「人類為本」與「衆生平等」-- 印順法師「人間佛教」觀點下的動物保護="Anthropocentricity" and "Equality of All Sentient Beings" : Animal Protection from Ven. Yinshun's "Humanistic Buddhism" Point of View
Ven. Yinshun's "Humanistic Buddhism" has repeatedly emphasized on "human- based" Buddha-Dharma, but does this "human-based Dharma" fall into the human-centered chauvinism? Is it consistent with the Buddhist maxim "all sentient beings are equal", or impedimental to the promotion of animal protection?-these are the main questions I plan to discuss in this article. Firstly I interpreted Ven. Yinshun's emphasis upon human world and human beings in his ideas of "Humanistic Buddhism". Secondly I pointed out that there are two ways of justification for animal protection in Buddhism, one is the theory of Dependent Arising (pratītya-samutpāda) and the other is the doctrine of Buddha Nature (tathāgatagarbha) . By contrast to the ontological assumption of "endowment of animal rights via tathāgatagarbha", Ven. Yinshun's "Humanistic Buddhism" lay more stress on the theory of Dependent Arising, justifying "all sentient beings are equal" from equality of sensitive feeling, equality of Dharma nature, and equality of the potentiality to achieve Buddhahood. Thirdly, under the doctrines of "dependent arising and emptiness", Ven. Yinshun's "Humanistic Buddhism" placed importance on "human duty" rather than "animal rights", suggesting that in pursuit of the value of human goodness animal protection is compulsory. Lastly, I argued that Ven. Yinshun's "Humanistic Buddhism" on animal protection indeed had a higher goal and concern, including care of suffering, nurture of compassion, encouragement of spiritual life and even realization of nirvana.
