論中國早期天台禪法中之四念處－由《念處經》到《諸法無諍三昧法門》的比較研究=On Si Nianchu (四念處, catvari-smrty-upasthanani) in Early Tiantai Meditation-A Comparative Study of Huisi's Zhufa wuzheng sanme famen and the Texts Quoted by Huisi
Si Nianchu (四念處) is the Chinese translation of catvari-smrty-upasthanani, the Sanskrit term meaning ”Four Mindfulness” or ”the Four Foundations of Mindfulness.” Other Chinese renditions of this term include Si Nianzhu (四念住), Si Yizhi (四意止), Si Zhinian(四止念), Sinian (四念) or Shenshou xinfa(身受心法). Si Nianchu refers to the concentration of mind on four objects: the body, perception, thoughts, and dharma. In this paper, I will try to depict how the Si Nianchu was understood in China from the late Fourth century to early Sixth century through a comparative reading of several sutras, one waastra and a Tiantai treatise dealing with the topic of Four Mindfulness. The texts chosen for this comparative reading include the 98(superscript th) sutra or Nianchu Jing (念處經) in the Chung Ahan Jing (中阿含the Chinese translation of Madhyamagama), a modern Chinese translation of the Pali Maha-satipatthana-sutta (Digha-Nikaya, No. 22), chapter 19 of Kumarjiva's Pabcavijwatisahasrika, the scroll 48 of the translation of the Mahaprajbaparamitawaastra by Kumarjiva, and Huisi's Zhufa wuzheng sanmei famen (Taisho Vol. 46, No. 1923). The questions that I had in mind while reading these texts comparatively are: (1.) How was the ”Four Mindfulness” rendered and understood by Chinese Buddhists, in from the 4(superscript th) to 6(superscript th) century? How did Tiantai master Huisi understood it? (2.) How did Huisi elaborate the ”Four Mindfulness” in his own work? It is hoped that through an investigation of these texts, and my attempt to answer the above questions, a new perspective can be provided for the understanding of the nature of Buddhist meditation in early Chinese Buddhism.
