Tong Sau Lin is Visiting Lecturer at the Department of Cultural and Religious Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. This paper was presented at the International Seminar on Buddhism and Globalization held at Delhi University during February 17–19, 2010.
關鍵詞
Bodhisattva=菩薩; pluralism=多元主義; global citizen=世界公民
摘要
In this paper, the author focuses on one of the cornerstones of global citizenship, that is, recognition of social pluralism in different parts of an international society at large, and the Mahāyāna Buddhist position in response to this dimension. In the course of examination, the author’s focal point will be placed on the similarities and contrasts between the paradigms of pluralism viewed by Buddhist Bodhisattvas and world citizenship respectively, and how each of them may contribute in its own unique way to response to all sorts of confusions in our modern society. Toward the end of this paper, the author advocates that compassion, being the essential attitude of Mahāyāna Bodhisattvas, may elucidate a pragmatic path that enables social pluralistic consciousness to take root more easily.
