How Bodhisattvas Attain Buddhahood Quickly: On the Metaphor of “Digging a Well in the Desert” in Chapter X of the <i>Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra</i>

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  • 『法華経』に見る菩薩成仏論――「法師品」〈高(こう)原(げん)鑿(さく)水(すい)喩〉を中心として――
  • 『法華経』に見る菩薩成仏論 : 「法師品」〈高原鑿水(こうげんさくすい)喩〉を中心として
  • 『 ホケキョウ 』 ニ ミル ボサツ ジョウブツロン : 「 ホウシヒン 」 〈 コウゲンサクスイ(コウ ゲンサク スイ)ユ 〉 オ チュウシン ト シテ

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Abstract

<p>The metaphor of “digging a well in the desert” found in Chapter X of the Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra involves a narrative about a certain person searching for water in a desert. To this end, he makes other persons dig a well there. As long as he sees sand, he knows that the water is far off; if he sees mud, he knows that the water is near. Previous studies have overlooked the relationship between the person searching for the water and the other persons digging the well, leaving the structure and purpose of this metaphor unclear. The aim of the present paper is to examine them in detail and thereby to show how Bodhisattvas can attain Buddhahood quickly.</p><p>According to the teachings represented by the metaphor in question, the following can be pointed out. When a Bodhisattva makes his disciples hear and then accept the Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra as their own, he approaches Buddhahood; Bodhisattvas can attain Buddhahood quickly by listening to some Mahāyana sūtras that precede the Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra, by understanding the doctrine of emptiness, and then by hearing, keeping in mind, and preaching the doctrine of One Vehicle taught in this sūtra.</p>

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