释迦牟尼晚年继承人选择困境及其结果考

On the Dilemma of Choosing a Successor in Shakyamuni's Later Years as well as Its Result

在印度原始佛教时期,释迦牟尼晚年围绕继承人问题的纷挠成为僧团内外一系列矛盾与问题的爆发点与关键所在,它不仅受到当时释种比丘与婆罗门比丘矛盾的掣肘,也与当时耆那教的斗争密切相关,并令佛陀左右为难,迟迟无法做出最终的决定。从今日的佛教史研究来看,由于佛典的记载对此段历史问题似乎有意极力回避,因而也就显得格外难以索解。在此,通过爬梳相关文献史料对这一佛教史实作出初步考证与研究,意在展现当时古代印度佛教界错综复杂的实际状况,并提出自己的一家之言。

In his old age,the issue of choosing a successor became a key flash point that ignited a series of internal and external conflicts and problems in the sangha. The issue was not only constrained by the conflicts between Shakya monks and Brahman monks,but also was closely related to the struggle between Buddhism and Jainism. The Buddha was in a dilemma and failed to make the final decision. The fact that the records in sutras seem to avoid this issue intentionally makes the issue particularly perplexing and complicated.This paper makes preliminary investigation by analyzing carefully documents and historical texts. It aims to reveal the actual situation in the ancient Buddhist circle in India and to put forward the author's own opinion.