從生天傳統到淨土信仰－阿彌陀佛淨土信仰的起源及相關問題討論

From Traditions of Ascension to Pure Land's Belief: The Original Source and Relevant Issues on Pure Land's Belief of Amitābha Buddha

羅鈴沛(Law, Ling-Pei)

《臺大中文學報》 71期 (2020/12) Pp. 107-147

https://doi.org/10.6281/NTUCL.202012_(71).0003

摘要

淨土信仰的精義在於菩薩的嚴土熟生，這關涉到能度的菩薩和被度的眾生。淨土教義的思想本質在於鼓勵菩薩效法阿彌陀佛的大行大願，但是，落實在信仰的層次，卻成了眾生求生淨土的信仰歸依，也因此，阿彌陀佛西方淨土法門，在中國佛教中有著非常大的影響力。本文討論的重點著重作為一個死後理想國度的淨土信仰的思想起源及其形成，而非菩薩願行的論述。本文主要從佛教和婆羅門教在「生天法門」上的文化互動，討論了婆羅門教的「生天法門」如何刺激了佛教的「生天法門」，以及從佛教的「生天法門」如何再進一步發展、演變而成為佛教的淨土信仰。在這個發展演變過程中的相關問題，在部派佛教及初期大乘佛教所引起的論究。認為阿彌陀佛淨土信仰是直承大乘十方佛國土的思想而產生，是十方淨土的終極完善版本，因此成為大乘經中最受重視的淨土法門。

關鍵字

淨土 ； 阿彌陀佛 ； 西方淨土 ； 兜率天 ； 生天

並列摘要

The essence of Pure Land's Belief is concerned with the bodhisattva's ＂purifying of the land and enlightening the mortals＂, with the bodhisattva as the liberator and the mortals who are liberated. The doctrines of Pure Land's Belief encourage all bodhisattvas to fulfill the Great Act and Great Will of Amitābha Buddha. However, those who seek the Pure Land have become attached to the practice of faith instead of the faith itself. It is for this reason that Amitābha Buddha's Pure Land Dharma is highly influential in Chinese Buddhism. The focus of this article is on the origin and development of Pure Land's Belief as a conception of paradise in the afterlife, rather than descriptions of the bodhisattva's will and action. Through exploring the cultural interactions between Buddhism and Brahmanism, specifically on the evolution and development of the idea of ＂the way of ascension＂, this thesis will discuss how ＂the way of ascension＂ finally became the Pure Land's Belief in Buddhism. Starting from its emergence to the relevant studies among different Buddhist schools, the thesis will explore the possible factors of how the practice of Amitābha Buddha's Pure Land is prevailing in Mahayana Buddhism from the perspective of cultural interaction and religious competition.

並列關鍵字

pure land ； Amitābha Buddha ； West pure land ； Tusita heaven ； ascension

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