四、佛陀教育的目標
﹝一﹞佛教的學位制度
The Buddhist Educational System
佛教既然是教育,它的教育目的是什麼?佛在許多的經論中,常常講到「阿耨多羅三藐三菩提」,這是梵文音譯,尊重所以不翻;這是佛教教學的總目標,翻成中文是「無上正等正覺」。可以將它分為三個階段說明:第一、是「正覺」。第二、是「正等正覺」。第三、是「無上正等正覺」。
What is the ultimate goal of the Buddha’s teachings? It is to attain the Perfect, Complete Enlightenment. Transliterated from Sanskrit, it is called Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Out of respect, this phrase was maintained in its original form rather than translated. There are three stages within this enlightenment: “Proper Enlightenment”, “Equal and Proper Enlightenment”, and “Perfect, Complete Enlightenment”.
世尊告訴我們,世間人對於宇宙人生也有覺悟,只是覺悟不圓滿。像科學家、哲學家、宗教家,對於世間事理他確實知道不少,但是不能算「正覺」。為什麼不稱他為正覺呢?因為他雖覺悟,但是他的煩惱沒有斷,他還有貪、瞋、癡、慢,還有是非、人我。換句話說,他還是凡夫,不是聖人,所以不能稱為正覺。
The Buddha told us, that although scientists, philosophers and religious scholars may have reached a good understanding about life and the universe, this realization is neither complete nor proper. Why? Although they have obtained some understanding, they are far from having freedom from worries, from ending their afflictions. They still indulge themselves in the Five Poisons of greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance and doubt. They remain mired in all the troubles of human relationships and are swayed by personal feelings. In other words, they are human.
如果是貪、瞋、癡、慢,人我、是非、煩惱,都斷盡了,沒有煩惱了,佛就承認這個人是「正覺」,他得到了「正覺」的學位;佛教裡面稱他為「阿羅漢」,這是最低的一個學位。阿羅漢以上的學位稱為「正等正覺」,「等」是等於佛,但還沒有成佛。「等」是指他用的心跟佛用的心是一樣的。由此可知,阿羅漢用的心跟佛不一樣,阿羅漢用的心跟我們是一樣的,差的是我們有煩惱,他沒有煩惱,這個心在佛法裡面叫「識心」,就是假的心,不是真心。我們用的心都是假的,都是妄心。所以人與人之間往來,不要太認真,今天別人對你好,要知道是假的,不是真的。面對虛情假意,不可以當真;當真,你就生煩惱了。再看世間人今天說愛,明天就離婚了,這成什麼話呢?可見這不是真的!菩薩用心是真的,真心是永遠不變的。佛用真心,菩薩也用真心;佛用的是「圓滿的真心」,菩薩是「分證的真心」。
If a person has severed greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, doubt and afflictions, it will be acknowledged that this person has attained the first level, that of Proper Enlightenment. He or she will be called an Arhat, similar to the initial academic degree in Buddhism. Arhats differ from Buddhas in the way that they use their mind. They use it in the same manner we do. The difference is that we still have afflictions while Arhats do not.
The next higher level of enlightenment is that of Equal and Proper
Enlightenment, represented by Bodhisattvas. They resemble Buddhas in motivation but have not yet reached the same level of enlightenment. The minds of Bodhisattvas are genuine; they remain forever unchanged and are similar to those of Buddhas. Buddhas use the full and perfect true heart. Buddhas represent the highest level of enlightenment, which is the Perfect Complete Enlightenment.
佛在經上用月亮來做比喻,十五的滿月比喻佛的心。菩薩的心呢?像初三、初四的月牙。你看月牙上的月光,那個光是真的?還是假的?真的!一點也不假,只是不圓滿而已!所以說初三、初四,一直到十四,都是菩薩心,他是真心,但沒有圓滿,我們稱為「正等正覺」。阿羅漢與辟支佛用的心,好像是水裡的月亮,鏡子裡的月亮,叫鏡花水月,都不是真的。從用心上看,菩薩的心跟佛的心很相似、很接近,是真的,不是假的;所以縱然是初住菩薩,剛剛破一品無明,證一分法身,他用的心就是真心,絕對沒有虛妄,這叫「正等正覺」。修學得到正等正覺,這個學位稱為「菩薩」。
In Buddhist classic literature, the perfect, true mind of a Buddha was symbolized by a full moon. The mind of a Bodhisattva was symbolized by a crescent moon, which was neither full nor perfect. And the mind of an arhat was symbolized by moonlight reflected from the surface of water, it is not real.
阿羅漢好比是學士,菩薩好比是碩士,佛好比是博士。所以「佛」是通稱,不是釋迦牟尼佛一個人獨稱;任何人智慧達到究竟圓滿,就是真心圓證,就稱之為佛。佛所證得的是「無上正等正覺」。所以佛、菩薩、阿羅漢是佛教學位的名稱,他們都是人,不是神仙,諸位千萬不要把他們神格化了!
These three levels of enlightenment can be compared to our college educational system. The level or degree of Arhat is similar to earning an undergraduate degree. The level of Bodhisattva is similar to earning a Master’s degree and the level of Buddha is similar to earning a Doctorate’s degree. The word Buddha is not exclusive to Buddha Shakyamuni, but is a common title for any being who has
attained the perfect complete enlightenment. Thus, Buddha, Bodhisattva and Arhat are only names or titles to represent the levels of enlightenment or a degree we receive in Buddhism. And they are most certainly not deities to be worshiped.
總之,佛是覺了宇宙人生的真相,擁有究竟圓滿的智慧,這也是佛教教學的目標。所以佛法是智慧的教育、智慧的教學。
So, a Buddha is one who has fully comprehended the truth of life and the universe and acquired the ultimate and perfect wisdom. This is also the goal of Buddhist education; to enable beings to attain this same level of wisdom. Therefore, Buddhism is an education of wisdom.
(二)佛教的教學目標
The Objectives of the Buddha’s Teachings
佛教教學的方針是徹底破除「迷信」。佛門常講:「破迷開悟,離苦得樂。」迷是什麼呢?對自己、對生活環境的真相不了解。因為不了解真相,往往就看錯了,也想錯了;看錯、想錯,也就做錯。做錯的結果就是苦啊!如果一個人對於宇宙人生的真相能夠真正理解,沒想錯、沒看錯、沒做錯,所得的結果一定是快樂。所以「破迷開悟」,是從因上說;「離苦得樂」,是從果上說。
The principle of Buddhism is to break through all superstitions and delusions. It is to resolve delusion to attain happiness and enlightenment, to eliminate suffering to gain serenity and purity of mind. What is delusion? When we do not thoroughly and properly understand the phenomenon around us, we tend to be deluded, to have wrong ideas, which lead us to make mistakes. Then we suffer ill
consequences as a result. However, if we have correct understanding about life and the universe, we will be free from mistakes in thought, judgement and behavior. Then our result, or effect, will be favorable. Thus, resolving delusion to attain enlightenment is the cause and eliminating suffering to attain happiness and purity is the effect.
為達到這個目的,佛教教學的方針是「破除迷信,啟發真正的智慧」,讓我們有能力在現實環境裡辨別:真、妄、邪、正、是、非,乃至於善、惡、利、害。然後再幫助一切眾生建立理智、大覺、奮發、進取、樂觀、向上的慈悲濟世的宇宙人生觀。可見佛教既不消極,也不落伍,是能給我們真實利益的。無量壽經上講:佛教是圓滿的幫助我們解決眾生一切苦難的問題,讓我們每個人在這一生中得到幸福快樂、家庭美滿、社會和諧、國家富強、世界大同。這就是佛教在我們世間的目標,至於往後的目標--斷煩惱、出三界--,殊勝的利益,就更不可思議了。所以大家要認清楚,佛法是教學,是真的能讓我們得到真、善、美、慧,永恆真實幸福的教育成
Only through resolving superstition and delusion, can enlightenment be attained. This is the objective of the Buddha’s teaching. This wisdom will enable all beings to differentiate true from false, proper from improper, right from wrong and good
from bad. It can help us to establish a dynamic and caring attitude toward life and our surroundings. So, we can clearly see that Buddhism is neither passive nor obsolete, nor is it retreating from society. As said in the Buddha Speaks of the Infinite Life Sutra of Adornment, Purity, Equality and Enlightenment of the Mahayana School or the Infinite Life Sutra, Buddhism can perfectly solve all
afflictions and problems. It enables us to obtain true and ultimate benefits by creating fulfilling lives, happy families, harmonious societies, prosperous nations and a peaceful world. These are the objectives of the Buddha’s teachings for our world now. The ultimate objectives of abandoning all worries thus transcending the six realms are even more incredibly wonderful. Therefore, we can see that it is an education that will enable us to attain truth, virtue,
beauty, wisdom and genuine eternal happiness.
﹝一﹞佛教的學位制度
The Buddhist Educational System
佛教既然是教育,它的教育目的是什麼?佛在許多的經論中,常常講到「阿耨多羅三藐三菩提」,這是梵文音譯,尊重所以不翻;這是佛教教學的總目標,翻成中文是「無上正等正覺」。可以將它分為三個階段說明:第一、是「正覺」。第二、是「正等正覺」。第三、是「無上正等正覺」。
What is the ultimate goal of the Buddha’s teachings? It is to attain the Perfect, Complete Enlightenment. Transliterated from Sanskrit, it is called Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Out of respect, this phrase was maintained in its original form rather than translated. There are three stages within this enlightenment: “Proper Enlightenment”, “Equal and Proper Enlightenment”, and “Perfect, Complete Enlightenment”.
世尊告訴我們,世間人對於宇宙人生也有覺悟,只是覺悟不圓滿。像科學家、哲學家、宗教家,對於世間事理他確實知道不少,但是不能算「正覺」。為什麼不稱他為正覺呢?因為他雖覺悟,但是他的煩惱沒有斷,他還有貪、瞋、癡、慢,還有是非、人我。換句話說,他還是凡夫,不是聖人,所以不能稱為正覺。
The Buddha told us, that although scientists, philosophers and religious scholars may have reached a good understanding about life and the universe, this realization is neither complete nor proper. Why? Although they have obtained some understanding, they are far from having freedom from worries, from ending their afflictions. They still indulge themselves in the Five Poisons of greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance and doubt. They remain mired in all the troubles of human relationships and are swayed by personal feelings. In other words, they are human.
如果是貪、瞋、癡、慢,人我、是非、煩惱,都斷盡了,沒有煩惱了,佛就承認這個人是「正覺」,他得到了「正覺」的學位;佛教裡面稱他為「阿羅漢」,這是最低的一個學位。阿羅漢以上的學位稱為「正等正覺」,「等」是等於佛,但還沒有成佛。「等」是指他用的心跟佛用的心是一樣的。由此可知,阿羅漢用的心跟佛不一樣,阿羅漢用的心跟我們是一樣的,差的是我們有煩惱,他沒有煩惱,這個心在佛法裡面叫「識心」,就是假的心,不是真心。我們用的心都是假的,都是妄心。所以人與人之間往來,不要太認真,今天別人對你好,要知道是假的,不是真的。面對虛情假意,不可以當真;當真,你就生煩惱了。再看世間人今天說愛,明天就離婚了,這成什麼話呢?可見這不是真的!菩薩用心是真的,真心是永遠不變的。佛用真心,菩薩也用真心;佛用的是「圓滿的真心」,菩薩是「分證的真心」。
If a person has severed greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, doubt and afflictions, it will be acknowledged that this person has attained the first level, that of Proper Enlightenment. He or she will be called an Arhat, similar to the initial academic degree in Buddhism. Arhats differ from Buddhas in the way that they use their mind. They use it in the same manner we do. The difference is that we still have afflictions while Arhats do not.
The next higher level of enlightenment is that of Equal and Proper
Enlightenment, represented by Bodhisattvas. They resemble Buddhas in motivation but have not yet reached the same level of enlightenment. The minds of Bodhisattvas are genuine; they remain forever unchanged and are similar to those of Buddhas. Buddhas use the full and perfect true heart. Buddhas represent the highest level of enlightenment, which is the Perfect Complete Enlightenment.
佛在經上用月亮來做比喻,十五的滿月比喻佛的心。菩薩的心呢?像初三、初四的月牙。你看月牙上的月光,那個光是真的?還是假的?真的!一點也不假,只是不圓滿而已!所以說初三、初四,一直到十四,都是菩薩心,他是真心,但沒有圓滿,我們稱為「正等正覺」。阿羅漢與辟支佛用的心,好像是水裡的月亮,鏡子裡的月亮,叫鏡花水月,都不是真的。從用心上看,菩薩的心跟佛的心很相似、很接近,是真的,不是假的;所以縱然是初住菩薩,剛剛破一品無明,證一分法身,他用的心就是真心,絕對沒有虛妄,這叫「正等正覺」。修學得到正等正覺,這個學位稱為「菩薩」。
In Buddhist classic literature, the perfect, true mind of a Buddha was symbolized by a full moon. The mind of a Bodhisattva was symbolized by a crescent moon, which was neither full nor perfect. And the mind of an arhat was symbolized by moonlight reflected from the surface of water, it is not real.
阿羅漢好比是學士,菩薩好比是碩士,佛好比是博士。所以「佛」是通稱,不是釋迦牟尼佛一個人獨稱;任何人智慧達到究竟圓滿,就是真心圓證,就稱之為佛。佛所證得的是「無上正等正覺」。所以佛、菩薩、阿羅漢是佛教學位的名稱,他們都是人,不是神仙,諸位千萬不要把他們神格化了!
These three levels of enlightenment can be compared to our college educational system. The level or degree of Arhat is similar to earning an undergraduate degree. The level of Bodhisattva is similar to earning a Master’s degree and the level of Buddha is similar to earning a Doctorate’s degree. The word Buddha is not exclusive to Buddha Shakyamuni, but is a common title for any being who has
attained the perfect complete enlightenment. Thus, Buddha, Bodhisattva and Arhat are only names or titles to represent the levels of enlightenment or a degree we receive in Buddhism. And they are most certainly not deities to be worshiped.
總之,佛是覺了宇宙人生的真相,擁有究竟圓滿的智慧,這也是佛教教學的目標。所以佛法是智慧的教育、智慧的教學。
So, a Buddha is one who has fully comprehended the truth of life and the universe and acquired the ultimate and perfect wisdom. This is also the goal of Buddhist education; to enable beings to attain this same level of wisdom. Therefore, Buddhism is an education of wisdom.
(二)佛教的教學目標
The Objectives of the Buddha’s Teachings
佛教教學的方針是徹底破除「迷信」。佛門常講:「破迷開悟,離苦得樂。」迷是什麼呢?對自己、對生活環境的真相不了解。因為不了解真相,往往就看錯了,也想錯了;看錯、想錯,也就做錯。做錯的結果就是苦啊!如果一個人對於宇宙人生的真相能夠真正理解,沒想錯、沒看錯、沒做錯,所得的結果一定是快樂。所以「破迷開悟」,是從因上說;「離苦得樂」,是從果上說。
The principle of Buddhism is to break through all superstitions and delusions. It is to resolve delusion to attain happiness and enlightenment, to eliminate suffering to gain serenity and purity of mind. What is delusion? When we do not thoroughly and properly understand the phenomenon around us, we tend to be deluded, to have wrong ideas, which lead us to make mistakes. Then we suffer ill
consequences as a result. However, if we have correct understanding about life and the universe, we will be free from mistakes in thought, judgement and behavior. Then our result, or effect, will be favorable. Thus, resolving delusion to attain enlightenment is the cause and eliminating suffering to attain happiness and purity is the effect.
為達到這個目的,佛教教學的方針是「破除迷信,啟發真正的智慧」,讓我們有能力在現實環境裡辨別:真、妄、邪、正、是、非,乃至於善、惡、利、害。然後再幫助一切眾生建立理智、大覺、奮發、進取、樂觀、向上的慈悲濟世的宇宙人生觀。可見佛教既不消極,也不落伍,是能給我們真實利益的。無量壽經上講:佛教是圓滿的幫助我們解決眾生一切苦難的問題,讓我們每個人在這一生中得到幸福快樂、家庭美滿、社會和諧、國家富強、世界大同。這就是佛教在我們世間的目標,至於往後的目標--斷煩惱、出三界--,殊勝的利益,就更不可思議了。所以大家要認清楚,佛法是教學,是真的能讓我們得到真、善、美、慧,永恆真實幸福的教育成
Only through resolving superstition and delusion, can enlightenment be attained. This is the objective of the Buddha’s teaching. This wisdom will enable all beings to differentiate true from false, proper from improper, right from wrong and good
from bad. It can help us to establish a dynamic and caring attitude toward life and our surroundings. So, we can clearly see that Buddhism is neither passive nor obsolete, nor is it retreating from society. As said in the Buddha Speaks of the Infinite Life Sutra of Adornment, Purity, Equality and Enlightenment of the Mahayana School or the Infinite Life Sutra, Buddhism can perfectly solve all
afflictions and problems. It enables us to obtain true and ultimate benefits by creating fulfilling lives, happy families, harmonious societies, prosperous nations and a peaceful world. These are the objectives of the Buddha’s teachings for our world now. The ultimate objectives of abandoning all worries thus transcending the six realms are even more incredibly wonderful. Therefore, we can see that it is an education that will enable us to attain truth, virtue,
beauty, wisdom and genuine eternal happiness.