정토경전에서 언급된 ‘중생의 노력 사항들’선택 방식 고찰 - 복수조합선택방식(Matrix선택방식) 도입을 중심으로 - = Consideration on How to Select ‘What People to endeavor’ Mentioned in the Scripture of the Pure Land: Focusing on the Introduction of the ‘Mutiple Combinations Selection Way

국문 초록 (Abstract)

보살(菩薩)과 다불(多佛)사상을 가졌던 인도 정토사상(淨土思想)이 대사상가(大思想家)들에 의해 ‘(칭명)염불’을 강조하는 사상으로 전개되면서, 정토삼부경과 미륵삼부경에서 언급된 ‘중생의 노력 사항들’에 대한 이해 방식은 ‘(칭명)염불외 중생의 노력 사항들’을 드러내지 않고 폐(廢)하여 ‘(칭명)염불’로 귀결시키는 요홍폐립방식(要弘廢立方式: 요문을 폐하고 홍원으로 귀결시키는 방식)을 지니게 되었다. 그러나, 복잡·다원화 등으로 고통이 증가하며 동시에 협동하여 해결할 고통도 증가하는 현(現) 시대적 상황을 감안시 요홍폐립방식만으로 이해를 이어가는 것은 시대 상황에 대응하지 못하는 문제를 만들 수 있을 것으로 보인다.
반면 정토 경전에서 ‘시방세계(十方世界)에 불국토가 한량없이 많고 중생들이 각자가 지은 공덕과 선업에 의하여 나타난 땅(불국토)에 머무르고 다양한 정토가 많이 있다’라고 언급하고 있음 등에 근거하면, 다다익선(多多益善)의 관점에서 ‘(칭명)염불’과 더불어 ‘(칭명)염불외 중생의 노력 사항들’의 적극적인 노력도 가능하고 그 결과에 부합한 다양한 정토(아미타 포함)에도 갈 수도 있다고 해석할 수도 있을 것이다. 이에 갈수록 중요해져 가는 ‘중생계 정토화 역할’을 지닌 ‘(칭명)염불외 중생의 노력 사항들’도 적극적으로 강조될 수 있는 ‘복수조합선택방식(Matrix선택방식)’ 도입을 제안하고자 하는 것이다. 변화된 시대 상황에 대응하여 적극적으로 중생계를 정토화하고 요홍폐립방식과 더불어 정토사상 발전을 위한 시너지효과도 창출할 수 있길 기대한다.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The Indian Pure Land Thought, initially characterized by the Bodhisattva and Multi-Buddha Thought, had evolved into a Pure Land Thought emphasizing the ‘chanting Buddha’s name and thinking Buddha’ as ‘Easy Practice Way’ by the greatest Buddhism philosophers. Consequently, the approach to understanding ‘What People to endeavor’ mentioned in the three principle scriptures of the Pure Land and the three principle scriptures of the Maitreya have had the way of abandoning ‘What People to endeavor except ‘the chanting Buddha’s name and thinking Buddha’ and finally concluding to ‘the chanting Buddha’s name and thinking Buddha’ < it was referred to as Yohongpyelib-Way, which means way to abandon Yomun (concentrating one’s mind and accumulating good deeds) and finally to choose Hongwon (regenerating spontaneously by the original Power of Amidaha Buddha’s Wish) >. However, continuing to understand ‘What People to select and endeavor except ‘the chanting Buddha’s name and thinking Buddha’ as only what people to abandon based on the Yohongpyelib-way seems problematic, considering contemporary times conditions not only marked by consistently increasing conflict and pain due to complexity and diversification of the current society but also marked by the frequent need for collaborative efforts. Such an approach(Yohongpyelib-way) seems to create an issue of not meeting the demands of the contemporary times and failing to gain social supports and interests.
On the other hand, the Pure Land scriptures also state that there are countless Buddha Lands in the world of the ten directions and there are countless Pure Lands where people can be reborn and livng beings stay in Buddha Lands appeared by their individual contributions and good deeds. Therefore, from the perspective of ‘the more, the better’, it is possible to choose ‘the chanting Buddha’s name and thinking Buddha’ and also what people to endeavor except the ‘chanting Buddha’s name and thinking Buddha’. Accordingly, aside from upholding the Yohongpyelib-way, this paper contemplates and suggests the possibility of adding an understanding that actively emphasizes and recommends ‘What People to endeavor except ’the chanting Buddha’s name and thinking Buddha’ which plays a role as purifying World of Living Beings. This addition, called the ‘Mutiple Combinations Selection Way, aims to resonate with contemporary societal conditions. In particular, I hope that we can respond to the situations of the current times which we must work together to purify World of Living Beings and create a synergy effect for the development of Pure Land Thought with Yohongpyelib-way.