Cien dashi Kuiji’s View of Salvation from the Interpretation of the “Guanshiyin pusa pumen pin” of the Fahua jing

Abstract

As the name suggests, Chapter 25 of the Fahua jing 法華経 (Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra), “Guanshiyin pusa pumen pin” 観世音菩薩普門品, concerns the salvation of Guanshiyin pusa (Avalokiteśvara bodhisattva). In this paper, I particularly focus on the section that discusses the question of why some people are saved and others are not, especially by believing in Guanshiyin.

The first person to mention this issue was Jizang 吉蔵 (549–623) of the Sanlun school三論宗. He considers the reasons from four perspectives, such as weak faith and weak relationship with Guanshiyin.

Cien dashi 慈恩大師 Kuiji 窺基 (632–682) of the Faxiang school 法相宗 also considers a similar issue in the Fahua xuanzan 法華玄賛. He discusses the existence of salvation from the viewpoint of karma, and states that buddhas and bodhisattvas may not be able to change the results of karma. However, the result of the karma can be changed by heartfelt repentance. Although Jizang introduced a similar theory, Kuiji discusses it in detail using Yogācāra works, and states his assertion based on Jizang’s interpretation.