Chánxíng fǎxiǎng jīng 禪行法想經

Sūtra on the Dharma-Perceptions of Meditation Practice attributed to 安世高 (Ān Shìgāo, 譯)

About the work

The Chánxíng fǎxiǎng jīng (T605) is a one-fascicle very short sūtra on the saññā / saṃjñā — the “perceptions” or contemplation-themes — of meditation practice, attributed to Ān Shìgāo 安世高 (安世高). Indian parallels include the lists of anityasaṃjñā, anātmasaṃjñā, aśubhasaṃjñā etc. in the Aṅguttara / Ekottarika-āgama.

Prefaces

The text opens with the canonical formula.

Abstract

A miniature meditation-handbook in sūtra form, traditionally ascribed to Ān Shìgāo (148–170 CE) and forming part of his small chán-corpus. Counterparts in the Pāli Saññā enumerations of AN 7.46–48 and Girimānanda-sutta (AN 10.60).

Translations and research

  • Nattier, Jan. A Guide to the Earliest Chinese Buddhist Translations. Tokyo: IRIAB, 2008.
  • No further dedicated study located.
  • CBETA T15n0605
  • Kanseki DB
  • 安世高 DILA
  • Dazangthings date evidence (160) — T = CBETA [Chinese Buddhist Electronic Text Association]. Taishō shinshū daizōkyō 大正新脩大藏經. Edited by Takakusu Junjirō 高楠順次郎 and Watanabe Kaigyoku 渡邊海旭. Tokyo: Taishō shinshū daizōkyō kankōkai/Daizō shuppan, 1924-1932. CBReader v 5.0, 2014.