Korea Journal of Buddhist Studies ISSN:1598-0642(Print) 불교학연구

This essay researches the doctrine of Four Mental Divisions(心四分說) in the book, Explanation of Mental Divisions and Measuring in Consciousness Only (唯識分量決), which was written by a Japanese academic Buddhist monk, Sunzu. This research may enable people to prepare for understanding the theory of Mutuality of Four Mental Divisions(四分相緣論) which is the hardest theme of the book. This essay divides topics of the book into five subjects, and reviews these.The first subject is “the process of establishing the theory of Four Mental Divisions.” Four Mental Divisions are the first Seen Part(相分), the second Seeing Part(見分), the third Self- Authentication(自證分), the firth Re-Self-Authentication(證自證分). The theory of Four Mental Divisions was established through the historical process into which many Buddhistic masters participated, such as Sthiramati, Nanda, Dignaga, Dahrmapala, and so forth. Later, Wonchug(圓測) and Sunzu(善珠) described that process with some different expressions, but no difference between their opinions is to be found in terms of the significations of the different expressions.The second subject is “the problem of Triple Measuring of Mental Fourfold Divisions.” Gugi(竅基) signified, by ‘Earlier Achievement’, the Mutuality of Four Mental Divisions which could be performed in the state of Buddhistic Practice, while he designated, by ‘New Achievement’ the Mutuality of Four Mental Divisions which could be performed in the state of Buddha. The latter is the main topic of the Theory of Mutuality of Four Mental Divisions.The third subject is “the problem of Originations from Same Seed or Different Seeds.” Seeing Part and Seen part are sometimes Originations from Same Seed, and sometimes Originations from Different Seeds. But image as Direct-Seen Part(親所緣) and essence as Remote-Seen Part(疎所緣) are Originations from Different Seeds.The fourth subject is “the problem of Developing and Unifying Four mental Divisions.” The fourth Mental Division can, because of its being a sort of Self-Authentication(自證分), be subsumed by the third Mental Division. The third and fourth Mental Division can, because of their being sorts of Seeing Part, be subsumed by the second Mental Division. All Mental Divisions can, because of their being sorts of Conciousness, be regarded as One Mental Division.The fifth subject is “the problem of One or Many Functions of Four Mental Divisions.” Self-Authentication has only a function, and this perceives both the second Mental Division and the fourth Mental Division, that is, Seeing Part and Re- Self-Authentication; Seeing Part has multiple functions, and these perceive multiple Seen Parts.This essay makes clear that the theory of Mutuality of Four Mental Divisions is nothing other than the result of deeping and enlarging that problem. To the best of one’s ability, one makes an end of life in the state of Buddhistic Practice, and not in the state of Buddha. Therefore, it is natural to doubt whether it is worthful to research the theory of Mutuality of Four Mental Divisions. But this theory can help people to rightly perform the Buddhistic practice, as the theory True Suchness does so.