人間佛教生命教育的理念與實踐：以南華大學通識生命涵養課程為例=The Concept and the Practice in Life Education of Humanistic Buddhism: Taking “General Education Courses at Nanhua University” for Example
In this paper I explore the meaning of “life education” from the perspective of Master Xingyun’s (Hsing Yun) concept of “humanistic Buddhism” and in turn examine the latter in terms of dependent origination. This paper is divided into three parts: “Dependent Origination as the Essence of Life,” “Samsara as the Mark of Life,” and “The Force of Karma as the Energy of Life.” I also investigate how samsara is conceived as a manifestation of the force of karma, and how it comes to an end through the practice of the Eightfold Path, which entails engaging in good deeds, abstaining from evil, and reining in all actions of body, speech, and mind in daily life. I then describe how these concepts have been applied in three general education courses at Nanhua University: “Mindfulness, Meditation, and Self-awareness,” which focuses on the practice of mindfulness and meditation as a way of improving students’ concentration and learning ability; “Rituals for Adults—Introspecting on Life and Death,” in which lectures and ritual practices are used to highlight key issues relating to life and death; and “Service Education—Awakening to Life,” in which the life education component of the “Three Good Deeds” movement is used to emphasize the importance of putting into practice the motto “benefiting oneself and others.” I conclude by indicating how in addition to serving as a localized form of life education, Master Xingyun’s conception of humanistic Buddhism and life education have become the defining characteristics of the educational style at Nanhua University.
