由《華嚴經》經文結構探討其中菩薩名號之表法

The Meaning of the Names of Bodhisattvas in the scriptures of Avatamsaka Sutra

陳寶忠(Pao-Chung Chen)

《華嚴學報》 2期 (2011/12) Pp. 71-104

https://doi.org/10.30002/JHB.201112.0003

摘要

《華嚴經》經文中出現有眾多的菩薩，從華嚴歷代祖師至現代華嚴學者與行者之著作中，咸認為這些菩薩係為隱喻的語言形成的精神意境，經文中有諸多菩薩間之問答等，亦非兩個人間的對白問話，其有深層之表法。佛是本自具足光明的自性，但其本體境界難以語言表達說明，所以透過此體之相與用之菩薩性德將之顯露；並由文殊啟信開解，由慧住於理、得位不退的十慧菩薩說「住」；由行類廣多、聚集顯發、深密無間與扶疏庇蔭的十林菩薩說「行」；由高出、建立、歸向、摧殄及滅怖之義的十幢菩薩說「迴向」；由含攝眾德，出生果用的十藏菩薩說「地」；進入法身的不思議境界則由普賢表之，再以窮盡、絕對、圓融、不對立的「普」菩薩性德，表超越識性與對立的分別執著，即出離世間；最後再以善財童子的參訪，總合信、住、行、迴、地五位因果及等覺妙覺位之圓融行門，文殊、普賢、觀自在與彌勒菩薩等的相繼出現，再次將佛果及修行次第呈現。所以菩薩是指上求佛道、下化眾生的性德，或稱生命的本質、生命因素。

關鍵字

華嚴經 ； 菩薩名號 ； 性德 ； 生命因素 ； 經文結構

並列摘要

There are many Bodhisattvas depicted in the text of Avatamsaka Sutra. Through the treatises of past Huayen masters and the recent practicers, the appearances of Bodhisattvas are always regarded as implicit languages and spiritual conceptions. Though widely used question-and-answer dialogues in the sutra are presented simply as conversations, they refer to the expressions of deep meanings. Buddha denotes a being with intrinsic nature of Wisdom Light; however, the essence of merits and virtues of Bodhisattvas is difficult to present in words, attributes and functions of Bodhisattvas are described instead. To gaining a faith in the Buddha, Bodhisattva Manjushri provided wisdom guidance to all for a start, following by Ten-Hui Bodhisattvas who have manifested wisdom in true principles without doubts, and teach us ＂abodes of inspiration＂; Ten-Lin Bodhisattvas who have manifested the full practicing enlightenment, and teach us ＂practices of virtue＂; Ten-Chuang Bodhisattvas who have manifested magnificent merits and virtues, and teach us ＂transfers of merit＂ ; Ten-Tsang Bodhisattvas who have manifested accumulated virtues in stages, and teach us ＂groundings of enlightenment＂. After entering into the inconceivable state of emancipation, Bodhisattva Samantabhadra who has manifested ultimate, absolute and harmonious virtues, teach us how to fulfill the various means of transcendence in knowledge and inflexibility to attain the Buddhahood. The last visiting of Kumara Sudhana, represents the integration of five stages such as faith, abodes, practice of virtue, transfers of merit, groundings of enlightenment. Finally, harmonious achieved Bodhisattva Manjushri, Samantabhadra, Avalokiteshvara, and Maitreya were presented in orders, to reveal the Ultimate Enlightenment and stages for applying Dharma practice. Therefore, instead of describing ＂bodhisattvas＂ as a living being, it is really indicating an essence of life, or should call it ＂life element＂; it means practicing enlightenment to achieve the Buddha Way, as well as to benefit other living beings by offering Dharma. It is also emphasized in Avatamsaka Sutra that the Buddha and Bodhisattvas should enter the Samadhi in order to deeply experience and manifest themselves in full merits and virtues.

並列關鍵字

Avatamsaka Sutra ； Names of Bodhisattvas ； Virtue of Nature ； Essence of Life ； Sutra Context