從解脫道到菩薩道的實踐─以聖嚴法師 《三十七道品講記》詮釋為主=From the Fulfillment of Liberation Path to the Realization of Bodhisattva Path: Based on interpretation of the “Commentary on the Thirty-Seven Aids to Enlightenment” by Master Sheng-Yen
The “Thirty-Seven Aids to Enlightenment” is categorized within the Noble Truth of Path in the fundamental Buddhist teachings of the Four Noble Truths. That is composed of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, the Four Proper exertions, the Four Steps to Magical Powers, the Five Roots, the Five Powers, The Seven Factors of Enlightenment, and the Noble Eightfold Path. In Sravaka Buddhism, such practice leads to the Path of Liberation, in which by mastering these thirty-seven aids to enlightenment to cut off the arising of dukkha and to reach Nirvana. In the “Commentary on the Thirty-Seven Aids to Enlightenment”, Master Sheng-Yen introduced the thirty-seven aids respectively via understandable talks and emphasized on the practical fulfillment on daily basis. As a monk of Chinese Buddhism, Master Sheng-Yen further evolved these thirty-seven aids to ideas of Bodhisattva Path from a solid foundation of practice on the original Liberation-Path approach in early Buddhism. Such a development has turned this self-liberation based approach into a basis for altruistic perfection and been integrated in a progressive Chan teaching that is more feasible to be carried out in modern life and workable for the ordinary people. Based on the “Commentary on the Thirty-Seven Aids to Enlightenment”, this study will explore how Master Sheng-Yen connected the practice of Liberation Path with the realization of Bodhisattva Path and what the structure of this progressive Chan teaching is. Furthermore, this will lead to how Master Sheng-Yen performed the modernization of traditional Chinese Buddhism and integrated both the Liberation Path and Bodhisattva Path to demonstrate the self-enhancing and altruistic nature of Mahayana Buddhism and Chinese Chan Buddhism.
