純禪時代의 念佛禪에 대한 몇 가지 문제

Abstract

This article discusses whether the name Buddha Name Reciting Seon is proper to designate the Seon tradition in the era of pure Seon, and criticizes its misuse. The words pure Seon and pure Seon era were used by Nukariya Kaiten(怱滑谷快天) for the first time. He used these words to point out the Seon of the period from Bodhidharma to the Sixth Patriarch. However, his theory had not drawn scholars’ attention for over sixty years until when Yanagida Seizan had interest in Zutang-ji(祖堂集) and took notice on these words. However, he included all the figures appeared on Zutang-ji in pure Seon era, and thus all the Seon masters in Tang dynasty belonged to this era. This theory was adopted by Master Cheonghwa in Korea. However, there are many counterarguments. It is too naïve to say that the early Seon in China is pure Seon. It is known that Bodhidharma had his theoretical basis on Lankavatra Sutrawhen he instructed Seon. This was known to the world when Jingjue(淨覺)’s Lenjia-shi qiezie-chi(楞伽師資記) was found. Bodhidharma’s Seon is based on Tathāthought, which emphasizes one mind,consistent meditation, and singular image meditation. That’s why his meditation is related to Buddha name reciting practice. Taoshin(道信) and Honren(弘忍) also adopted Buddha name reciting practice, but the first appearance of Buddha Name Reciting Seon is from Quolang-xuanshi’s(果閬) Chuanxiang-cun-fofa (傳香存佛法) of Nanshan-nianfu Seon Order(南山念佛門禪宗). Quolang-xuanshi is the fifth Patriarch’s disciple. Thus it is not relevant to call Seon from the Bodhidharma’s period to the Sixth patriarch’s period as Buddha Name Reciting Seon. Master Cheonghwa’s Buddha Name Reciting Seon designates the Buddha’s real image. This is one of the Buddha name reciting practice based on the theory of Pure Land in mind, and is adopted by Seon Buddhism. Thus, it is strange to call Buddha Name Reciting Seon instead of Pure Land Buddha name reciting practice.