---
title: 偶像崇拜 Are Buddhists Idol Worshippers?
description: "Buddhists are not idol worshippers but ideal worshippers."
---

Are Buddhists Idol Worshippers?

偶像崇拜

Buddhists are not idol worshippers but ideal worshippers.

佛教徒不崇拜偶像，佛教徒是理想的崇拜者。

Although it is customary amongst Buddhists to keep Buddha images and to pay their respects to the Buddha, Buddhists are not idol worshippers. Idolatry generally means erecting images of unknown gods and goddesses in various shapes and sizes and to pray directly to these images. The prayers are a request to the gods for guidance and protection. The gods and goddesses are asked to bestow health, wealth, property and to provide for various needs; they are asked to forgive transgressions.

習慣上，佛教徒都供奉佛陀的塑像或畫像來表示對佛陀的崇敬，但是，佛教徒並不是偶像崇拜者。偶像崇拜，一般指人們以各式各樣，不知名的男女神祇的塑像或畫像，做為禱告的對象。禱告的人要求神祇指引和保護他們，他們祈求這些被供奉的神祇賜予他們健康、財富和各種需要，他們也要求神祇為他們贖罪。

The 'worshipping' at the Buddha image is quite a different matter. Buddhists revere the image of the Buddha as a gesture to the greatest, wisest, most benevolent, compassionate and holy man who has ever lived in this world. It is a historical fact that this great man actually lived in this world and has done a great service to mankind. The worship of the Buddha really means paying homage, veneration and devotion to Him and what He represents, and not to the stone or metal figure.

禮拜偶像的意義與崇拜神祇偶像不同。佛教徒尊敬佛陀，禮拜佛像是為了紀念這位世界最偉大、最有智慧、最仁慈、最高貴，曾經為人類做出巨大貢獻的「人」。這位偉人曾經生活在這世間，他是一位歷史人物，曾經為人類無私的奉獻一切。禮拜佛像是為了對佛陀表示尊敬、瞻仰和懷念佛陀，而不是對木雕、石刻或金屬塑造的偶像進行膜拜。

The image is a visual aid that helps one to recall the Buddha in the mind and to remember His great qualities which inspired millions of people from generation to generation throughout the civilized world. Buddhists use the statue as a symbol and as an object of concentration to gain a peace of mind. When Buddhists look upon the image of the Buddha, they put aside thoughts of strife and think only of peace, serenity, calmness and tranquillity. The statue enables the mind to recall this great man and inspires devotees to follow His example and instructions. In their mind, the devout Buddhists feel the living presence of the Master. This feeling makes their act of worship become vivid and significant. The serenity of the Buddha image influences and inspires them to observe the right path of conduct and thought.

佛陀的塑像或畫像，有助于人們記憶佛陀，追思佛陀那偉大的人格和他對文明世界數千萬人，一代又一代的影響。佛教徒把佛像當作一種象徵，專注的觀想佛像來獲得心靈的寧靜和安詳。當佛教徒在觀想佛像時，他們放下困擾他們的雜念，進入專一、平靜、虔誠、寧靜和安定的狀況。佛像能激發人們生起追思佛陀功績的信念，並熱忱的追隨佛陀的典范和他的教誨。在虔誠佛教徒心中，他們在感覺，佛陀就活靈活現的出現在他們眼前。這種心念，使他們生起禮拜佛像的動機，禮拜佛像也就變得有意義了。佛像的莊嚴肅穆，影響和激發人類追隨佛陀正道的思想和正確的行為。

An understanding Buddhist never asks favours from the image nor does he request forgiveness for evil deeds committed. An understanding Buddhist tries to control his mind, to follow the Buddha's advice, to get rid of worldly miseries and to find his salvation.

一個有悟性的佛教徒，決不會向佛像祈求恩賜或贖罪。一個有理性的佛教徒，懂得控制自己的心識，遵從佛陀的教誨，棄除世俗的煩惱，尋求解脫之道。

Those who criticize Buddhists for practising idol worship are really misinterpreting what Buddhists do. If people can keep the photographs of their parents and grandparents to cherish in their memory, if people can keep the photographs of kings, queens, prime ministers, great heroes, philosophers, and poets, there is certainly no reason why Buddhists cannot keep their beloved Master's picture or image to remember and respect Him.

那些批評佛教徒崇拜偶像的人，是誤解了佛教徒的行為。假使一個人可以保留他去世父母的肖像做為紀念，假使人們可以保留那些大英雄、大思想家、哲學家、科學家的肖像或塑像，我們就沒有理由說，佛教徒不能保留他們所尊敬的導師的肖像或塑像來作為紀念。

What harm is there if people recite some verses praising the great qualities of their Master? If people can lay wreaths on the graves of beloved ones to express their gratitude, what harm is there is Buddhists too offer some flowers, joss-sticks, incense, etc., to their beloved Teacher who devoted His life to help suffering humanity? People make statues of certain conquering heroes who were in fact murderers and who were responsible for the death of millions of innocent people. For the sake of power, these conquerors committed murder with hatred, cruelty and greed. They invaded poor countries and created untold suffering by taking away lands and properties of others, and causing much destruction. Many of these conquerors are regarded as national heroes; memorial services are conducted for them and flowers are offered on their graves and tombs. What is wrong then, if Buddhists pay their respects to their world honored Teacher who sacrificed His worldly pleasures for the sake of Enlightenment to show others the Path of Salvation?

假使有人創作一些詩歌來歌頌他的老師，這有什麼錯呢？假使有人把花環放置在所愛的人的墳墓表示思念，這又有什麼錯呢？假使佛教徒供養鮮花給所敬愛的導師——一位奉獻生命，協助人類脫離苦難的人，這又錯在那里呢？相反的，人類卻為戰爭英雄塑造雕像──他們是真正的謀殺者，要對成千上萬人民的死負責。為了權力，這些征服者，不惜以嗔恚、貪婪、殘酷去謀殺。他們侵略弱國，奪取他人的國土和財產，造成數不盡的痛苦和莫大的破壞，這種人竟然成為民族英雄，為了紀念他們的行徑，人們為他們塑像、修墳和獻花。難道說，佛教徒尊敬那位為世間犧牲一切，指導他們如何獲得解脫的導師，是一種錯誤的行為嗎？

Images are the language of the subconscious. Therefore, the image of the Enlightened One is often created within one's mind as the embodiment of perfection, the image will deeply penetrate into the subconscious mind and (if it is sufficiently strong enough)can act as an automatic brake against impulses. The recollection of the Buddha produces joy, invigorate the mind and elevates man from states of restlessness, tension and frustration. Thus the worship of the Buddha is not a prayer in its usual sense but a meditation. Therefore, it is not idol worship, but 'ideal' worship. Thus Buddhists can find fresh strength to build a shrine of their lives. They cleanse their hearts until they feel worthy to bear the image in their innermost shrine. Buddhists pay respects to the great person who is represented by the image. They try to gain inspiration from His Noble personality and emulate Him. Buddhists do not see the Buddha image as a dead idol of wood or metal or clay. The image represents something vibrant to those who understand and are purified in thought, word and deed.

形象是一種潛在的語言。因此，大覺悟者的形象經常可以在虔誠的信徒心中完美的創造出來。形象能深入我們的意識，能夠對沖動起制約作用。追思佛陀，使我們產生愉悅、鼓舞的心情，使我們從不安、緊張和挫折中解放出來。這樣一來，禮拜佛像不是一種祈禱儀式而是一種禪定修行了。因此，佛教徒不是在崇拜偶像而是在崇拜理想。佛教徒也因此發現一種鮮明的力量，引導他們去建造自己生命的神龕。他們淨化了他們自己的心，一直到把神聖的形像牢固的鑲嵌在他們心靈的最深處。佛教徒尊敬偉人，以圖像來代表他，佛教徒想從他偉大的人格中獲得啟示，並把他當作楷模。佛教徒不把佛像當作是木頭、金屬制造而沒有生命的偶像，佛像是代表緣起法和淨化身、語、意三行的生命動力。

The Buddha images are nothing more than symbolic representations of His great qualities. It is not unnatural that the deep respect for the Buddha should be expressed in some of the finest and most beautiful forms of art and sculpture the world has ever known. It is difficult to understand why some people look down on those who pay respect to images which represent holy religious teachers.

佛像是佛陀偉大人格的象徵。藝術家們以精湛的技藝，優美的藝術語言來重現佛陀高尚的人格，以表示對佛陀的尊敬。這是自然不過的事，為什麼還是有人看低這些代表崇高導師的圖像，真是令人費解。

The calm and serene image of the Buddha has been a common concept of ideal beauty. The Buddha's image is the most precious, common asset of Asian cultures. Without the image of the Buddha, where can we find a serene, radiant and spiritually emancipated personality?

肅穆和清晰的佛像，已經被當作是理想美的象徵，佛像是亞洲文化最珍貴的共同財產。如果沒有佛像，我們到哪里去找肅穆、清晰、散發熱力和心靈高度發展的人格呢？亞洲如果沒有佛像，無論它多麼高度的發展，都只是一個地理名詞而已。

But the image of the Buddha is appreciated not only by Asian or Buddhists. Anatole France in his autobiography writes, 'On the first of May, 1890, chance led me to visit the Museum in Paris. There standing in the silence and simplicity of the gods of Asia, my eyes fell on the statue of the Buddha who beckoned to suffering humanity to develop understanding and compassion. If ever a god walked on this earth, I felt here was He. I felt like kneeling down to Him and praying to Him as to a God.

佛像不止受到亞洲人和佛教徒所欣賞。法國小說家，諾貝爾獎得主 A.法拉西，在他的自傳中寫道： 「一八九零年五月一日，我有機會參觀巴黎博物館，那里豎立了很多肅穆而清晰的亞洲佛像，當我的雙眼和這些佛像接觸時，感受到他在向受難的人類展開智慧和慈悲的雙手，如果世界真的有神來過，我覺得就是他，我真想跪下來，如同向上帝禱告般的向他傾訴。」

Once a general left an image of the Buddha as a legacy to Winston Churchill. The general said, 'if ever your mind gets perturbed and perplexed, I want you to see this image and be comforted.' What is it that makes the message of the Buddha so attractive to people who have cultivated their intellect? Perhaps the answer can be seen in the serenity of the image of the Buddha.

有一回，一位將軍送了一尊佛像給當時英國的首相邱吉爾，並對邱吉爾說：「如果你心中受到騷擾和困窘時，只要注視這尊佛像，你就會獲得舒展。」為什麼佛像所傳達的信息，會被知識份子接受到呢？或許是從佛像中看到那肅穆和清晰的一面吧！

Not only in color and line did men express their faith in the Buddha and the graciousness of His Teaching. Human hands wrought in metal and stone to produce the Buddha image that is one of the greatest creations of the human genius. Witness the famous image in the Abhayagiri Vihara in Sri Lanka, or the Buddha image of Sarnath or the celebrated images of Borobudur. The eyes are full of compassion and the hands express fearlessness, or goodwill and blessings, or they unravel some thread of thought or call the earth to witness His great search for Truth. Wherever the Dhamma went, the image of the great Teacher went with it, not only as an object of worship but also as an object of meditation and reverence. 'I known nothing,'says Keyserling,' more grand in this world than the figure of the Buddha. It is an absolutely perfect embodiment of spirituality in the visible domain.'

人們不僅用線條和色彩勾畫出對佛陀卓越教義的信念，同時也以金屬、石頭等素材來從事偉大的藝術創作。斯里蘭卡阿巴耶精舍的佛像、印度沙拉的佛像、印度婆羅佛屠的佛像，這些佛像的眼睛里都充滿了慈愛的光輝，雙手展現了無畏、善良和祝福。他們經歷了漫長的道路，見證了人類最偉大的思想，好像在呼籲人類前來瞻仰他們，同時也探索那偉大的真理。不管佛法到何處，佛像也跟到何處，佛像不僅是膜拜的對象，也是禪定和尊敬的對象。

德國哲學家凱瑟琳說：「世界上沒有比佛像更珍貴的東西，佛像是肉眼可以看見的世界中一個絕對完美的精神領域的實現。」

A life so beautiful, a heart so pure and kind, a mind so deep and enlightened, a personality so inspiring and selfless; such a perfect life, such a compassionate heart, such a calm mind, such a serene personality is really worthy of respect, worthy of honour and worthy of offering. The Buddha is the highest perfection of mankind.

生命是多麼的美好，心地是多麼的純淨和善良，心識是多麼的深邃和充滿悟性，本性是多麼的大公無私──如此完美的生命，如此慈悲的心，如此寧靜的心識，如此協調的本性，實在值得我們敬佩，值得我們榮耀和供奉。佛陀是這世間最完美的人類。

The Buddha image is the symbol, not of a person, but of Buddhahood--that to which all men can attain though few do. For Buddhahood is not for one but for many: 'The Buddhas of the past ages, the Buddhas that are yet to come, the Buddha of the present age; humbly I each day adore.'

佛像只是一個象徵，不是人類，佛像代表佛陀。所有的人都能證悟佛道，卻很少人能夠做到。佛道不是為了某一個人，而是為了一切眾生的成就。 「我每天禮敬，過去諸佛、現在諸佛和未來諸佛。」

However, it is not compulsory for every Buddhist to have a Buddha image to practise Buddhism. Those who can control their mind and the senses, can certainly do so without an image as an object. If Buddhists truly wish to behold the Buddha in all the majestic splendor and beauty of His ideal presence, they must translate His Teachings into practice in their daily lives. It is in the practice of His Teachings that they can come closer to Him and feel the wonderful radiance of His undying wisdom and compassion. Simply respecting the images without following His Sublime Teachings is not the way to find salvation.

佛教並不強制佛教徒在修持佛法時，都要禮拜佛像。有些人在沒佛像做為目標情況下，也能控制自己的心識和感官。佛教徒如果想親近莊嚴、肅穆的佛陀，就必須在日常生活中實現佛陀的教義。修持佛法能夠接近佛陀，能夠感應到佛陀不朽的慈悲與智慧和不可思議的光輝。只是禮拜佛像，而不遵循佛陀的教誨，是無法找到解脫之道的。

We must also endeavor to understand the spirit of the Buddha. His Teaching is the only way to save this troubled world. In spite of the tremendous advantages of science and technology, people in the world today are filled with fear, anxiety and despair. The answer to our troubled world is found in the Teaching of the Buddha.

我們必須盡力的去了解佛陀的精神。佛陀的教義是拯救這紛亂世界的唯一法寶。今天我們生活的世界，除了科技帶來的方便外，到處充滿恐懼、焦慮和失望。這世界何以變得如此的困難，我們可以在佛陀的教義中找到答案。