『법화경』의 갈애(tṛṣṇā) 용례에 대한 고찰

Abstract

In Early Buddhist Sutras, the Craving(tṛṣṇā, 渴愛) is referred to as a representative defilement. The Craving causes suffering owing to the psychological obsession and for this reason it is explained as a reason for the suffering. Besides, in the Four Noble Truths, the Craving is regarded as the truth of the source of suffering(duḥkkha-samudaya) that originates samsaric existence. Also in the twelve links of dependent arising(12緣起), the Ignorance(avidyā) and the Craving are defined as a direct cause of Samsara. Therefore in Early Buddhist Sutras, the Craving is being denied and also recognized as an defilement which needs to be extinguished. Meanwhile, the usage of the Craving changes from one of Mahayana Buddhist Sutras, the Lotus Sutra. The change in the usage of the Craving could be explained in two ways. First, the usage of the Craving seems to be accepting that of the Early Buddhist understanding. The evidence could be found in the Four Noble Truths and the 12 Nidanas appear in the Lotus Sutra. The Craving mentioned in here is an obviously denied defilement. Second, the usage of the Craving is being affirmed in the Lotus Sūtra. In the Chapter on Duration of Life of the Tathāgata, people raise their Cravings toward the Buddha and then they could meet and listen the rightful-teaching (saddharma) from the Buddha in the Nirvana state. Also in the Chapter on the Disposition, a metaphorical expression of father and son relationship appears within a noticeable expression ‘The Craving of the Buddha(father).’ From here I could recognize both negative and positive usages of the Craving in the Lotus Sutra. In the identical Sutra, the Craving which is a singular concept has taken up both positive and negative points. This could be explained likewise. The connection between the Craving and results of seeing the Buddha and listening of the Buddha teaching, represents that the Defilement(煩惱) and the Buddhahood(菩提) have no difference in the Lotus Sutra. Even though there exists various terms designating a craving and a desire, however tṛṣṇā is used in the Lotus Sutra with a purpose. Also the expression ‘The Craving of the Buddha’, metaphorically represents the mercy of the Buddha towards people. At the same time I assume that the Craving is expressed with a psychological motivation to reveal the message of the Lotus Sutra, the eternal existence of the Buddha and its teachings.