聖嚴法師「建設人間淨土」的思想淵源，極為泓窈。本文針對「建設」、「人間」、「淨土」等內涵與要義，加以探索、反省，以利了解「建設人間淨土」之特色。聖嚴法師「建設人間淨土」的思想跟「一念心淨」有直接關係，這其中以宗承永明延壽的「一念成佛論」來論證人心的淨化；以紹述蕅益智旭的「現前一念心」來闡述實現人間淨土之可能性。永明延壽的「一念成佛論」是以華嚴宗的義理為依歸，蕅益的「現前一念心」則以天台為主，聖嚴法師結合二者，引出「人間淨土」的思想要義。因而我們著重於純哲學思辨的立場來考察聖嚴法師「建設人間淨土」的內涵，希望透過不斷抉發深層理論，以反映出聖嚴法師開拓社會關懷的一面。

Master Sheng Yen’s teaching on “Establishing a Pure Land on Earth in the Human Realm” is both subtle and profound in terms of Buddhist doctrine. This paper examines the uniqueness of the thought of “Establishing a Pure Land on Earth in the Human Realm” and focuses on the three key terms of “establishing,” “human realm,” and “pure land.” I argue that Master Sheng Yen’s notion of “Establishing a Pure Land on Earth in the Human Realm” is directly related to “A Single Moment of Purity” in Chinese Buddhism. Specifically, it is doctrinally grounded in Master Yongming Yanshou’s treatise on “Becoming Buddha in a Single Thought,” which expounds the effect of the purified mind. It inherits Master Ouyi Zhixu’s teaching on “A Single Manifest thought.” Master Yongming Yanshou’s thought is itself rooted in Huayan doctrine and Master Ouyi Zhixu’s thought is grounded in the Tiantai school. I argue that Master Sheng Yen synthesized the two masters’ thought to formulate his own movement of “Establishing a Pure Land on Earth in the Human Realm.” It is hoped that by investigating Master Sheng Yen’s intellectual thought through philosophical discourse that we may better appreciate the humanistic, caring side of his thought.