『維摩経』=《維摩詰經》=Vimalakīrtinirdeśa; 出家=renunciation (pravrajyā); 在家仏教=在家佛教=lay Buddhism; 不二=non-duality (advaya); 菩提心=thought of enlightenment (bodhicitta); 維摩系諸経典=維摩系諸經典=Vimalakīrti group of sūtras
It is commonly understood that the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa is a sūtra which clearly advocates lay Buddhism. It is generally accepted without question that the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa is the outcome of a lay Buddhist movement, and Vimalakīrti is a lay Buddhist leader. At the same time, the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa's aspect of ultimate realization for lay Buddhists has also been emphasized. It is true that Vimalakīrti lives in the world with the identity of a layman, making every effort to rescue ordinary people. However, it is said that this is his expedient identity, and in reality he is a great bodhisattva who came from the Abhirati universe of tathāgata Akṣobhya. The Vimalakīrtinirdeśa lays out the main issues of Mahāyāna Buddhism: maturing people and purifying the buddha-field through the middle way of absolute equality based on the perfection of wisdom. Vimalakīrti dwells in the theory of the middle way, and is pure even though he is in the midst of defilements of the world. This paper first explores the issue of lay people and renunciants by considering the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa's ideas about renunciation. Then it raises the question of whether it is proper to think of the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa as the outcome of a lay Buddhist movement.
