當代中、越佛教尼眾僧團異同之研究 -- 以佛學院的出家女眾為中心 =The Study of the Semilarities and Differences of the Buddhist Bhikkhunis Who Are Educated in Monastic Institutes between China and VietNam in Modern Time
釋尊成道後在鹿野苑初轉法輪,收了憍陳如等五位弟子,形成最初的僧團,經過四、五次吸收徒眾,就發展到一千二百多人,組成了所謂常隨佛眾的“一千二百五十人俱”的龐大僧團。後來由於阿難尊者的請求,佛陀以遵守八敬法為條件允許姨母及五百釋女加入僧團,從此尼眾僧團便隨之成立。 到部派佛教時,從經典到制度,均非常歧視女性,視女性為不凈染污的來源,對比丘的修行形成威脅和障礙。由於對女身染穢的看法根深柢固,所以必須是男身才能證得佛果。根據小乘的觀點,女性之所以為修行者所拒斥,主要是因為女性在傳統文化上被視為情慾的化身而形成其特重比丘戒的特點。大乘佛教經典對女性的看法就有顯著的改觀,對女性能否成佛的立場也逐漸修正,初期大乘經典就出現有能力神通變化轉身為男性的女性菩薩,然而轉身成佛的觀念顯然不夠徹底,必須進一步破除男女身見,所以晚期如來藏系思想則承認眾生皆有如來藏性,不因性別而有所差異,是以女性可以女身而成佛,這是對女性證悟能力最積極肯定的態度。 繼承釋尊的教法諸聖弟子把他的法話傳播到各地。於公元前後佛教傳入中國,與此同時佛教也進入越南。到公元五世紀中國佛教尼眾僧團才成立,越南是一個久經戰亂的國家,佛教也隨著... After attaining enlightenment, Sakyamuni Buddha accepted the five Kondanna brothers as his first disciples while the first time setting the Dharma wheel in motion at Deer Park (Benaras). From then, a Buddhist sangha was formed. Later many more were accepted and the number of sangha members increased to 1,250. When Ananda recommended the step mother of the Buddha, Mahapajapati, to become a Bhikkhuni, the Buddha accepted that request, but He ordered that they should completely follow the 8 unsurpa...
