三、現代的變體佛教
傳統的佛教、宗教的佛教、學術的佛教、邪門外道的佛教
目前這個世界上,佛教至少有四種不同的形式,同時出現在世間,所以把我們搞迷糊了。
第一、是剛才講的「傳統的佛教」,就是「佛陀教育」。釋迦牟尼佛原本就是這個樣子。但是傳統的佛教教育現在很少見了,其他的佛教,多少也都是變了質的。
Currently, there are at least five forms of Buddhism. The first form is the traditional Buddhism I have just discussed. It is the education of the Buddha’s teachings. This original form is rarely seen today. The other four forms are deviations of this one.
第二、是「宗教的佛教」。佛教本來不是宗教,現在變成宗教了。今天我們聽人家說佛教是宗教,我們也沒有辦法否認!為什麼呢?擺在外面的形式確確實實是宗教。不像從前的寺院叢林,每天上課八小時。現在你們看那個寺院上八個小時的課?古時候中國寺院每天上課八小時,修行八小時。修行有兩種方式,一種是坐禪,一種就是念佛。所以修行人每天用功十六個小時,解行相應。上課是聽講、研究討論,是理論上的;然後修清淨心,修覺、正、淨。每天有十六個小時在用功,妄念當然少了,所以成就很快。現在我們所見的佛教道場只是每天供供佛,修一點福報而已,佛教確實變成宗教了。
The second form is religious Buddhism. Although originally not a religion, it has become one in the past few hundred years. Today, it is difficult to deny this. Why? The external form of Buddhism today is indeed that of a religion. It is no longer the education found in a traditional way place where cultivators had up to sixteen hours a day for both lessons and cultivation. The lessons included listening to lectures and discussions. The cultivation session included either
Buddha name chanting or sitting meditation. Study and cultivation were used hand in hand to strive for the right and proper understanding and practice, to purify practitioner’s minds and to eventually attain the state of enlightenment.
Since the monks and nuns spent sixteen hours a day on study and cultivation, there was little time for discriminating or wandering thoughts, and so achievement could be attained relatively quickly. Unfortunately, this traditional form of Buddhism is seldom seen nowadays in way places for many of them have become a place to make offerings, to pray for blessings and to conduct memorial services. It is little wonder that people regard Buddhism as a religion.
第三、是「佛學」。佛教變成學術,變成哲學了。現在有些大學開「佛經哲學」這一門課,把佛的教法當作哲學研究。為什麼把佛教當作哲學來研究也錯了呢?諸位想想,佛教教育是一個完整的大學,所有的科系統統都包括了,現在只認定它是哲學部門,把它縮成這麼一點點,所以這也錯了。歐陽先生講得很好,佛教不是哲學,也不是宗教,佛法就是佛法,佛法是為一切眾生所必需。為什麼?它真正能幫助我們解決所有的問題,從現前的生活問題,到將來的生死大事,沒有一樣解決不了的。可見得佛教的教學內涵是非常精深廣大,認作學術也是變質。
The third form is philosophical or academic Buddhism often found as a course in college. This is inappropriate. Why? Buddhist education is a complete university in itself, including all branches of learning. But now it is reduced to merely a philosophical discipline. Regarding it as such, we miss the importance of the fact that the teachings are a necessity for all sentient beings. Why? Because these teachings can resolve all problems ranging from those in our current lives to those in the future, including even those of birth and death. Buddhism’s scope is broad and profound and regarding it as merely an academic field of study is frankly, another deviation. These two forms cause no serious harm to society. Religions try to encourage people to be good. Philosophy strives to pursue truth and to gain knowledge.
第四、是「邪門外道的佛教」。這是最近三四十年才出現的,那是非常的不幸。諸位要知道,宗教的佛教是勸善的,勸人做一個好人;學術的佛教追求真理、研究知識,對社會沒有多大的傷害;若是變成邪教,變成外道,利用人性的弱點,拿著佛法作招牌,欺騙眾生、傷害眾生、擾亂社會、危害大眾的安全,那是變質變得太不像話了,變得太過分了。這些邪門外道也有一些言詞、一些行為,很能吸引人、誘惑人。一旦涉入,等到事敗,知道吃虧上當,後悔就來不及了。
The fourth and most recent deviation is Buddhism as a show. It consists of a few hours of music, singing and dancing with a short talk in between. However, the fifth form is a deviation that has gone too far, that of the distortion of Buddhism into a cult. This deviated form has appeared in the last thirty to forty years. The exploitation of Buddhism by evil cults has gone too far. In the name of Buddhism, they take advantage of the weaknesses of human nature, creating chaos by cheating, and misleading people, endangering the safety of the public. Some of their propaganda and deeds can sound extremely enticing and appealing. However, if we join their activities, which doom us to ruin, by the time we realize our mistake, the damage will have already been done. It will then be too late to regret.
諸位同修,目前佛教在社會上有這四種,我們要把眼睛睜大,要看清楚、想明白,我們究竟要學那一種佛法,對於我們才真正有利益。
Therefore, we need to choose wisely which form to practice in order to receive the true benefits.
傳統的佛教、宗教的佛教、學術的佛教、邪門外道的佛教
目前這個世界上,佛教至少有四種不同的形式,同時出現在世間,所以把我們搞迷糊了。
第一、是剛才講的「傳統的佛教」,就是「佛陀教育」。釋迦牟尼佛原本就是這個樣子。但是傳統的佛教教育現在很少見了,其他的佛教,多少也都是變了質的。
Currently, there are at least five forms of Buddhism. The first form is the traditional Buddhism I have just discussed. It is the education of the Buddha’s teachings. This original form is rarely seen today. The other four forms are deviations of this one.
第二、是「宗教的佛教」。佛教本來不是宗教,現在變成宗教了。今天我們聽人家說佛教是宗教,我們也沒有辦法否認!為什麼呢?擺在外面的形式確確實實是宗教。不像從前的寺院叢林,每天上課八小時。現在你們看那個寺院上八個小時的課?古時候中國寺院每天上課八小時,修行八小時。修行有兩種方式,一種是坐禪,一種就是念佛。所以修行人每天用功十六個小時,解行相應。上課是聽講、研究討論,是理論上的;然後修清淨心,修覺、正、淨。每天有十六個小時在用功,妄念當然少了,所以成就很快。現在我們所見的佛教道場只是每天供供佛,修一點福報而已,佛教確實變成宗教了。
The second form is religious Buddhism. Although originally not a religion, it has become one in the past few hundred years. Today, it is difficult to deny this. Why? The external form of Buddhism today is indeed that of a religion. It is no longer the education found in a traditional way place where cultivators had up to sixteen hours a day for both lessons and cultivation. The lessons included listening to lectures and discussions. The cultivation session included either
Buddha name chanting or sitting meditation. Study and cultivation were used hand in hand to strive for the right and proper understanding and practice, to purify practitioner’s minds and to eventually attain the state of enlightenment.
Since the monks and nuns spent sixteen hours a day on study and cultivation, there was little time for discriminating or wandering thoughts, and so achievement could be attained relatively quickly. Unfortunately, this traditional form of Buddhism is seldom seen nowadays in way places for many of them have become a place to make offerings, to pray for blessings and to conduct memorial services. It is little wonder that people regard Buddhism as a religion.
第三、是「佛學」。佛教變成學術,變成哲學了。現在有些大學開「佛經哲學」這一門課,把佛的教法當作哲學研究。為什麼把佛教當作哲學來研究也錯了呢?諸位想想,佛教教育是一個完整的大學,所有的科系統統都包括了,現在只認定它是哲學部門,把它縮成這麼一點點,所以這也錯了。歐陽先生講得很好,佛教不是哲學,也不是宗教,佛法就是佛法,佛法是為一切眾生所必需。為什麼?它真正能幫助我們解決所有的問題,從現前的生活問題,到將來的生死大事,沒有一樣解決不了的。可見得佛教的教學內涵是非常精深廣大,認作學術也是變質。
The third form is philosophical or academic Buddhism often found as a course in college. This is inappropriate. Why? Buddhist education is a complete university in itself, including all branches of learning. But now it is reduced to merely a philosophical discipline. Regarding it as such, we miss the importance of the fact that the teachings are a necessity for all sentient beings. Why? Because these teachings can resolve all problems ranging from those in our current lives to those in the future, including even those of birth and death. Buddhism’s scope is broad and profound and regarding it as merely an academic field of study is frankly, another deviation. These two forms cause no serious harm to society. Religions try to encourage people to be good. Philosophy strives to pursue truth and to gain knowledge.
第四、是「邪門外道的佛教」。這是最近三四十年才出現的,那是非常的不幸。諸位要知道,宗教的佛教是勸善的,勸人做一個好人;學術的佛教追求真理、研究知識,對社會沒有多大的傷害;若是變成邪教,變成外道,利用人性的弱點,拿著佛法作招牌,欺騙眾生、傷害眾生、擾亂社會、危害大眾的安全,那是變質變得太不像話了,變得太過分了。這些邪門外道也有一些言詞、一些行為,很能吸引人、誘惑人。一旦涉入,等到事敗,知道吃虧上當,後悔就來不及了。
The fourth and most recent deviation is Buddhism as a show. It consists of a few hours of music, singing and dancing with a short talk in between. However, the fifth form is a deviation that has gone too far, that of the distortion of Buddhism into a cult. This deviated form has appeared in the last thirty to forty years. The exploitation of Buddhism by evil cults has gone too far. In the name of Buddhism, they take advantage of the weaknesses of human nature, creating chaos by cheating, and misleading people, endangering the safety of the public. Some of their propaganda and deeds can sound extremely enticing and appealing. However, if we join their activities, which doom us to ruin, by the time we realize our mistake, the damage will have already been done. It will then be too late to regret.
諸位同修,目前佛教在社會上有這四種,我們要把眼睛睜大,要看清楚、想明白,我們究竟要學那一種佛法,對於我們才真正有利益。
Therefore, we need to choose wisely which form to practice in order to receive the true benefits.