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

The main purpose of the study is to focus on looking into the rebirth in the pure land and five anu-smṛti, which are the main thesis of Pureland Buddhism by Vasubandhu. It is presumed that the research can play a pivotal role to draw out a new understanding and misunderstanding of Pureland Buddhism at the same time, which has been criticized as heresy by Nagarjuna. First of all, when it comes to the fundamental principles of the rebirth in the pure land, Vasubandhu has considered that the rebirth in the pure land come from Śunya. In accordance with the basic principles of it, there has been salvation for all living beings, and resulting in nirvāṇa. Next, concerning to the subject of the rebirth, the question is that a person reborn and worldly one is the same or not. Vasubandhu has also found out the answer in the principle of consistency and inconsistency, which is combined with theories of five skandha and pratītya samutpāda. In other words, as the correlation of continuity and discontinuity, a single person, who has attained the Buddha nature in nirvanic liberation be incarnated in the pure land as a person reborn. If so, how can living beings attain the level of nirvana in the pure land? The critical key to attain nirvana lies mainly in the eka-citta and five anu-smṛti. Vasubandhu has suggested other forms of ascetic practices such as five anu-smṛti, the principles of bodhisattva, instead of six paramīta. He has also established the bodhisattva practices, consisting of bowing and chanting along with śamatha and vipaśyāna. That is gradual practices showing the essence of Yogācāra school, which is really different from the common buddhism of pure land centered on salvation from outside. The proof is the fact that five anu-smṛti are the ascetic practices of karma. That the simple chanting of Amitabha Buddha and the insight of the pure land can lead to the attainment of nirvāṇa is the main idea of Pure land Buddhism by Vasubandhu. Under this understanding, the present writer has classified four types of ascetic practices into pre-practices and main ones. thus, five anu-smṛti are viewed as easy and hard practices to follow respectively. Finally, Vasubandhu has completed his theory with dedication of merits, returning all the merits attaining from supplication to all living beings. Vasubandhu has mainly applied his theory to ten bhumi. He is solely remarkable in a way that the attainment of anuttaraṃ sammāsambodhi can be achieved through practicing five anusmṛti thoroughly. This is mainly based on his intention to set up the Yogācāra doctrines. Therefore, it is considered that five anu-smṛti leading to the pure land along with Yogācāra are firmly established on the phase of ten bhumi.