불교에서의 자기이해 – 대승기신론을 중심으로 –

Abstract

Religion that pursues the salvation of human has two momentums which are understanding the imperfect state of reality and the confirmation of the ideal self transcending self limit. In Buddhism, there is a theoretical demand to explain the reality(俗)of common people, and ideal(眞)of Buddha simultaneously in harmony. In this perspective, this paper will look over how the different buddhism since the primitive buddhism have proceeded self-understanding with the standpoint of truth(眞) and convention(俗). The primitive Buddhism supposes two selves; it speaks both of the self that is in agony captured by the false image of egotistic attachment and the self that has to be sought realizing the actual condition. Mind-only Buddhism explains the reality of human-beings with the change of ālaya vijñāna which is the profound consciousness that occupies the deepest place in human consciousness. By defining the profound consciousness ālaya vijñāna as impure consciousness, the process of the deluded self in reality is explained systematically and coherently in a line of continuity. In Tathāgatagarbha-thought , it is said that every people(衆生) is essentially the same with the Buddha and has the potentialities to become a Buddha. Thus it gives assurance that Buddha as an ideal self-image is not an object that is disconnected with the self in reality nor that is never attainable. In The awaking of Faith, it is said that common people is essentially the same with the Buddha and has the potentialities to become a Buddha. Thus it gives assurance that Buddha as an ideal self-image is not an aim that is disconnected with the self in reality nor that is never attainable. "The awaking of Faith“ suggests the explanation of the self in reality which is the strong point of Mind-only Buddhism and the confirmation of the ideal self which is the strength of Tathāgatagarbha-thought harmoniously. Besides, "The awaking of Faith“ offers an organized explanation on how these two selves exist in reality and also how these are congenial. "The awaking of Faith“ convincingly demonstrates not only the fact that common people and the Buddha are not qualitatively different nor disconnected, but also that the Buddha coexists in people and does not exist totally separate from people.