Korea Journal of Buddhist StudiesISSN:1598-0642(Print)불교학연구회

In this article, I would like to explore the Twelvefold Chain of Dependent Origination (Pratītyasamutpāda) clearly realizedby the Buddha through discriminating insight (prajñā) obtainedwhile delving into the perception of mutual causality. I conduct adetailed analysis of the description of the Buddha's enlightenmentin Nagaropamasūtra and its extant Chinese translations. Thefocus of this paper is the question why the Twelvefold Chain ofPratītyasamutpāda is the canonical system of dependent originationamong various others, and its rationale for supplementing orsubstituting the Four Noble Truths. According to texts, the enlightenment of the Buddha isdescribed in two steps. First is attaining clear insight on thePratītyasamutpāda formula by discriminating insight (prajñā) andthe second is the application of the elements of Pratītyasamutpādato the framework of Four Noble Truths as a new Dharma. The purpose of reconstructing a new Dharma describes the uniqueness of the Buddha's enlightenment. Rather than being limited to the experience of personal liberation, the Buddha's enlightenment is unique in the discovery of the truth for the salvation of all sentient beings. In short, a clear realization of the reality of the Twelvefold Chain of Pratītyasamutpāda is equivalent to having arrived at a full comprehension of the greatest inner liberating experience of Gautama Buddha. In the Nagaropamasūtra it is likened the Twelvefold Chain was reconstructed on the old city of the Four Noble Truths that the Buddha discovered while following the old Eightfold Path. Simultaneously, it is not only the Gautama Buddha's experience but also the experience of enlightenment by all Buddhas, as a fundamental, unreplaceable ideological element. In conclusion, the Twelvefold Chain of Pratītyasamutpādacan be understood as the content of the Buddha's enlightenment,a universal truth that must be reproduced by his disciples; thusdespite the variety of Pratītyasamutpāda formulas it would havebeen established as the representative doctrine.