『불설아미타경』 칭명염불의 연원과 의의에 관한 小考

Abstract

The Shorter Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra states that the Name-Chanting should be concentrated to be born the Pure Land. The gist of the text is that listening the name of the Amitābha and chanting with their whole heart make people be born in Pure Land. In Early Buddhism, Chanting is regulated the Concentration and Samadhi. It is said that the Chanting is not compatible with Samadhi or Concentration but Chanting is Concentration and the Concentration is the Chanting, that is to say, the relation of being united. Chinese Buddhism established the Pure Land Buddhism which pursues to be born in Pure Land leaning on the wish of the Amitābha after Nāgārjuna had established the Pure Land Way called the ‘Harder Way’ and ‘Easy Way’. The belief of the Chanting of ‘Namo Amitābha’ by early Pure Land thingkers with which we are able to be born in Pure Land greatly caused influence Korean Buddhism. The records are seen in the 『Samkukyusa』 in which Sentient Beings have been born in Pure Land through Chanting and the documents at Geunbongsa in Gosung tell us the Buddhist Association during the 10,000 days in the reign of King, Geungduk of Silla dynasty. This tradition of the Name-Chanting continues to even today and we can witness that many Buddhist temples do the Buddhist Association during the 10,000 days. What is the significance of the Name-Chanting in Korean Buddhism these days then? What should be the Name-Chanting for lay followers like? The Early Buddhism literature says that it is the cause of enlightening the Four Noble Truths which is fundamental doctrine of Early Buddhism by the mind of dana. The Chanting practice of the Amitābha sets a goal of being born in Pure Land depending on the pure virtue of the Pure Land and the virtue of the Amitābha. This shows us the Pure Land which realizes the Land of Happiness decorated with the Dana Pāramitā. We should think that the Pure Land is not the Land where we could arrive after death but where real world could arrive. The concept of the Pure Land should be changed into the Budda Land in real world or the concept of being born Pure Land into being newly born with the mind of Bodhisattva. Furthermore, the final goal should include not only being born Pure Land but also the process of being born the Pure Land.