『유마경』과 『승만경』에 나타난 여성관 비교 고찰

Abstract

This study aims to comparatively analyze the perspectives on women in the Mahayana Buddhist scriptures, "Vimalakīrti- nirdeśha-sūtra" and "Śrīmālādevi-siṃhanāda-sūtra" , exploring their views, values, and positions regarding women. The "Vimalakīrtinirdeśha-sūtra" emphasizes the practice of the Bodhisattva path as the core of Mahayana Buddhist practice, advocating for active participation in secular society and the ideals of lay Buddhism, while focusing on the equal enlightenment of all sentient beings. In contrast, the "Śrīmālādevi-siṃhanāda-sūtra" emphasizes the possibility of women's enlightenment, incorporating the con- cept of Tathagatagarbha (Buddha-nature). Particularly, Queen Srimala appears as the protagonist, demonstrating women's active participation in religion and showing that women can achieve enlightenment on par with men. This study examines how the roles and positions of women are addressed within Mahayana Buddhism as presented in these two scriptures. It also explores how the positive perspectives on women in these texts contribute to the improvement of women's status in modern society. Through this comparative analysis, it is revealed that both the "Vimalakīrtinirdeśha-sūtra" and "Śrīmālādevi-siṃhanāda-sūtra" reflect fundamental teachings that transcend traditional notions about women, opening up the possibility for all sentient beings, regardless of gender, to attain enlightenment.