본 논문은 여가시간은 늘어나고 있음에도 불구하고 여가를 통한 삶의 질 향상이 명확하게 이루어지지 않고, 여가 프로그램의 부재라는 문제점을 드러내고 있는 현 시점에서 불교계에서 운영하고 있는 단기출가 프로그램의 여가론적 의미를 살펴보았다. 여가에 대한 선행 연구들의 비판적 검토를 통해 현대 사회의 여가는 자유시간이나 휴식보다는 자아실현과 삶의 질 향상이라는 맥락 속에서 더욱 중요한 의미를 부여받고 있지만, 실제로는 여가가 자아실현이나 삶의 질 향상에 장애가 되고 있음을 확인할 수 있었다. 이러한 현실 인식 위에서 출가의 의미를 짚어 보고, 단기출가와 여가의 구조적 · 의미적 유사성을 고찰하였다. 일상-비일상-일상(분리-여가활동-재결합)으로 진행되는 여가의 과정과 속-성-속으로 이어지는 단기출가의 과정은 구조적으로 매우 유사하며, 자유와 인간 본연의 자아를 실현하기 위해 출가한다는 점에서 단기출가와 여가는 의미론적으로도 공통성을 지니고 있는 것으로 나타났다. 이어서 월정사 단기출가학교의 사례를 통해 단기출가 프로그램이 여가 프로그램으로서의 기능과 의미를 지니고 있는지 확인하였다. 수행을 중심으로 구성된 단기출가학교의 프로그램들은 적극적 자아실현 행위인 수행 자체가 여가의 본질적 요소를 포함한다는 점에서 여가 프로그램으로 인정받기에 충분한 것으로 나타났다. 이어서 단기출가학교 체험자들의 소감문과 설문조사 결과를 통해서 실제로 단기출가 프로그램이 여가 프로그램으로서의 기능과 의미를 충실히 수행하고 있음을 밝혔다. 마지막으로 단기출가 프로그램은 현대 여가의 문제점을 극복할 수 있는 대안이 될 수 있으며, 동양적 여가의 전형이 될 수 있음을 주장하였다.

This article examined meaning of short-term entering the Buddhist priesthood at the present time, despite the growing leisure time, when shows that unclear improvement of the quality of life and the lack of leisure programs. We found that self-fulfillment and improve the quality of life is more important than the rest and free time as meaning of leisure in contemporary society but actually leisure interrupted a self-fulfillment and improvement of the quality of life. We reviewed the meaning of entering the Buddhist priesthood and considered structural and interpretive similarity of short-term entering the Buddhist priesthood and leisure in recognition on that sort of reality. It was very similar structurally the process of leisure, ‘usual’-‘non-usual’-‘usual’(separation-leisure activities-the reunion), and the process of entering the Buddhist priesthood(the secular-the sacred-the secular). Indeed, the meaning of short-term entering the Buddhist priesthood and leisure had a common feature in that they pursued freedom and natural self of human being. We checked up function and meaning of short-term entering the Buddhist priesthood as leisure program in case of Buddhism School, Woljeong temple. Ascetic exercises programs of Buddhism School showed sufficiently to be admitted leisure program in that it include an intrinsic attribute of leisure. And we clarified that program of short-term entering the Buddhist priesthood carried out function and meaning of leisure program through analysis on participants’ impressions and survey. Finally, we argued that the short-term entering the Buddhist priesthood program can be an alternative to overcome the problems of the contemporary leisure, and may be a model of the oriental leisure.

This article examined meaning of short-term entering the Buddhist priesthood at the present time, despite the growing leisure time, when shows that unclear improvement of the quality of life and the lack of leisure programs. We found that self-fulfillment and improve the quality of life is more important than the rest and free time as meaning of leisure in contemporary society but actually leisure interrupted a self-fulfillment and improvement of the quality of life. We reviewed the meaning of entering the Buddhist priesthood and considered structural and interpretive similarity of short-term entering the Buddhist priesthood and leisure in recognition on that sort of reality. It was very similar structurally the process of leisure, ‘usual’-‘non-usual’-‘usual’(separation-leisure activities-the reunion), and the process of entering the Buddhist priesthood(the secular-the sacred-the secular). Indeed, the meaning of short-term entering the Buddhist priesthood and leisure had a common feature in that they pursued freedom and natural self of human being. We checked up function and meaning of short-term entering the Buddhist priesthood as leisure program in case of Buddhism School, Woljeong temple. Ascetic exercises programs of Buddhism School showed sufficiently to be admitted leisure program in that it include an intrinsic attribute of leisure. And we clarified that program of short-term entering the Buddhist priesthood carried out function and meaning of leisure program through analysis on participants’ impressions and survey. Finally, we argued that the short-term entering the Buddhist priesthood program can be an alternative to overcome the problems of the contemporary leisure, and may be a model of the oriental leisure.

short-term entering the Buddhist priesthood, leisure, the oriental leisure, ascetic exercises, self-fulfillment, quality of life