第四屆中華國際佛學會議 -- 「佛教與廿一世紀」=The Fourth Chung Hwa International Conference on Buddhism: The Role of Buddhism in the 21st Century
出版日期
2002.01.19
頁次
9
出版者
中華佛學研究所=The Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies
出版地
臺北縣, 臺灣 [Taipei hsien, Taiwan]
資料類型
會議論文=Proceeding Article
使用語言
中文=Chinese
附註項
第四屆中華國際佛學會議 -- 「佛教與廿一世紀」, 法鼓山中華佛學研究所主辦, 2002年1月18-20日, 中央研究院學術活動中心. The Fourth Chung Hwa International Conference on Buddhism：The Role of Buddhism in the 21st Century, Organized by Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies, DDMBA; January 18-20, 2002, Auditorium of Acemic Activity Center, Acemia Sinica.
關鍵詞
佛教與廿一世紀=Buddhism in 21st Century; 現代社會人生=Modern Social Human Life; 中國佛教特點=Characteristic of Chinese Buddhism; 重現世現生的人文精神=The Humanistic Spirit in Emphasizing Present World and Present Life
Abstract The long Chinese Buddhist culture has a history of 2000 years. The long existence of one cultural phenomenon has its profound certainty. The inner spirit of the culture and the needs of the social human life are the most important conditions of its existence. From the perspective of Chinese Buddhist culture，why it can continue to exist for 2000 years until today is because that it contains certain positive factors, which have certain significance and value to the practical social human life. Therefore，it is necessary and also possible to integrate modern society and human life in studying the main characteristics and basic spirit of Chinese Buddhism，revealing its essence，and making it a better service for modern society and human life.
As regards the characteristics of Chinese Buddhist thought，we can examine from different angles. For example，in its process of development，Chinese Buddhism forms up the theory of mind nature which is characterized by integrating the theory of prajna emptiness, and also occupies the mainstream status in Chinese Buddhist thought; Chinese Buddhism emphasizes on the theory of the equality of sentient beings that everybody has Buddha nature and can become the Buddha, and encourages everyone to rely on one's efforts in attaining liberation; Chinese Buddhism emphasizes on the intuitive thinking of "instantaneous enlightenment"; Chinese Buddhism prefers simplicity; Chinese Buddhism is ready to harmonize with the traditional thought and culture; Chinese Buddhism is harmonious within its different sects; the characteristic of Chinese Buddhism is Ch'an; Chinese Buddhism has close relation with society，politics and ethics; and so on. The most important characteristic and the most fundamental spirit of Chinese Buddhism is the concern with present world and present life. On one hand，Chinese Buddhism inherits the Buddha's basic spirit in teaching; on the other hand，within the atmosphere of traditional culture，Chinese Buddhism fully exert and develop the concern and affirmation to mankind or human life as hidden in Indian Buddhism. The Buddhist pursuit of eternal happiness for human life gains a new vitality in China where the practical social human life is much emphasized. From the perspective of history，within the cultural atmosphere of emphasizing human life with Confucianism and Taoism as the representatives of the traditional culture，Chinese Buddhism gradually obtains the character of practicality，enriches the humanistic spirit of traditional thought and culture，and works together with Confucianism and Taoism to perform different function within traditional culture with their own unique spirit.
Buddhism together with Confucianism and Taoism form up the three fundamental components of Chinese traditional thought and culture. The fact that their human life philosophy supplements each other is meaningful to the practical social human life and the nurture of personality. It is also worthy of emphasis that such doctrines as "understanding one's mind and seeing one's nature"，"returning to the original
