《楞嚴經》之禪淨思想研究 ─ 以耳根、念佛圓通章為主=Study on the Thoughts of Chan and Pure Land in the Śūraṅgama Sūtra－Focusing on the Chapters of Perfect Penetration of Ear Faculty and Chanting Buddhas’ Names
According to the third chapter of Śūraṅgama Sūtra, the Ananda and the assembly listened to the compassionate Buddha’s unsurpassed sermon: “I mercifully elucidate the teachings to all sentient beings about the Middle Way, the Absolute Truth and there is no wasteful talk.” “I will elucidate the teaching of the Highest Truth to you… Now you should listen carefully, I will explain to you respectively and also guide those sentient beings who wants to practice Mahayana in the future to penetrate the truth.” Thus we can see the essence of Śūraṅgama Sūtra is to penetrate the Middle Way, the Absolute Truth and the Reality. There are twenty-five sages in the fifth and sixth chapters of Śūraṅgama Sūtra. They also taught people how to practice. The sixth chapter takes us into the universality (omnipotence) doctrine of the Śrotrendriya. We explore its whys and wherefores and the twenty-five different perfect penetration samādhis to reach through enlightenment. The two famous sages：Avalokiteśvara and Mahāsthāmaprāpta demonstrate their special doctrine through the ear and chanting Buddhas. This paper aims to study how Avalokiteśvara utilize the ear practice to “inter-hearing of one’s own nature” and how the Mahāsthāmaprāpta utilize chanting the names of the Buddhas to “have all six organs concentrated and sustain the pure thoughts moment by moment.” This paper will focus on the practices of the perfect penetration ear faculty and chanting Buddhas’ names. It introduces how to meditate, progress from “concrete cultivation” to “intuitive entering the Principle”, and enter into signlessness via sign. Also the Avalokiteśvara’s doctrine represents the “Chan” and the Mahāsthāmaprāpta’s chanting Buddha’s doctrine represents the “Pure Land”. Taking examples from the Patriarchs’ and great practitioners’ literary works or quotations, hopefully would combine these two practice methods (Chan and chanting Buddhas’ names) and the practice methods from Śūraṅgama Sūtra ingeniously which would be useful reference for readers who are interested in meditation. More importantly, this paper would like to make a thorough inquiry about whether Chan and Pure Land are two different doctrines or the same? Are they from the same origin or not? If not, will they become one in the end?
