On the Interpretation of Sanju-Sokushin-Jobutsu（三種即身成仏）in Shingon Buddhism

Abstract

　The Sanshu sokushinjōbutsu seii [“Correct Intentions for the Three Types of Attaining Living Buddhahood”] is a debate that considers which of the three types of Living Buddhahood expounded in a variant of the Sokushinjōbutsu-gi represents the correct understanding of Living Buddhahood. However, because all three types of Living Buddhahood are explained in this variant text, some have raised doubts about the significance of this debate.

　The debate on “which of the three types of Living Buddhahood is correct” cannot be found in the works of several masters such as Saisen, Shippan, Kakuban, or Dōhan. However, the debate on the question of “to which of the three types of Living Buddhahood does our own school’s specific version of Living Buddhahood correspond” can be found from around the time of Dōhan.

　Next, the problem of the relative merits of the types of Living Buddhahood in variants of the Sokushinjōbutsu-gi and in the two chapters and eight verses of the authentic version of the Sokushinjōbutsu-gi is taken up in the writing of the monk Raiyu, which is where we can find an opportunity leading to an awareness of the current problem.

　Thus, it is conceivable that the Sanshu sokushinjōbutsu seii began to be discussed around the time of Raiyu in the form of the emergence of a critical awareness of Buddhist schools’ ideas about their own specific types of Living Buddhahood.