Kanbo - meditation

In Buddhism, observing the Dharma (truth) in order to enter the state of enlightenment. In particular, it refers to the method of Kanjin, observing the true nature of one's own mind. As it is the gateway to the path of enlightenment, it is also called Kanmon. Kan is a translation of the Sanskrit word vipaśyanā, which means to contemplate an object with wisdom, and is synonymous with contemplation. In Tendai Buddhism, it is called Kanjin because it emphasizes observing the true nature of one's own mind, as in Ichinen Sanzen (One Mind, Three Thousand Realms) and Isshin Sangan (One Mind, Three Contemplations).

The content of contemplation differs among the various sects. For example, the elementary practice of contemplating various thoughts in the mind is called contemplation, but in the Hinayana and Jojitsu sects, analyzing all phenomena and observing that they are empty is called shakugan, and in the Mahayana sect, observing all phenomena as they are in their natural form is called taikugan. In the Shingon sect, the character a in the Sanskrit Five-Curved Mother has the meaning of originality and non-birth, and observing the life of the universe as originally non-born (the fundamental existence of non-born) on top of the character a is called ajikan. In the Sanron sect, observing the Eight Middle Ways is called mutoku shokan. Furthermore, contemplating the principle of true nature is called ``rikan'' (contemplation of principles), contemplating the Buddha or the Pure Land while keeping in mind the aspects of discrimination is called ``jikan'' (contemplation of matters), and contemplating the principle of consciousness only is called ``yushikikan'' (contemplation of consciousness only).

[Zuiei Ito]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

仏教で、悟境(ごきょう)（悟りの境地）に入るために法（ダルマ、真理）を観察すること。ことに自己の心の本性を観察する観心(かんじん)の方法をいう。それは悟りの道に入る門戸であるから、観門(かんもん)ともいう。観はサンスクリット語のビパシュヤナーvipaśyanāの訳で、智慧(ちえ)をもって対象を観照することで、観念と同義である。天台宗では一念三千(いちねんさんぜん)、一心三観(いっしんさんがん)などのように、自己の心の本性を観ずることを強調するから、観心という。

　観の内容は諸宗によって異なり一様でない。たとえば、種々の想(おもい)を心に観ずる初歩的なものは観想というが、小乗や成実(じょうじつ)宗では諸法を分析して空(くう)なりと観ずるのを、析空観(しゃくうがん)、大乗では諸法の体そのままを空なりと観ずるのを体空観(たいくうがん)という。真言宗では梵字(ぼんじ)五十字母の阿(あ)字に本初の義と不生の義とがあるとして、阿字の上に宇宙人生を本不生（根本で不生の実在）と観ずるのを阿字観(あじかん)という。三論宗(さんろんしゅう)では八不中道(はっぷちゅうどう)を観ずるのを無得(むとく)正観という。さらに、真如(しんにょ)の理を観ずるのを理観、仏や浄土を観ずるのに差別の相を心にとどめて観照するのを事観(じかん)、唯識(ゆいしき)を観ずるのを唯識観などという。

［伊藤瑞叡］

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