"I watched the film in my Korean & Japanese Religions class."

I'm surprised at this because the link between this film and buddhism is tenuous at best, sure the setting etc appear to be buddhist but as I said above, "You have to remember that Kim Ki-duk is not a buddhist and is only trying to interpret and understand." 

Kim Ki-duk is in fact catholic and there are certainly as many if not more aspects of the film that sway in that direction. Unless of course your religions class was representing the growth of the catholic church in asia over the more traditional religions including buddhism!

Your interpretation may be correct but the only person who could answer that would be the director himself, interesting train of thought though.

Here's the link to my brief comments on the film SSAW&S comments, they certainly don't add anything to this topic but just illustrate how I read the film.

Cheers Trev