『華厳経』実践の一側面

『華厳経』霊験譚における病の記述をめぐって

抄録

This paper, presented under the theme of the 93rd Academic Con­ference, “Buddhism and Illness,” examines depictions of illness in the Buddhāvataṃsaka Sūtra (BAS). It highlights examples such as bodhisatt­vas skilled in medicine, the Tathāgata as a “King of Physicians,” and virtu­ous intimates portrayed as “doctors,” reflecting the Buddha’s principle of “prescribing medicine according to the illness.” However, these depictions show limited originality unique to the BAS. Fazang’s commentary on the BAS (Huayanjing tanxuan ji) discusses the healing of physical illnesses through spells (dhāraṇī) and medicine, while his commentary on the Treatise of twelve gates addresses the treat­ment of mental and conceptual illnesses through emptiness meditation. These insights reveal contemporary perspectives on illness and its reme­dies. The Huayanjing zhuan ji, compiled by Fazang, includes miracle tales where monks overcame illnesses through recitation or reading of the text. The later Huayanjing ganying zhuan revised these accounts with added details and updated timelines, transforming them into practical and repro­ducible spiritual guidelines. The compilation of such miracle tales was not merely storytelling but a form of religious practice intended to provide models for future gen­erations. This paper emphasizes their role as meaningful religious acts and outlines directions for further research into their significance.