佛典中修習禪定過程的詮釋 -- 以《清淨道論》「觀呼吸」禪定過程為例=The Interpretation of Meditative Process in Buddhist Texts: the Practice of Mindfulness of Breathing (AnApanassati) in Visuddhimagga as an Example
Interpretation or explanation of meditative process is a restructured work done after meditation, which is not actually practicing meditation. The fundamental problem in studying Buddhist meditation is that most of the studies regard the meditative process as a resultant situation with static linear stages rather than being an actual activity and continual process. Due to this bias, the hermeneutic role that the authors play in the Buddhist texts is worth to have an opportunity to be acknowledged along with the strategies and methods that the authors invented. Using the model of ‘Contemporary Composing Theory’ suggested by Ben McClelland, an in-depth analysis on the process of Buddhist meditation intends to reveal the essential aspects of the developmental process in meditation. The exploration of how narrative methods were applied in interpreting instruction on ‘breathing meditation’ further scrutinizes the “Eight Steps of Mindfulness Breathing” in Chapter Eight of the Visuddhimagga. Buddhaghosa’s innovation illustrates a more complete description of the developmental aspects found in the meditation process. From investigating the methods of describing the meditative process, a refined Buddhist hermeneutic approach to study, read and apply Buddhist doctrines emerges.
