Objects as Truth are Subtle: Chih-i's Theory of Truth

The issue of truth is essential in the teaching of Buddhism. According to Chih-i, one's conception of certain type of truth determines one's practice of striving to realize that truth, and one's realization of certain type of truth reflects one's level of attainment. In this paper, we would like to explore Chih-i's systematic discussion of truth in his work Miao-fa Lien-hua Ching Hsuan-i 《妙法蓮華經玄義》 (Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra). Truth, for Chih-i, concerns objective reality that all the Buddhas cherish. To realize truth is the goal of religious practice that fulfills the task of self-enlightenment. On the other hand, one's attainment of enlightenment enables one to fulfill the task of liberating others. In Chih-i's view, Buddhahood is realized in one's mission of helping others. Enlightenment for oneself and for others as the cause and effect of Buddhahood is concerned with the issue of truth. Chih-i regards the issue of truth as the most important, because truth is the foundation on which the essential teaching of the cause and effect of Buddhahood is based. The issue of truth is fully discussed in Chih-i's elaboration of the “Subtlety of Objects＂, which is the first of the Ten Subtleties in the Traces in his interpretation of the Lotus Sutra. The Ten Subtleties reflect Chih-i's system of understanding Buddhism.

關鍵字

Subtlety of Objects ； True Reality or Ultimate Truth ； Cause and Effect of Buddhahood ； Self-enlightenment and enlightening others ； Opening the Relative and Revealing the Ultimate

並列摘要

佛教中有關真理的教義至關重要。智者認為，一個人對某類真理的認識導致其求證此類真理的實踐，而其對真理的證悟程度決定了其修行的果位。在本文中，筆者意從《妙法蓮華經玄義》著手來探討智者對真理有系統的闡述。在智者看來，真理是諸佛之所師。追求自身對真理的證悟即是自行。追求不單自成佛果，而且還救度眾生皆成佛道則是化他。而上求佛果與下化眾生是不可分的，成佛的過程正是在化他的實踐中才得以完成。自覺和覺他即是成佛之因和證佛之果，與對真理的證悟密不可分。基於證悟真理為成佛的關鍵，故智者在「境妙」這部分對真理作了淋漓盡致的討論，建立了其嚴密的真理體系。