극락의 존재여부와 염불의 가능성

Abstract

Pure Land thought(Jeongtosasang:淨土思想) is called as Easy Way Path(Ihaeng-do:易行道). It is based on reciting the name of Buddha, “Namo Amitābha”. However, the possibility of recitation can be questionable. This has been an issue in the past and still for those who are living in the modern age after the natural science revolution. Unless the existence of the Pure Land (Geukrak:極樂) is verified, verbally chanting “Namo Amitabha” is meaningless on the premise that Pure Land exists. Several difficulties in proving the existence of the Pure Land not only discouraged me from appealing toward the natural scientific argumentations but also prevented me from relying on Buddhist argumenta- tions. This study aimed to seek or establish the faith of chanting practitioners who hardly pay attention to the existence of Pure Land. Shinran(親鸞, 1173-1262), the founder of the Japanese Shin-Buddhism, and Ippen(一遍1239-1290), the founder of Shijong(時宗), had reached the stage in which they tolerate the existence of Pure Land. In addition, Uisang(義相, 625-702), founder of Avataṃsaka Order (Whaeomjong: 華嚴宗) in Shilla had the logic; despite it was not directly stated in the relationship with Amitāyus, the presence or absence of Pure Land could be meaningless by shifting the viewpoint discussed in the relationship with Bodhisattva of Great Compassion(Avalokiteśvara bodhisattva: 觀世音菩薩) into the one regarding Amitābha Buddha(Amitāyus: 阿彌陀佛). Shinran insisted faith upon seeing the truth of the vow of Amitāyus whereas Ippen claimed to verbally chant after renouncing Pure Land and Hell. Furthermore, Uisang asserted to establish Pure Land after becoming Amitayus. The beliefs of Shinran and Ippen have been established in the history of Pure Land thought in Japan. Pure Land thought is remarked to have reached the climax at Ippen after Shinran. I introduced the perspective which pays attention Uisang, whose theory suggests that self-power begins at the highest level of other-power. Therefore, distinguishing self-power and other-power already becomes meaningless at that level.