以不空如來藏為骨幹理解諸佛如來誕生宣言

Abstract

本文整理與解讀諸佛如來在最後生的誕生宣言有關的記載，以此為背景， 拉出一條詮釋的骨幹， 以「不空如來藏」（aśūnya-tathāgata-garbha）為學理暨實修的切要參考，提供諸佛如來誕生宣言可予以逐步理解的環節。在論述的行文，由如下的七節串連而成。第一節，「緒論」，開門見山，帶出研究主題，並且逐一交代論文的構想與輪廓。第二節，扼要解說諸佛如來誕生宣言，並且指出，「空如來藏」（śūnya-tathāgata-garbha）與「不空如來藏」，搭配著「波羅蜜多」、「世界尊上」、「無所畏懼」、「獅子吼」，將可形成一組打頭陣的架構，便於貼切地理解諸佛如來誕生宣言之所以然。第三節，以《大般若波羅蜜多經．第二會》、《如來藏經》、《入楞伽經》、《密嚴經》為依據，透過四個面向，亦即菩提道的修行格局廣大、歷時長久、全盤處理阿賴耶識、以及全方位實現為菩提道果位之如來，論陳如來藏何以可做為指引菩提道修行的一個關鍵概念。第四節，以〈空性小經〉與《解深密經》為依據，著眼於修行理路的施設，討論空與不空之標示的要義，藉以打下一道基礎，有助於進而探討如來藏概念之空的一面與不空的一面。第五節，以《勝鬘夫人經》為依據，將如來法身、如來藏、煩惱之覆藏施設為一組指引視野的概念架構，界說空如來藏與不空如來藏，探討空如來藏與不空如來藏何以提出的實踐導向的生命哲理。第六節，著眼於不空如來藏，搭配《大般若波羅蜜多經．第二會．修治地品》，以理解諸佛如來誕生宣言。第七節，「結論」，總結本文的要點。

This paper surveys and interprets textual sources about the Buddha’s declaration at the time of his birth in his final rebirth. Based on this textual study, this paper endeavors to interpret the Buddha’s declaration at the time of birth especially from the perspective of “the Tathāgata Within in terms of not-emptiness.” This paper is divided into seven sections. Section one offers a broad outline of this paper’s argument and a breakdown of its individual sections. Section two briefly explains what is meant by the phrase “the Buddha’s declaration at the time of birth” and proposes an interpretative framework composed of the following key ideas: “the Tathāgata Within in terms of emptiness,” “the Tathāgata Within in terms of not-emptiness,” “pāramitā,” “making the world’s foremost achievement,” “fearlessness,” and “lion’s roar.” Based on the Pañca-viṃśati-sāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā, Tathāgata-garbha-sūtra, the Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra, and the Ghana-vyūha-sūtra, section three demonstrates how tathāgata-garbha can be a key concept in guiding the practices along the path to enlightenment through four factors, i.e., practices on a broad scale, long-term commitment to practices, comprehensively dealing with ālaya-vijñāna, and thoroughly making Tathāgata a reality. Drawing from several passages of the Cūḷa-suññata-sutta and Saṃdhi-nirmocana-sūtra, section four elucidates a dynamic process involving both designators of emptiness and not-emptiness conducive to a better understanding of the functioning of the whole concept of tathāgata-garbha. Section five employs the Śrī-mālā-devī-siṃha-nāda-nirdeśa as the main literary source to define and discuss “the Tathāgata Within in terms of emptiness” and “the Tathāgata Within in terms of not-emptiness” with a focus on a praxis-oriented philosophy of life. Section six explicates and contextualizes the Buddha’s declaration at the time of birth from the angle of “the Tathāgata Within in terms of not-emptiness.” Section seven concludes and summarizes the main points of this paper.