《大毗婆沙论》中的极微说

Atomism in Abhidharma-mahāvibhāsā-a-strɑ

极微,又作极微尘,旧译邻虚尘。物质分析至极小不可再分之单位,称极微。极微说很早就产生了,并且广泛流行于古代印度。《大毗婆沙论》首次将极微说引入佛教,自此佛教对于极微开始了热烈的讨论。在此基础上,佛教的极微说日臻完善、系统。到了大乘阶段,唯识等亦是在批评和驳斥极微说的过程中逐步完善了自身的理论。可以说,极微说深刻地影响着佛教的思想,尤其是其世界观、时空观和涅槃观。

Atomism had been existed for a long time, and widely spread in ancient India. Abhidharma-mahavibhdsa-.~a-stra for the first time led the atomism into Buddhism. Then, Buddhism began to have a lively discussion about atomism. On the basis of this, atomism of Buddhism improved. And to the Mahayana phase, vijnapti-matrata and another Mahayana school graduallyim- proved its own theory on the process of disputation and comments on the atomism. It can be said that atomism had a profound im- pact on Buddhist thought, especially on its world view, the concept of space and Nirvana.