佛典中修習禪定過程的詮釋──以《清淨道論》「觀呼吸」禪定過程為例

The Interpretation of Meditative Process in Buddhist Texts: the Practice of Mindfulness of Breathing (AnApanassati) in Visuddhimagga as an Example

詮釋或說明禪定的過程並不等同實際地在練習禪定，而是「後禪定」的一種重建工作。兩者之間有一個不可避免的落差，即是語言的本質及使用是不等同經驗或是體驗的本身。本文以覺音論師（Buddhaghosa，西元5世紀中葉）的著作《清淨道論（Visuddhimagga）》的「觀呼吸（安般念）」法為例，企圖從Ben McClelland深入分析所發展的「寫作過程」理論模式，檢證《清淨道論》第八品「隨念業處品（anussatikammaTThAnaniddesa）」第九「安般念（AnApAnassati）」中，1描述觀呼吸得禪定過程的方法。從中推證覺音論師發展出一個整合的禪修詮釋法，也依此可推測《清淨道論》之所以能至今持續不衰的二個主因：（1）覺音論師能充分掌握觀呼吸得禪定過程的特性（2）整合不同的修辭法能更周延地重新呈現修「觀呼吸」得禪定的過程。

Interpretation or explanation of meditative process is a restructured work done after meditation, which is not actually practicing meditation. The fundamental problem in studying Buddhist meditation is that most of the studies regard the meditative process as a resultant situation with static linear stages rather than being an actual activity and continual process. Due to this bias, the hermeneutic role that the authors play in the Buddhist texts is worth to have an opportunity to be acknowledged along with the strategies and methods that the authors invented. Using the model of ‘Contemporary Composing Theory’ suggested by Ben McClelland, an in-depth analysis on the process of Buddhist meditation intends to reveal the essential aspects of the developmental process in meditation. The exploration of how narrative methods were applied in interpreting instruction on ‘breathing meditation’ further scrutinizes the ＂Eight Steps of Mindfulness Breathing＂ in Chapter Eight of the Visuddhimagga. Buddhaghosa's innovation illustrates a more complete description of the developmental aspects found in the meditation process. From investigating the methods of describing the meditative process, a refined Buddhist hermeneutic approach to study, read and apply Buddhist doctrines emerges.