We can divide all world religions into two broad camps: the theistic ones, which assert the existence of a creator, and the non-theistic ones, which do not. Within the non-theistic religions, we can again make two broad distinctions: there are those that assert the existence of atman, an eternal soul that is unitary, permanent, and those that do not. Buddhism is the sole example of the second division. In fact, the very rejection of an unchanging principle or an eternal soul is one of the main features distinguishing Buddhism from the other non-theistic traditions.

In looking at the ancient Indian spiritual traditions, we can also divide them another way: those that believe in rebirth and reincarnation, and those that do not. Within the former group, we can make another twofold division: those that, in addition to believing in rebirth, also believe in liberation from the cycle of rebirth and those that do not. Buddhists believe in both rebirth and in the possibility of liberation, which we call moksha in Sanskrit.

Furthermore, among those (two groups) who accept the notion of liberation, there are those who understand attainment of liberation as reaching some other external plane of existence, and those who understand the attainment of liberation as the realization of a particular mental and spiritual state.

Buddhism understands liberation from rebirth to be an attainment of a certain state of mind. Bearing all these distinctions in mind, the teachings of Buddhism should be understood.

△theistic 유신론의 △non-theistic 무신론의 △ feature 특징(특색) △liberation 해탈(자유) △external plane 외부 세계(국면, 영역) △bear (something) in mind 마음에 새기다 △distinction 특성(특징)

인도 고대의 영적인 전통(사상)을 살펴보면 또 다른 범주의 분류가 가능한데, 내세와 윤회를 믿는 종교와 그렇지 않은 종교입니다. 전자를 다시 둘로 구분하면, 내생을 믿는 종교로서 윤회에서 벗어나는 것을 믿는 종교와 믿지 않는 종교가 있습니다. 불교도들은 내생을 믿고 또한 윤회에서 벗어날 가능성을 믿습니다. 산스크리트로 그것을 목샤(해탈)이라고 합니다.

더 나아가, 해탈이라는 개념을 받아들이는 사람들도, 해탈을 얻으면 어떤 다른 외부 세계에 이른다고 이해하는 사람들이 있고 또 다른 부류의 사람들은 해탈을 얻으면 어떤 특별한 정신적 또는 영적 상태를 깨닫게 된다고도 생각합니다.

▲전옥배 원장