| Summary: | 碩士 === 法鼓佛教學院 === 佛教學系 === 103 === This thesis is divided into seven chapters, mainly focusing on the third chapter of the Chinese Buddhist scripture which translated by Kumārajīva (鳩摩羅什). According to the third chapter, the Disciples'' Reluctance to Visit Vimalakirti of Vimalakīrtinirdeśa-sūtra (維摩詰經), ven. Upali is one of the Buddha’s disciples, and the eighth to be assigned to visit Vimalakīrti, who was sick at that time. Ven. Upali said to the Buddha about the reasons why he could not visit Vimalakīrti. The whole paragraph is approximately 400 Chinese words. The emphasis of the text lied in the direct method of repentance that can purify one’s transgressions, which was taught him by Vimalakīrti.
The Direct method of repentance taught was to contemplate that all transgression are neither inside, outside, nor in between. Master Zhiyi of the Tiantai School interpreted it “Contemplation on the way to purify wrong views (觀無生懺法)”and“Contemplation on the emptiness of the nature of transgression (觀罪性空)”,which was very difficult to understand. In order to realize the meanings the nature of transgressions in the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa-sūtra, this thesis quoted from commentaries written by Chinese Masters, with focus on the interpretation by Master Shi’i. Historical Buddhist master’s explanations on the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa-sūtra, were mainly based on the citations from the Chinese scriptures that were translated from Indian Buddhist sutras. Containing Buddha’s teachings, through which enlightenment is possible if we can follow and practice them. Therefore, I present the topic of this thesis as- “On the Nature of Transgression in the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa-sūtra: Based on the Interpretation of Master Zhiyi of the Tiantai School”.
According to the interpretations by Master Zhiyi, the method of repentance can be divided into “Repentance through realization of the truth (理懺)” and “Repentance through ritual performance (事懺)”. The repentance by “Contemplating on the way to uproot wrong views (觀無生懺法)” and“Contemplating on the emptiness of the nature of transgression (觀罪性空)”are the methods of“Repentance through realization of the truth (理懺)”,which is exactly the topic of thesis paper “The direct method of repentance”. This is the method that can purify all transgressions. As for the methods of “Contemplation on the way to uproot wrong views” and“Contemplation on the emptiness of the nature of transgression”, please refer to the sixth chapter.
As a conclusion, the author recommends that the Dharma Drum Mountain Sangha (DDM) to include the chanting of “Repentance through realization of the truth” into the chanting of “Repentance through ritual performance”. With additional melody and make them available for DDM devotees in the form of musical recording. It may helpful to purify the transgression and to benefit the practice of meditation for all practitioners.
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