티베트불교에서 성불의 의미 -후기밀교의 색신 성취의 수행을 중심으로-

Abstract

This paper is a study of the meaning of achieving Buddhahood in Tibetan Buddhism. The goal of Mahāyāna tradition is to achieve complete Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings. It means to realize the physical aspect (rūpakāya) of Buddha’s being through the development of compassion (karuṇā), and to realize the mental aspect (dharmakāya) of Buddha’s being through the practice of wisdom (śunyatā). For that reason, Mahāyāna followers should be required to enter the bodhisattva path and it is done by the practice of six perfection (pāramitā). The bodhisattva’s path is also divided into two types, which are the Pāramitāyāna same as the Sūtrayāna and the Vajrayāna same as the Tantrayāna. The goal of both paths, Sūtrayāna and Tantrayāna, is to achieve the buddhahood and Sūtra emphasizes the path of the bodhisattva who trains in the Six Perfections (pāramitā) in limitless ways over a vast expanse of time, unlike tantra focuses to train more effectively so that it can attain buddhahood more quickly. The sūtra approach to Mahāyāna is gradual and gentle, using certain methods over a period of time to approach the goal. That is why, it could say with fair certainty that Mahāyānanists tried to find the fast methods to achieve the goal based on the sūtric methods. Tsong Khapa asserts in the Ngakrim Chenmo that deity yoga is the distinctive essence of tantric practice. In other words, it is the main differentiating factor to separates between sūtra practice and tantra practice in Mahāyāna tradition. According to him, the practice of deity yoga is considered as providing a combination of method (compassion) and wisdom (emptiness) in Mahāyāna tradition. This paper will examine finally the deity yoga as the key of the purpose of this study, which leads to understand the principle of the union practice of Method and Wisdom in order to achieve Buddhahood.