeds, and “Chek-ga-do,” a drawing of a bookstand. She says that emptying the mind is like peeling away a cellophane film overlaying the original. This is her story of throwing away the mind.

On a day lit by the autumn sun I opened my first exhibition. It was my intention to prepare a small cozy place for my friends to visit, rather than present my work to the public. But thankfully many people came to the exhibition, so it was a happy time and as lavish as a fully opened yellow chrysanthemum blossom.

When I was nine years old it was my dream to be an artist. I was drawing some dolls, and also some clothes to dress them up with, when my father said to me: “you are very good at that.” Just by him saying that I thought: “Oh, I should be an artist in my life!” Since then I have never thought about another career.

I was accepted into a fine arts college and majored in oriental painting. After graduation I worked in an office, met my husband, got married and raised two children. I stopped painting for ten years in order to fulfill my duty as a mother and a housewife. One day I longed to find my way back to the artist’s life, so I started painting again. I thought this would be enough to make me happy.

At first the fact that I was able to draw again really was enough to make me feel happy. Soon, however, I wanted to exhibit my work. But since I did not have any experience and no reputation I could not enter even the smallest group exhibition. However, I was able to participate in open exhibitions and public contests. Yet I was stressed out when other artists in the exhibition received better awards than I did.

I would think: “I can do better than that… That guy is not that much better than I am…” I really hated the narrow-minded self that kept on making comparisons about others. I even promised myself that I wouldn’t do that again, but I could not escape from such thoughts at all. I kept thinking about which contests I would submit my work to and which award I wanted to receive. Art fettered me, and in the end I came to think it was not the way I wanted. Then, in 2006, I began doing Maum Meditation. Actually, when my sister suggested it to me, my son started doing it first. After he began meditation his mindset changed completely.

My son was always at the top of his classes in school, but he also had a lot of stress because he obsessively thought he had to have those top honors all the time. One day he said to me: “In the past I always had to struggle to maintain my top position in class. But after doing Maum Meditation I just have as my goal to be in the top position. Now I have fun learning more; and I still have the same result except that now I enjoy studying!” His words touched me as he had found the joy of learning and it was not laborious for him anymore. It was right after I saw this change in him that I started Maum Meditation.

While I was looking back on my life and throwing it away in the meditation, from deep down in my mind these words came to me: “It’s Freedom!” I was amazed by this! It really was the first time I had ever felt this much relief. I thought I had lived quite well, happily and freely. I felt as if something I had unknowingly been shackled to had exploded and blown off me. I continued to throw away the mind. Then, I realized that the self I had thought was “me” was not actually me, and the “real me” was the forever-living existence of the mind that is as broad as the infinite Universe. It was just astonishing!

My life had actually gone pretty smoothly. I was raised by good parents, my children turned out really well, my husband’s business was successful, and also my in-laws were very good to me as well. Yet, I didn’t have any gratitude towards anyone or anything. Even though I was doing what I enjoyed doing the most, my artwork, in reality I was only trapped in a sense of inferiority from comparing myself to others. I perceived that what people yearned for most in life was pride. Likewise, my paintings were just a projection of my pride. I felt I had to draw better than others did; I had to get complimented and highly recognized. At that very moment I became distant from my artwork. Painting is a form of expressing one’s mind world, and all of these minds had been portrayed in my paintings.

In my meditations I threw away my minds; they were like tree branches, one leading on to another one and another one after that. I threw away even the memories about painting, like the brushes, the art books, the galleries I had visited and so on. Then one day I became natural and comfortable with painting. Emptying the mind was just like peeling away a layer of cellophane that had been adhered to my life. Although you peel off that cellophane overlay, what was originally underneath is still there. So, after eliminating the colored glasses of the mind, I was able to know what it is to act and live without mind.

Painting itself is a joy to me now. I no longer have such thoughts like I must paint exceptionally well; or that the color selection must be just right. I just paint, and the color comes naturally. Now, the pieces get done.

From time to time I feel that the fine arts people in olden times also had this kind of mindset when they created their artwork. Our ancestors painted to reflect deeply on their inner selves rather than to gain recognition from others. Therefore they tried to empty their minds beforehand. These days I truly feel deeply that one has to subtract one’s mind. If you are full of thoughts then you are overwhelmed by them and cannot faithfully live in the moment, no matter what you do.

A middle aged man who visited my exhibition said “I like your paintings as they portray no self.” I was grateful for him, and honestly liked his comments. Another visitor also told me “I just want to sit and rest here, your gallery is so peaceful.”

It is my wish that my paintings genuinely give comfort when they are hung in a home. There have been many pieces created by many folk artists down thru history. I would like to create pieces that always fit into any home, art that feels like it belonged there from the beginning. I would like to live such a life.