Buddhism and Well-Being -From Buddhism for the Enlightenment to Buddhism for Happiness.

웰빙으로서의 불교 -깨달음의 불교에서 행복의 불교로

What is Buddhism for? Is the enlightenment the only valid goal of the Buddhist practice? In answering to such questions, this article attempts to challenge the traditional Buddhist notion on the enlightenment, which has been believed to be the utmost and unquestionable, the final goal of Buddhist practice. This article argues that the enlightenment as the final goal of Buddhist practice resulted from religious atmosphere of the ancient India, where the society was bifurcated with the lay and monks. Moreover, nirvana, the final enlightenment with no-more-rebirth, was not the goal of all the Buddhists, but the goal of a few, religious elites. In modern society, where the role of lay people becomes more and more important the Buddhist goal for the enlightenment needs to be reevaluated and to change, from the enlightenment to happiness.