仏教と芸術性
Buddhism and Artistry
2026-10-07
There seems to be a tendency to try to understand Buddhism in terms of artistic elements.
However, walking the Buddhist path is basically a matter of everyday life, and it can be said that there is no particular artistry in it, nor is there any need to introduce such artistry into it.
What is important for a practitioner of the Buddhist path is whether or not they are earnestly striving toward stillness, and whether or not they are deeply eager to know the truth of this world. These determine the effectiveness of their progress along the path.
A noble practitioner keeps the right frame of mind, does not involve themselves in anything suspicious, and of course does not approach ascetic practices. Nor do they neglect their own practice by putting on the mask of artistic expression.
Of course, even a noble practitioner who has not yet attained awakening cannot possibly fully understand the fundamental teaching of Buddhism—that is, the law (Dharma)—and become convinced of it to the point that no questions whatsoever arise.
For this reason, a practitioner of the Buddhist path has no choice but to examine and judge the truth or falsity, right or wrong, and suitability or unsuitability of the teachings according to their own criteria of judgment, and then put them into practice.
The process of their practice thus involves a certain amount of twists and turns, but their clear insight makes their progress along the path one that proceeds straight toward Nirvana.
On the other hand, there is no guarantee that what one judges according to artistic sensibility, which is, so to speak, a sense based on human intelligence, corresponds to the truth. In fact, those who become attached to it run a greater risk of falling into a roundabout form of practice.
For a practitioner of the Buddhist path, what is important is not to refine some kind of sensibility, but to firmly accumulate merit. The merit thus accumulated leads to the refinement of clear insight and to discovering the signposts along the path.
Those who wish to know the truth would do well to know that awakening (= liberation) is a phenomenon brought about by that which is uncreated.
In this regard, the following principle of the Dharma can be found in the early Buddhist scriptures of Shakyamuni Buddha.
97 Do not believe anything as it is presented. Know the uncreated (= Nirvana), break the bonds of birth and death, engage (to do good or bad) in what is without reason, and abandon desires—such a person is truly the supreme person. (The Words of Truth, Dhammapada, Chapter 7: True Person, translated by Hajime Nakamura, Iwanami-Bunko)
383 O Brahmin, cut off the stream. Be courageous. Remove all desires. Having known the cessation of all phenomena, become one who knows the uncreated (= Nirvana). (The Words of Truth, Dhammapada, Chapter 26: The Brahmin, translated by Hajime Nakamura, Iwanami-Bunko)
21 Since there is that which is unborn, one should always speak of going forth from that which has arisen. If one contemplates the uncreated (= the Unconditioned), one is liberated from that which is created (= the conditioned). (Words of Inspiration –Udānavarga, Chapter 26: Tranquility (Nirvana), translated by Hajime Nakamura, Iwanami-Bunko)
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