The Common Orientation of Community Psychology and Wonhyo’s Thought: ‘One Mind’, ‘Harmonizing Disputes’ and ‘Non-hindrance’ in Focus

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This study begins with exploring community psychology as an emerging field and the aspect of the philosophical thought of Wonhyo, a Silla monk who is considered to be the most important figure in the history of Korean Buddhism. As the author reveals, the composition of theory and case studies are continuously being studied in terms of community psychology, and the need to expand Buddhist research to the public is raised among Buddhist researchers. In that respect, I think this paper can be an exemplary example of accepting both demands.

What the researcher pays attention to here is Wonhyo's 'One-mind' (Ilshim One Heart) and 'Harmonizing Disputs' (Hwajaeng 諍 諍). The author's translation and understanding of Wonhyo's text written in classical Chinese characters related to this are excellent. I also agree with the author's point of view on the impact of Wonhyo's thoughts on his successors in practical terms. I think that it has sufficient academic value in relation to community psychology. Therefore, this paper can be a pioneering research achievement to find out what Buddhist research can contribute to the field of psychology, as a study of human thoughts and behaviors.

   However, I would like to propose some corrections on the following matters.

1. The author encapsulates Wonhyo's the philosophical characteristics into the concepts of 'one-mind', 'harmonizing dispositions', and 'non-hindrance' (碍). This is a general academic understanding. And the 'practice of the Bodhisatva path' that the author suggests in 3.2 is clearly related to 'non-hindrance'. Nevertheless, why did the author exclude 'non-hindrance' from the title? Of course, unlike Wonhyo's original concepts of 'One-mind' and 'harmonizing dispositions', 'non-hindrance' can be excluded from the title because it is a term used in general Buddhism. However, that cannot be a reason to omit  'non-hindrance' in many parts of the paper like Abstract, Introduction, and Conclusion. More explanation should be added in this respect.

2. In this paper, the author translates Wonhyo's philosophical concept, Hwajaeng, into two terms: 'harmonizing dispositions' and 'harmonizing contradictions'. These two translations are used in this paper without distinction after being replaced several times. I suggest the author should maintain a consistence of translation language.

3. The author emphasizes its practical applications on the value of Wonhyo's thoughts. And it is an important point of connection with community psychology. In order for the logical structure of this paper to be more convincing, it is necessary to present an example for such Wonhyo's practical applications and analyze their relationship. Therefore, it will be worthwhile not only to study Wonhyo's thoughts but also to research the practices of Wonhyo and his descendants. The stories of Uicheon and Jinul (智訥) of the Goryeo Dynasty are good examples of the continuity, but it has not been explained enough how Uichoen and Jinul's practices are specifically related to Wonhyo's thoughts and texts, and how they expressed about Wonhyo. If the author can add these contents, the logical structure of this paper would become more persuasive.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

It is recommended for the author to check out English words and sentences of Buddhist names and concepts in a more careful way.  

Author Response

Thank you for your generous evaluation and encouragement. Let me address each point of your suggestion:

1. We have added ‘Non-hindrance’ in the title, abstract, introduction and conclusion, and have provided more explanation in this respect.

2. Thank you for your suggestion. We have adopted ‘harmonizing disputes’ as the primary translation for Hwajaeng.

3. To add historical evidences of practical applications of Wonhyo’s thoughts, we have included Uicheon’s and Jinul’s activities and practices, along with their interpretation of Wonhyo. For a more detailed discussion, we have also evaluated the views of several key scholars. Thanks to your suggestion, the logical structure and evidence for our argument have become more persuasive.

* We have carefully reviewed and corrected English words and phrases related to Buddhist names and concepts. We have also revised the translations from Wonhyo’s original texts.

 

 

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

 

The Common Orientation of Community Psychology and Wonhyo’s Thought: ‘One-mind’ and ‘Harmonizing Disputes’ in Focus

This paper discusses Wonhyo’s thought of One-mind and harmonizing disputes in the context community psychology. Though Wonhyo has been studied by many scholars, this author’s discussion of Wonhyo in this context has the potential to offer new thoughts. However, there is no critical discussion or critical analysis in the paper. To be published in an academic journal, the paper must be revised as follows:

Comment and suggestion :

In the introduction, the author should provide additional context about Wonhyo (元曉, 617-686), not just his birth and death years, to better inform the readers about his significance and contributions.

Section 2: The Common Aims of Community Psychology and Buddhism

The author utilises the concept of community psychology from the book "Community Psychology: Linking Individuals and Communities" by Bret Kloos, Jean Hill, Elizabeth Thomas, Andrew D. Case, Victoria C. Scott, and Abraham Wandersman to inform his research on Wonhyo's one-mind and Hwajaeng-centric philosophy: "One-mind (One-flavor) and Harmonizing Disputes (Hwajaeng)."

However, in the first part of the section, the author uses concepts from the book without proper quotation, making it unclear where he compares Wonhyo's thoughts with those of the authors of "Community Psychology: Linking Individuals and Communities." He misses the important point of "applying action and practice in a modern context" related to Wonhyo's philosophy of one-mind and Hwajaeng. Since this paper aims to explore the potential intersections between Korean Buddhism and community psychology (p. 3), he should demonstrate how Wonhyo’s philosophy can be applied to address issues in the Korean community or global issues. Additionally, the author should critically discuss the thoughts of Bret Kloos and others in relation to Wonhyo's philosophy in sections 2.1 and 2.2, rather than merely summarising them.

Section 3: Shared Orientations and the Philosophy of Wonhyo

On page 7, in "3. Shared Orientations and the Philosophy of Wonhyo," the author should review paragraphs 1 and 2, which reference many scholars who have studied Wonhyo. A footnote should be inserted here to properly credit these scholars.

Additionally, the author should reflect on the social impact of Wonhyo's thought during his time. For instance, during Wonhyo's period, Korean society was sharply divided between the noble class (yangban; 양반; 兩班) and the lower class (cheonmin; 천민; 賤民). Buddhism was closely aligned with the royal family and the upper class. Wonhyo, however, demonstrated that the lower class (oppressed by the oppressors) possessed Buddha’s nature and one-mind, emphasising universal humanity. The author must discuss this.

The author should discuss the nature of Wonhyo’s minjung Buddhism in this chapter, particularly on pages 7-11. This discussion should connect Wonhyo’s philosophy of one-mind and Hwajaeng with community practice and equal humanity in a modern context. The author should explain how community psychologists can relate to Wonhyo's idea of enlightenment being free from discrimination, providing examples of both historical and contemporary issues to illustrate this connection, particularly on page 11.

On page 12, the author should insert the meaning of the term "the six realms (六道)," which refers to "the realms of hell, hungry spirits, animals, asuras, human beings, and heavenly beings."

Section 3.3: The Relational Thinking of Hwajaeng and Community Psychology

In discussing Wonhyo's concept of Hwajaeng, it is crucial for the author to clarify its meaning and practical significance. Hwajaeng, which focuses on harmonising disputes, is a central aspect of Wonhyo's thought. The author should also explore the similarities between Hwajaeng and the perspectives of Suzuki Daisetsu (鈴木大拙, 1870-1966). I strongly suggest that the author research Suzuki Daisetsu's thought, particularly through his works:

"Essays in Zen Buddhism: First Series" (1927), New York: Grove Press."

"Essays in Zen Buddhism: Second Series" (1933), New York: Samuel Weiser, Inc. 1953."

"Essays in Zen Buddhism: Third Series" (1934), York Beach, Maine: Samuel Weiser."

Thereafter, the author should reorganise pages 14 and 15, particularly the sections where the author makes reference to Bergson, Heidegger and Deleuze on page 14, and the matter of dualism on page 15, and include references. This is because Suzuki Daisetsu had researched these prior.

Additionally, the author should revisit "Community Psychology: Linking Individuals and Communities" by Bret Kloos, Jean Hill, Elizabeth Thomas, Andrew D. Case, Victoria C. Scott, and Abraham Wandersman, to connect Hwajaeng to practical applications and actions, emphasising Wonhyo’s philosophy of 'harmonizing disputes.' This section should detail how Hwajaeng can be applied to community psychology practices and its relevance to contemporary issues.

I strongly suggest section 3.3 be rewritten to demonstrate the connection between Wonhyo's concept of Hwajaeng and European philosophy, and its application in contemporary society.

Footnotes and quotations :

1. The author has used too many long quotations in the chapter and has summarised them without much discussion. This approach can be seen as plagiarism. The author needs to learn and develop the skill of effectively using quotations by incorporating shorter, more relevant excerpts and providing more in-depth analysis and discussion.

2. The author uses lengthy explanations in each footnote, which are often unnecessary (e.g., footnotes 1-10, 38, 40, 41). These footnotes should be reorganised and condensed to include only essential information.

3. Quotations from Wonhyo’s work are unclear about whether they come from Wonhyo's original texts or secondary sources translated into Korean. The author should specify the source clearly in the footnotes, indicating whether it is the original text or a translated version.

4. When referencing ≪起信論海東疏≫ (Commentary on the Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana), the author should specify in the footnote which specific text has been used, or whether the author has translated the title into English. Notably, this text has been translated into English by Japanese scholars, including Daisetsu Suzuki's and Yoshito Hakeda's versions, 『The Awakening of Faith』, which are often referred to by scholars as the commentary.

5. Long Chinese (hanja) sentences in the footnotes should be translated into English to ensure clarity and accessibility for readers.

My suggestion:

1. The author should revise this paper according to the comments provided above. Doing so will make the paper more useful and informative for readers.

2. This paper needs to include a critical discussion and analysis of Wonhyo’s thought.

3. Once all corrections are made, this paper will be ready for publication.

 

 

Author Response

Thank you for your meticulous evaluation and detailed comments and suggestions. Let me address each point of your suggestion:

 

• Introduction:

 

We have provided additional context about Wonhyo to better inform the readers about his significance and contributions.

 

Section 2: The Common Aims of Community Psychology and Buddhism

1) Thank you for your suggestion to clarify the citation and author's understanding regarding the definition of community psychology. Initially, we used the Korean translation of Kloos et al. (4th edition) due to inaccessibility of the English (4^th) edition, so the quotation was not direct but based on our understanding of the translated version. Thus, we have omitted the quotation and added an endnote (2), explaining:

 

'This definition is based on the works of Kloos et al. (2012, 3rd edition), Kloos et al. (2023, 4th edition: Korean version), Levine (1997), and papers from the Society for Community Research and Action. Research and trends in community psychology can be found on the Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA) website (https://scra27.org/). The following articles can be referred to for further insights: Linney (1990, pp. 1-17); Lorion (2022).'

 

As explained, in this revision, we accessed the English 3rd edition to check exact English expressions and primarily used that version. When referencing the Korean translation (4th edition), it is cited as Kloos et al. 2023, while in most cases, we used the English version (3rd edition), cited as Kloos et al. 2012.

 

2) At the end of the paragraph, we have added how Wonhyo’s philosophy can be applied to address issues in the Korean community or global issues. In sections 2.1 and 2.2, we have discussed thoughts of Kloos and others in relation to Wonhyo's philosophy specifically, rather than Buddhism in general.

 

* From page 6 to 7, we have also added the definition and specifics of Hwajaeng, along with similar approach of community psychology

 

• Section 3: Shared Orientations and the Philosophy of Wonhyo

 

1) As per your suggestion to add reference scholars who have studied Wonhyo, on page 8, we have included a detailed footnote on the field of Wonhyo studies in Korea and abroad.

 

2) Regarding the social impact of Wonhyo's thought during his time, we have added information on the historical situation of Silla in Wonhyo's era from the perspective of social history and Buddhism. We have discussed Wonhyo's contribution to universal humanity alongside his contemporaries, utilizing several Korean and foreign scholars on this issue. Thank you for your valuable comment.

 

* Furthermore, we have discussed this matter with reference to Wonhyo's orientation towards Minjung Buddhism, connecting this issue to Wonhyo's philosophy of One Mind, Hwajaeng, and community practice from the perspective of modern conceptions of equality, equity, etc.

We have also explained how these characteristics (such as the egalitarian idea of enlightenment being free from discrimination) can be related to community psychology, providing examples of both historical and contemporary issues to illustrate this connection.

 

* We have incorporated Suzuki Daisetsu's discussion in this part, as Suzuki's interpretation of the Laṅkāvatāra Sutra and other discourses supports and clarifies Wonhyo's thought on Awakening of Faith more clearly.

 

3) On page 12, we have added an annotation on the six realms.

 

• Section 3.3: The Relational Thinking of Hwajaeng and Community Psychology

 

1) Thank you for recommending Suzuki Daisetsu's book. It was quite useful in elucidating the meaning of Wonhyo's ideas to readers.

 

- However, for reasons described above, we used his book (1st edition) in the previous section and focused more on revealing the meaning and characteristics of Wonhyo's thought and its relation to community psychology through the lens of Western philosophy.

 

- To maintain focus on the main topic, we confined our discussion to the similarity between Deleuze's idea of difference and open dialectics and Wonhyo's Hwajaeng.

 

- We also added how Hwajaeng can be applied to community psychology practices (mainly using Kloos et al.'s book) and its relevance to contemporary issues.

 

• Footnotes and Quotations:

 

1. Thanks for your guidance how to effectively use footnotes. Following your suggestion, we tried to make quotation shorter, more relevant excerpts by omitting unsuitable passages and providing more in-depth analysis and discussion.

 

2. Footnotes 1-10, 38, 40, 41 are condensed or reorganized to include essential information.

 

3. We have made it clear that we have used Wonhyo’s original text using Taisho (T) or Hanguk Bulgyo Jeonseo (HBJ), and also added secondary source in case we have referred other materials for discussion.

 

4. When referencing ≪起信論海東疏≫, and other materials, we made it clear that the author has translated the title and contents into English.

 

5. We have translated long Chinese (hanja) sentences in the footnotes.

 

• Your Suggestions:

 

1. Thank you for your valuable comments and suggestions. We have revised according to your feedback, which has considerably improved the quality of the paper.

 

2. We have endeavored to include a critical discussion and analysis of Wonhyo's thought in relation to its relevance to community psychology.

 

3. We hope our corrections adequately address your concerns.

 

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The main goal of this article is to explore the possible points of contact between Korean Buddhism and Community Psychology through the thought of Wonhyo, a Korean philosopher from the 7th century, whose thoughts and works continue to have a great influence in Asia, particularly in Korea, although he is not well known in the West. The key points focused on in the study are "problem-solving within the community through a balanced contemplation of the individual and the structural" and "attempting changes in the community through practice." This objective is achieved, as it not only explains the theoretical foundations of Community Psychology compared to Social Psychology but also provides a good summary of the philosophy of the mentioned Korean thinker, particularly in relation to Community Psychology, with which it shares many values. For a Western reader, the article is a true discovery for its approach to Wonhyo's thinking. Simultaneously, it is quite original because research of this kind, which simultaneously addresses Buddhism and Community Psychology, is practically non-existent. The approach to the Korean philosopher's thinking through some of his fundamental texts like the Commentary on the Awakening of Faith or the Treatise on the Vajrasamadhi Sutra is highly appreciated. The structure of the work is very clear. The ideas are well presented and interconnected. The reading flows smoothly, and the concepts are well explained, especially in the denser parts of the work, such as the presentation of the doctrine of One-mind and Two Gates, The Practice of One-flavor, and the Bodhisattva path. The English is perfect. I have only found one typo: on page 12, where it says "Regarding the the essence of the teaching," it should be "Regarding the essence of the teaching."

Author Response

Thank you very much for your positive evaluation and encouragement. We have strengthened areas requiring additional support with supplementary data and clarified ambiguous sections through the addition of analysis on Wonhyo's philosophy and its relation to community psychology, supported by footnotes for enhanced precision. Through this revision, we aimed to improve the theoretical framework and case studies of community psychology in relation to Wonhyo's theory and practice that this research seeks to explore.

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The author has addressed feedback received in the revised article and I recommend its publication.