This dissertation examines the development of maturity of character of an expert counselor through the practice of Shimwoodo, with the awareness of the fact that 'an expert counselor also needs to be healed.' I believe that the personal character of an expert counselor should stem from 'mature and harmonious personality' and this will be an agent to create a healthy society where the counselor relieves him or herself as well as relieves others.
I show that if an expert counselor puts into practice an autonomous life through the recovery of self-reflection correctly, which is what Shimwoodo practice suggests, it could become the right ideological and practical tool for self-reflection, self-purification, and self-relief. I illustrate this point through three themes. First, I examine the importance of having a discerning eye for the phenomenon and the reality. Second, I comparatively examine the conventional coping method of advisors-avoiding the phenomenon, attacking, and paralysis-with that of Buddhistic coping method of non-duality-adaptation, embrace, and penance. Third, I examine 'the Bodhisattva-practice' of first attaining enlightenment through cultivation, then saving all beings as the role of right 'expert counselor.'
Shimwoodo practice, a direct experience of Seon Buddhism aiming at 'good at first, middle is good, end is good', that is, it should be seen that the motive, the process, and the result are all good performances. In addition, Shimwoodo practice implies the three vehicles of learning-the precepts, meditation, and wisdom-which drives out three poisonous elements of greed, hatred, and ignorance, thus is expected to develop the maturity of character of an expert counselor as it functions as practical tools for self-discipline and merit- transference.
Shimwoo-do practice is a practical tool that guides oneself and others to harmony and unity with the ordinary mind. Further, spiritual practice which frees oneself from the habit of pursuing instinctual life and searches for one's true self can be a fundamental way of problem solving which involves self-reflection and self-purification. Therefore, I suggest Shimwoodo practice as a useful and rightful counselling model for an expert counselor.