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

In this paper, I try to find out theposition and meaning of Wu-T'ing-Hsin-Kuan (five contemplations of calming the mind) in early Buddhist literatures. Wu-T'ing-Hsin-Kuan had been accepted as basic methods of concentration meditation in the tradition of Indian sectarian Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism and East Asian Buddhim. At first, an etymological study of Wu-T'ing-Hsin-Kuan is made, and I try to analyse and understand the meaning of each concept through early Buddhist Literatures. In later Buddhist traditions, especially Mahayana Buddhism and the East Asian Buddhist tradition, Wu-T'ing-Hsin-Kuan was considered as the basic meditation methods for calming down certain mental problems (kilesā) which are sensual desires (kāmacchanda), hatred (vyāpada), wavering (vicikicchā), conceit (māna) and distracting thought (vitakka). But some parts of Wu-T'ing-Hsin-Kuan have essential and important roles in the meditation of the early Buddhist tradition, especially the contemplation on dependent origination (idappaccayatāpaṭiccasamuppāda) and the contemplation on the elements (dhātuppabheda) are the very practices to be connected with the enlightenment of the early Buddhist saints. We understand that these five parts of the Buddhist practices play roles as basic methods to overcome specific defilements and also some components directly and essentially contribute to the attainment of enlightenment in the early Buddhist tradition of meditation.