선종의 붓다관 ― 조불(祖佛)과 심불(心佛) 개념을 중심으로 ―

초록

This study aims to examine the concept of the Buddha in Chan Buddhism through two key notions: Mind-Buddha (心佛) and Patriarch-Buddha (祖佛). The concept of Mind-Buddha vividly illustrates the early Chan approach to grasping the essence of Buddhism after it was transmitted to China. Early Chan, characterized by the method of "using teachings to realize the essence" (藉敎悟宗), attempted to utilize scriptural teachings to uncover their core, which they identified as the "mind." After proposing the mind as the essence of all dharmas, this perspective persisted consistently throughout the subsequent development of Chan Buddhism. In the history of Chan, there were subtle differences in the approaches or understandings of the mind. In early Chan, the mind was regarded as an ontological entity to be observed, guarded, and cultivated. However, transitional figures like Shen Hui and the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch (六祖壇經) began to emphasize the mind's function over its substance. By the time of Mazu, the focus shifted to actively manifesting the mind's capabilities within everyday activities, encapsulated in the principle of "the mind itself is the Buddha" (卽心卽佛). Such an integrated realization of the Buddha's mind in daily life came to define the Chan patriarch, referred to as Patriarch (祖師). The tradition associated with these figures became known as Patriarchal Chan (祖師禪). In Chan Buddhism, the patriarch is often portrayed as a figure equivalent to or even surpassing the Buddha. In some cases, the Buddha himself is depicted as a patriarch, while in others, the patriarch is positioned as superior to the Buddha. A defining characteristic of the Chan concept of the Buddha lies in the shift from perceiving the Buddha as an external or historical figure to locating the Buddha within the human mind. This inward turn distinguishes Chan Buddhism's understanding of the Buddha.

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