『 무량수경』 제18원의 연구 _제20원과 관련하여_

Abstract

The Pure Land Buddhism in Eastern Asia depends upon Three Principal Sūtras, of which the Larger Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra has been evaluated the most important. Because there are Forty-eight Vows which was confessed by Dharmākara Bodhisattva(Amitābhā Buddha). Of course, all Forty-eight Vows have been very important for the Pure Land Buddhists. But every scholars agree with that the 18th Vow is the most important vow. Every sentient beings can find out the path to the Pure Land from it. The Path of 18th Vow is the Chanting Amitābha’s name, I.e ‘Namu Amitabul(Homage to Amitābhā). The problem is that whoever reads the Larger Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra translated by Sanghavarman can discover another path in the 20th Vow too. In fact, Dharmākara Bodhisattva says that if anyone will be born in his Sukhāvatī by doing only virtual behaviour. Indeed, are there one way of Chanting Amitābhā’s name, or two ways of Chanting Amitābhā’s name and Doing virtual behaviour? There have been many argument or disorder on this problem in Japanese Pure Land Buddhism. I found out that this problem comes from the translation of the Larger Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra by contrasting Sanghavarman’s Version with the Chapter of the Amitāyus in the Ratnakuṭa and present Sanskrit Version. First of all, the Chapter of the Amitāyus in the Ratnakuṭa shows us that actually the 18th Vow and 20th Vow have same ontents, if we can exclude the special two phrases, I.e. ‘Saying my Name for example ten times’ and the part of proviso clause in the 18th Vow. Even if there are not the 20th Vow, it will be no problem. I could find out the crucial proof in the Sanskrit Version. The 19th Vow in the Sanskrit Version arrange Doing virtual behaviour in the subordinate clause and Chanting Amitābhā’s Name in the main clause of its relative pronoun sentence. We can conclude that from the first, Doing virtual behaviour has been taught as an independent way to Pure Land. Furthermore, the passage declaring the fulfillment of the Primal Vow of the Vol.2 of the Larger Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra is different from the passage stating the Primal Vow of the Vol.1 of the Larger Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra, because that didn’t suggest Doing virtual behaviour as a way to Pure Land. It may give some validity to the viewpoint of the passage stating the Primal Vow of the Vol.1 of the Larger Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra, which focused Chanting Amitābhā’s Name as the only way to Pure Land. The present Sanskrit Version has also same with the Larger Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra on the the passage declaring the fulfillment of the Primal Vow of the Vol.2 of the Larger Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra not stating Doing virtual behaviour.