著者

山本 伸裕

出版者

東京大学東洋文化研究所

雑誌

東洋文化研究所紀要 (ISSN:05638089)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.160, pp.441-496, 2011-12-22

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This paper seeks to clarify the relationship between Nāgārjuna's philosophy of the Middle Way, based on the notion of emptiness (śūnyatā), and Pure Land Buddhist thought, of which Shinran was a devotee. In Shinran's texts, one can see many references to Nāgārjuna as one of the greatest teachers of Mahāyāna Buddhism as well as of Pure Land Buddhism. But, it is still open to debate whether he may be considered the real ancestor of Pure Land Buddhism, though Shinran seems to have had no doubt that he was the very man who set the precedent for the teaching of the easy path of nembutsu. As a matter of fact, one can say that Jodo-Shin-Shū has not dwelt a great deal on Nāgārjuna's philosophy of emptiness. One reason may be that, for many people, Nāgārjuna's thoughts on emptiness were too profound to comprehend. Again, some might say there is little relationship to the teachings of the Pure Land, in which various expedients (upāya) are used to guide ordinary people. Nāgārjuna's emptiness is mainly mentioned in Sanskrit texts such as the Mūlamadhyamakakārikā (“Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way”). One must carefully reread these texts in order to see how the philosophy of emptiness can be employed in the generation of Pure Land thought. This is as most Buddhists have been reading Nāgārjuna's texts through the classical Chinese translations. In this thesis, two key terms prapañca and prajñapti are carefully examined. Although both are surely related to human conceptual and linguistic practices, they are often considered to be of secondary value, at best, as compared with the notion of emptiness. But, such understanding may not be correct as it is influenced, to some unknown degree, by the style of the individual translator. The word “prajñapti” means practice in this world, of which nature is nothing other than “emptiness” (śūnyatā). Consequently, all of our deeds are subject to failure. But, once one accepts this uncertainty of emptiness, one will no more be tormented by one's own actions. Meanwhile, Shinran, basing his own faith on Pure Land Buddhism, emphasized the role of expedients, or “means,” and salvation by faith to the Other (Amitābha). This salvation by faith means giving up reliance on one's own ability and accepting the power of “emptiness.” In this way, one lives in the real world expediently and depending upon linguistic practice.