「人間淨土」義涵之研究——從四依法探討聖嚴法師的詮釋=On the Signification of the “Pure Land on Earth”: An Overview of Master Sheng Yen’s Interpretation Based on the Four Reliances
The thesis aims to shed light on the signification of the ‘Pure Land on Earth,’ especially focusing on Venerable Sheng Yen’s interpretation. I propose to analyze questions which include: how did Sheng Yen look for the proof of the ‘Pure Land on Earth’ from Buddhist sutras? How did he interpret the meaning of ‘Pure Land on Earth’? Why should he claim to build the ‘Pure Land on Earth’ by promoting the advantages of Chinese Mahayana Buddhism? And, in the final analysis, how did he do? Furthermore, in the thesis, I will also give the historical background of Taixu, Yinshun and Dongchu’s concepts of ‘Buddhism for Human Life,’ ‘Buddhism for the Human World’ and ‘Pure Land on Earth, respectively, to present the context and development of the ‘Pure Land on Earth,’ and explain how their points of view influenced the others. The thesis regards ‘the Four Reliances’ as the principles or methods by which Buddhists interpret texts and practice, and takes these four principles as its framework to review and analyze the above questions. In fact, my questions exactly reflect how Sheng Yen’s interpretation is based on the principle of “relying on the dharma, not the person,” to critically inherit the teaching of the ‘Pure Land on Earth.’ Sheng Yen thinks Taixu’s ‘Pure Land on Earth’ lacks canonical proof from the sutras, and he engages in a process of research and examination in order to provide a scriptural basis for his interpretation. In the meantime, he also gradually formulated his new concept of the ‘Pure Land on Earth’. In other words, from the beginning of Sheng Yen’s encounter with the ‘Pure Land on Earth’ to the end of his life, over this lengthy period of time, every step of his interpretation embodies the principle of “relying on the dharma, not the person.” Moreover, Sheng Yen based on the principle of “relying on the meaning, not the words,” to search for evidence of the ‘Pure Land on Earth’ in Buddhist sutras. In his opinion, although we cannot find the exact formula ‘Pure Land on Earth’ in the canon, and no Pure Land patriarch in Chinese Buddhism ever claimed that this Sahā World is a Pure Land, Sheng Yen still believes and claims “all the teachings of the five vehicles are the proofs of the ‘Pure Land on Earth.’” In Sheng Yen’s broad view of the Pure Land, Pure Lands are “the Dharma Common to the Five Vehicles,” and the “Pure Land on Earth” is their foundation. Thus, whatever vows and purposes practitioners may have, they have to start their practice from the ‘Pure Land on Earth.’ This shows why the ‘Pure Land on Earth’ is so important and necessary. Although the practical foundation of the five vehicles is the same, their respective vows and purposes are different. Moreover, Sheng Yen regards the Pure Land of one’s own mind and the Pure Land of the Buddha (Bodhisattva) vehicle as a “complete” or “definitive teaching.” Therefore, Sheng Yen’s interpretation of the “Pure Land on Earth” often and naturally emphasizes both of these two meanings. Sheng Yen also believes that Chinese Buddh
