The Implications of Birth in the Uppermost Rank and the Lowest Grade of the Lowest Rank, as Indicated in Tanluan’s 曇鸞 Wangsheng Lunzhu 往生論註
2023 Volume 71 Issue 2 Pages 491-496
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2023 Volume 71 Issue 2 Pages 491-496
In his Wangsheng lunzhu 往生論註, Tanluan 曇鸞 （476-542） mentions two categories of those who wish to be born in Amida’s Pure Land: that of birth in the uppermost rank （Jpn. jōbonshō 上品生）, and birth in the lowest grade of the lowest rank （Jpn. gebon geshō 下品下生）.
Among these, Tanluan discusses in detail the logic whereby birth in the lowest grade of the lowest rank is possible. This demonstrates the strong interest that Tanluan had in his birth.
However, the author believes that it is premature to conclude that Tanluan’s only purpose was to argue about birth in the lowest grade of the lowest rank for the following reasons:
1. The reference to birth in the lowest grade of the lowest rank in the Wangsheng lunzhu is only a part of the whole, and most of the Wangsheng lunzhu is a commentary on the Five Gates of Mindfulness 五念門, which is the practice of birth in the uppermost rank.
2. Tanluan recommends practicing the Five Gates of Mindfulness in the commentary section.
Therefore, by examining how birth in the uppermost rank is mentioned in the Wangsheng lunzhu, I aim to clarify in this study that Tanluan emphasized not only birth in the lowest grade of the lowest rank but also birth in the uppermost rank.
