Several Korean Seon masters have left lasting footprints through their commentaries on the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment:

• Chinul (Jinul, 1158–1210)
Often hailed as the architect of Korean Seon’s “samadhi and wisdom” synthesis, Chinul produced the earliest major Korean gloss on the Sutra. His “Annotated Commentary on the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment” weaves rigorous meditation instructions with penetrating doctrinal analysis. Even today, monastic curricula in the Jogye Order still lean on Chinul’s approach—proof positive that his insights haven’t gathered dust after eight centuries.

• Seosan Hyujeong (1520–1604)
In the 16th century, as Japan’s invasions rocked Korean temples, Seosan Daesa turned once more to the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment for both refuge and strategy. His commentary reframes the text as a battlefield manual for the mind, using vivid metaphors—almost cinematic in scope—to rally warriors of the Dharma. It’s said that his lectures kept Seon practitioners anchored even as war drums echoed outside Dharma halls.

• Gyeongheo (1849–1912)
A century later, the so-called “Bridge Between Old and New” in Korean Buddhism, Gyeongheo, breathed fresh life into the Sutra’s language. His “Exposition on Perfect Enlightenment” doesn’t merely repeat Chinul’s line-by-line notes; it reimagines key passages with an eye toward revitalizing a tradition under pressure from rapid social change. His work served as a catalyst for the Seon revival that unfurled across late-Joseon Korea.

• Modern Teachers and Lay Scholars
While not formal “commentaries,” in recent years figures like Seungsahn Sunim and Chunseong have offered accessible talks, translations and lectures on the Sutra, bringing its sometimes dense prose down to earth for contemporary practitioners. The 2024 Jogye Order edition—released in Korean and English—blends Chinul’s classic commentary with these modern reflections, making the Sutra’s timeless call to “wake up right where you stand” resonate in today’s digital whirlwind.

Whether in the dim candlelit halls of a Goryeo-era monastery or via livestream in 2025, these Korean masters have ensured the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment remains a living guide, beckoning practitioners to slip the yoke of dualistic thought and realize the “perfect mirror” inherent in every moment.