作者為比利時國立根特大學博士候選人(=Doctorate Candidate of Oriental Languages and Cultures,Ghent University, Belgium)
關鍵詞
Subtlety of Objects=境妙; True Reality or Ultimate Truth=實相; Cause and Effect of Buddhahood=佛因佛果; Self-enlightenment and enlightening others=自行化他; Opening the Relative and Revealing the Ultimate=開權顯實
摘要
The issue of truth is essential in the teaching of Buddhism. According to Chih-i, one’s conception of certain type of truth determines one’s practice of striving to realize that truth, and one’s realization of certain type of truth reflects one’s level of attainment. In this paper, we would like to explore Chih-i’s systematic discussion of truth in his work Miao-fa Lien-hua Ching Hs üan-i 《妙法蓮華經玄義》 ( Profound Meaning of the Lotus S Í tra ). Truth, for Chih-i, concerns objective reality that all the Buddhas cherish. To realize truth is the goal of religious practice that fulfills the task of self-enlightenment. On the other hand, one’s attainment of enlightenment enables one to fulfill the task of liberating others. In Chih-i’s view, Buddhahood is realized in one’s mission of helping others. Enlightenment for oneself and for others as the cause and effect of Buddhahood is concerned with the issue of truth. Chih-i regards the issue of truth as the most important, because truth is the foundation on which the essential teaching of the cause and effect of Buddhahood is based. The issue of truth is fully discussed in Chih-i’s elaboration of the “Subtlety of Objects”, which is the first of the Ten Subtleties in the Traces in his interpretation of the Lotus S Í tra . The Ten Subtleties reflect Chih-i’s system of understanding Buddhism.
1. Introduction 373 2. Chih-i's Discourse of Truth 378 1. Presenting Six Categories of Objects 2. Correlations among Six Categories of Objects 3. Conclusion 435
