Viewing Buddha - Kanbutsu

To contemplate the Buddha, to contemplate the Buddha's appearance and merits. Among these, contemplation of the Buddha's form and color is called Shikishinkan (or Oujinkan), contemplation of the Buddha's essential attributes (merits) is called Hoshinkan, and contemplation of the Buddha as the true nature of all phenomena (the true nature of all that exists) is called Jissokan (or Shinjinkan). According to the end of the first volume of the "Ojoyoshu," there are various types of contemplation, such as Bessokan, which sees each of the Buddha's appearances, Sosokan, which sees the appearance and light as a whole, and Zoryakukan, which is to abbreviate it and see only the white hair appearance or chant the name of the Buddha. Also, imagining the Buddha or the Pure Land in one's mind is called Yakushinkanbutsu (Ikishin Nembutsu). Seeing the Buddha's body or seeing one's own Buddha nature (the potential to become a Buddha) is also called seeing the Buddha.

[Zuiei Ito]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

仏を観ずること、仏の相好功徳(そうごうくどく)を観想すること。なかでも仏の色や形を観ずるのを色身観(しきしんかん)（または応身観(おうじんかん)）、仏の本質的属性（功徳）を観ずるのを法身観(ほっしんかん)、仏は諸法の実相（存在するものの真実の相）であると観ずるのを実相観(じっそうかん)（または真身観(しんじんかん)）という。『往生要集』巻上末によると、仏の相好の一つ一つをみる別相観(べっそうかん)、相好光明を全体としてみる総相観(そうそうかん)、略して白毫相(びゃくごうそう)だけをみたり、仏名を唱えたりする雑略観(ぞうりゃくかん)などがある。また仏や浄土を自己の心の中に想いみるのを約心観仏(やくしんかんぶつ)（即心念仏）という。仏身をみること、また自己の仏性(ぶっしょう)（仏たりうる可能性）をみることを見仏(けんぶつ)ともいう。

［伊藤瑞叡］

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