On the Passage of the Chapter of Tathāgatāyuṣpramāṇa in the Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra Quoted in the Sangaiyuishin Fascicle of the Shōbōgenzō

Abstract

This paper examines Dōgen’s 道元 interpretation of the passage “funyosangai kennosangai 不如三界見於三界” in the Chapter of Tathāgatāyuṣpramāṇa of the Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra that Dōgen quotes in the Sangaiyuishin Fascicle of his Shōbōgenzō 正法眼蔵,and the difference in how the passage is interpreted in Senne’s 詮慧 Kikigaki 聞書 and Tenkei’s 天桂 Shōbōgenzōbenchū 正法眼蔵弁註.

In my opinion, Dōgen reads the intent of this passage as acknowledging both “the triple world” by the phrase “funyosangai” and “what one sees” by the phrase “kennosangai.” The Kikigaki passes on a unique interpretation to the effect that “Nothing is better than seeing sangai as sangai,” but I do not think that Senne sufficiently interpreted Dōgen’s intent. The term “sangai” is used quite frequently in the Sangaiyuishin Fascicle. This frequent usage reveals a characteristic peculiar to Dōgen’s first writings following his relocation to Echizen.

In a subsequent generation, Tenkei reads this passage based on traditional principles, interpreting “funyosangai” with “through the use of seeing” added on.