傳教 Buddhist Missionaries

Buddhist Missionaries

傳教

‘Go forth, O Bhikkhus, for the good of the many, for the happiness of the many, out of compassion for the world, for the good, benefit, and happiness of gods and men.’ (The Buddha)

「僧眾啊！去吧！為了大眾的利益，為了大眾的幸福，為了悲憫這世界，為了善，為了利益，為了幸福，為了人與人類。去吧！」─佛陀─

When we turn the pages of the history of Buddhism, we learn that Buddhist missionaries gave the noble message of the Buddha in a peaceful and respectable way. Such a peaceful mission should put to shame those who have practised violent methods in propagating their religions.

翻開佛教的歷史，我們可以發現到，佛教是以和平、尊重的方式來傳教，那些以暴力傳教的宗教都應該感到羞恥。

Buddhist missionaries do not compete with other religionists in converting people in the market place. No Buddhist missionary or monk would ever think of preaching ill-will against the so-called ‘unbelievers’. Religious, cultural and national intolerance are unbuddhistic in attitude, to people who are imbued with the real Buddhist spirit. Aggression never finds approval in the teachings of the Buddha. The world has bled and suffered enough from the disease of dogmatism, religious fanaticism and intolerance. Whether in religion or politics, people make conscious efforts to bring humanity to accept their own way of life. In doing so, they sometimes show their hostility towards the followers of other religions.

佛教在傳播過程中，從來不為「市場」而競爭。僧眾或信徒從來不會為了傳教而惡意去中傷或詆毀他人。宗教、政治或民族的不容忍和嗔恚，對真正皈依佛教的人來說，是無法理解的。佛教徒從來就不贊同攻擊性，這世界的流血事件或災難，大部分都來自攻擊性的教條主義、宗教狂熱、和不容忍。無論在宗教或政治，都會有人覺得自己負有使命，要把人類帶到理所當然的另一種生活方式去。這種人往往為了自己的目的，攻擊那些和自己意見不同的人。

Buddhism had no quarrel with the national traditions and customs, art and culture of the people who accepted it as a way of life but allowed them to exist with refinement. The Buddha’s message of love and compassion opened the hearts of men and they willingly accepted the Teachings, thereby helping Buddhism to become a world religion. Buddhist missionaries were invited by the independent countries which welcomed them with due respect. Buddhism was never introduced to any country through the influence of colonial or any other political power.

佛教從來就不與傳統、習俗、藝術或文化發生爭執，佛教接受它們的存在，並改良它們。佛陀慈悲的言教，開啟人們的心扉，讓人們毫無困難的接受他的教義。也因為如此，人們自願的協助佛教成為世界性的宗教。佛教不采取殖民手段，也不藉助政治力量來推廣。佛教的傳教士，往往是被那些主權獨立，態度誠懇和包容佛教的國家，以敬重的態度邀請他們前去弘法的。

Buddhism was the first spiritual force known to us in history which drew closely together large numbers of races which were separated by the most difficult barriers of distance, language, culture and morals. Its motive was not the acquisition of international commerce, empire-building or migratory impulse to occupy fresh territory. Its aim was to show how people could gain more peace and happiness through the practice of Dhamma.

在歷史，佛教是唯一以精神力量排除種族、語言、文化、風俗的困難，而將人們團結在一起的宗教。佛教在傳教中，不借助國際性的商業勢力來推廣，也不借助帝國主義的余威，不是科學好奇心的使然，也不是在殖民思想的沖擊下為了擴展和占據新的領土。而是指示人們透過佛法的實踐，能獲得寧靜與幸福。

A sparkling example of the qualities and approach of a Buddhist missionary was Emperor Asoka. It was during Emperor Asoka’s time that Buddhism spread to many Asian and western countries. Emperor Asoka sent Buddhist missionaries to many parts of the world to introduce the Buddha’s message of peace. Asoka respected and supported every religion at that time. His tolerance towards other religions was remarkable. One of his scripts engraved in stone on Asoka Pillars, and still standing today in India, says:

阿首咖是弘揚佛法的一顆明星。他將佛法弘揚到亞洲和西方國家。阿首咖派遣傳教士到世界各地去弘揚佛陀那幸福的信息。阿首咖敬重和支持每一位傳教士。他的容忍值得我們注意。從目前遺留在印度的阿首咖石碑中，我們清楚的發現他的理念：「

‘One should not honour only one’s own religion and condemn the religion of others, but one should honor others’ religions for this or that reason. In so doing, one helps one’s own religion to grow and renders service to the religions of others too. In acting otherwise one digs the grave of one’s own religion and also does harm to other religions. Whosoever honors his own religion and condemns other religions, does so indeed through devotion to his own religion, thinking, ‘I will glorify my own religion.’ But on the contrary, in so doing he injures his own religion more gravely, so concord is good. Let all listen, and be willing to listen to the doctrines professed by others.’ In 268 B. C., he made the doctrines of the Buddha a living force in India. Hospitals, social service institutions, universities for men and women, public wells and recreation centers sprang up with this new movement, and the people thereby realized the cruelty of senseless wars. The golden era in the history of India and the other countries of Asia–the period when art, culture, education and civilization reached their zenith–occurred at the time when Buddhist influence was strongest in these countries. Holy wars, crusades, inquisitions and religious discrimination do not mar the annals of Buddhist countries. This is a noble history mankind can rightly be proud of. The Great Nalanda University of India which flourished from the second to the ninth century was a product of Buddhism. It was the first university that we know of and which was opened to international students.

不應該為了尊重自己的宗教而蔑視其他的宗教。這麼做，往往只會使自己所信仰的宗教蒙受更大的損失。貶低他人來抬高自己，對他人造成傷害。詆毀其它的宗教並非在捍衛自己的宗教，而是傷害自己的宗教。我們應該聆聽和關注其它宗教的教義。」

在公元前二八六年，阿首咖使佛教成為當時印度的最大動力。醫院、社會服務、學校、機構、水供和娛樂中心如雨後春筍般的豎立起來，人們也理解到無情的戰爭是殘酷和無益的。

在印度和其它亞洲國家的黃金時代──藝術、文化、教育，人類文明的全盛時期，就是佛教影響力最大的時期，也是國家最強盛的時期。在佛教國家的歷史里，沒有所謂的「神聖的宗教戰爭」，也沒有受到鎮壓異端和宗教歧視的傷害，是一頁令人類驕傲的純淨歷史。公元二至九世紀的那蘭陀大學，就是佛教的產品，是世界第一所為全世界學生而開放的大學。

In the past, Buddhism was able to make itself felt in many parts of the East, although communication and transport were difficult and people had to cross hills and deserts. Despite these difficult barriers Buddhism spread far and wide. Today, this peace message is spreading in the West. Westerners are attracted to Buddhism and believe that Buddhism is the only religion that is in harmony with modern science.

在過去，交通困難，人們必須攀山越嶺、橫渡沙漠才能到達東方，可是佛教的傳教士並不畏懼這些困難，終于使東方大部分的國家都接受了佛教信仰。逐漸的，佛教成為亞洲最主要的宗教，至今仍然是亞洲最多人信仰的宗教。今天佛陀那和平的信息已傳播到西方，西方人也開始接受了佛教思想，並認為佛教是唯一能和現代科學協調的宗教。

Buddhist missionaries have no need or desire to convert those who already have a proper religion to practise. If people are satisfied with their own religion, then, there is no need for Buddhist missionaries to convert them. They give their full support to missionaries of other faiths if their idea is to convert the wicked, evil, and uncultured people to a religious way of life. Buddhists are happy to see the progress of other religions so long as they truly help people to lead a religious way of life according to their faith and enjoy peace, harmony and understanding. On the other hand, Buddhist missionaries deplore the attitude of certain missionaries who disturb the followers of other religions, since there is no reason for them to create an unhealthy atmosphere of competition for converts if their aim is only to teach people to lead a religious way of life.

佛教的傳教士，無意勸說那些已滿足原有宗教信仰的人，放棄原來的宗教，改信佛教。佛教的傳教士充分的支持其它的宗教和它們的傳教士。如果他們的目的是勸人向善，提升人們的道德性，使他們過有意義的宗教生活，佛教的傳教士同樣的給予他們熱心的支持和協助。佛教的傳教士也為那些騷擾其它宗教信仰的傳教士感到遺憾，如果他們的宗旨是崇高的，目的在指引人們過神聖的生活，就沒有理由為了讓人們轉信他的宗教而做出不健全的競爭。

In introducing Dhamma to others, Buddhist missionaries have never tried to use imaginary exaggerations depicting a heavenly life in order to attract human desire and arouse their craving. Instead, they have tried to explain the real nature of human and heavenly life as taught by the Buddha.

佛教的傳教士，絕對不會浮夸的去描畫那虛妄的天堂生活，來刺激人類感官的欲望，從而獲得人們的追隨和信仰。佛教是以佛陀的教誨來解釋人間和天堂，本來就是「無常」本質。