佛教与现代性（BUDDHISM∵AND∵MODERN-DAY）

∵Buddhism∵originated∵in∵over∵six∵centuries∵BC.∵∵It∵began∵in∵India∵by∵Buddha∵Shakyamuni.∵∵The∵term∵‘Buddha’∵refers∵to∵‘awakening’∵and/or∵‘a∵person∵who∵has∵attained∵enlightenment.’∵∵Buddhism∵has∵been∵recognized∵as∵a∵religion∵as∵well∵as∵an∵education.∵∵Ever∵since∵its∵beginning,∵Buddhism∵has∵impacted∵the∵daily∵lives∵of∵the∵people∵in∵the∵East∵in∵many∵aspects—∵whether∵materialistic∵or∵spiritual,∵scientific∵or∵philosophical,∵supernatural∵or∵mortal,∵psychological∵or∵physiological.∵∵The∵Buddha∵teaches∵us∵that∵everything∵is∵impermanent.∵∵The∵continuous∵growth∵of∵technology∵has∵given∵us∵conveniences.∵∵However,∵we∵are∵still∵facing∵difficulties∵such∵as∵pollution,∵increased∵population,∵irregularity∵of∵weather,∵market∵volatility,∵etc.∵∵All∵these∵things∵have∵validated∵the∵2,500∵years∵old∵Buddha∵teaching;∵life∵in∵this∵universe∵is∵not∵flawless.∵∵The∵Buddha’s∵education∵is∵precise,∵compassionate,∵and∵practical.∵∵It∵attracts∵many∵western∵professionals.∵∵The∵light∵of∵Buddha∵draws∵Westerners∵and∵Easterners∵to∵cultivate∵a∵new∵era∵of∵Buddhism.∵∵The∵focal∵point∵of∵this∵new∵era∵is∵twofold;∵the∵dissemination∵of∵the∵Dharma∵and∵implementation∵of∵contemporary∵Buddhism.

∵Between∵the∵late∵19th∵and∵early∵20th∵centuries,∵Master∵Tai∵Hsu∵（1890-1947）∵proposed∵the∵idea∵of∵‘Humanistic∵Buddhism’,∵which∵refers∵to∵the∵‘living∵Bodhisattva.’∵∵Liberation∵from∵the∵cycle∵of∵rebirth∵can∵be∵attained∵in∵our∵daily∵lives∵and∵in∵our∵current∵surroundings.∵∵Master∵Tai∵Hsu∵taught∵that∵Buddhism∵should∵discard∵the∵supernatural∵and∵embrace∵reality.∵∵‘Humanistic∵Buddhism’∵gradually∵becomes∵our∵quest.∵∵Buddhism∵is∵found∵within∵our∵surroundings∵and∵is∵not∵searched∵for∵outside∵our∵surroundings.∵∵Obtaining∵“enlightenment”∵and∵searching∵for∵the∵“awakening∵soul”∵can∵never∵be∵achieved∵when∵we∵disconnect∵ourselves∵from∵our∵current∵surroundings.∵∵We∵should∵not∵hold∵on∵to∵our∵preconceived∵notions.

∵The∵birth∵of∵Buddha∵Shakyamuni,∵the∵‘enlightenment’∵he∵obtained,∵and∵the∵sermon∵that∵he∵delivered∵to∵mankind∵all∵occurred∵on∵this∵earth∵in∵his∵surroundings.∵∵These∵surroundings∵were∵different∵from∵ours.∵∵Therefore,∵we∵need∵to∵develop∵techniques∵to∵integrate∵the∵essence∵of∵Buddhism∵in∵our∵21st∵century∵and∵beyond.

∵The∵bodhisattva∵spirit∵in∵Mahayana∵Buddhism∵requires∵both∵monastic∵and∵lay∵people∵to∵model∵Buddhism∵assertively∵in∵our∵daily∵lives.∵∵Buddhism∵is∵a∵live∵experience∵and∵not∵an∵intellectual∵exercise.∵∵A∵good∵Buddhist∵is∵socially∵responsible∵and∵sensitive∵to∵the∵needs∵of∵others.∵∵A∵good∵Buddhist∵lives∵in∵the∵knowledge∵of∵the∵impermanence∵of∵life∵and∵is∵aware∵that∵life∵on∵earth∵is∵not∵our∵ultimate∵goal.∵∵Even∵when∵a∵person∵is∵flourished∵with∵the∵theory∵of∵Buddhism∵he/she∵can∵still∵be∵weighted∵down∵by∵earthly∵possessions.∵∵He/she∵can∵still∵remains∵to∵be∵a∵miser∵and∵find∵this∵mortal∵world∵irresistible.∵∵If∵this∵is∵the∵case,∵how∵are∵society∵and∵mankind∵benefiting?∵∵The∵ultimate∵idea∵is∵to∵depart∵‘self’∵in∵our∵daily∵lives∵while∵engaging∵others.

（continued∵.∵.∵.）

Applying∵‘Humanistic∵Buddhism’∵in∵our∵daily∵lives

First,∵the∵spreading∵of∵Buddhism∵must∵be∵formulated∵to∵fit∵the∵needs∵of∵our∵current∵society.∵∵In∵the∵old∵days,∵Buddhism∵was∵perceived∵as∵a∵martial∵art∵practice.∵∵Nowadays,∵advanced∵technology∵such∵as∵mass∵broadcasting,∵e-mailing,∵and∵launching∵websites∵provides∵effective∵methods∵for∵revealing∵Dharma.∵∵However,∵with∵the∵use∵of∵modern∵technology∵there∵also∵comes∵the∵danger∵that∵Dharma∵may∵be∵misinterpreted,∵contaminated,∵or∵misused.∵∵This∵places∵Dharma∵in∵a∵vulnerable∵position.∵∵The∵most∵important∵facts∵to∵remember∵are∵that∵Dharma∵always∵points∵in∵the∵right∵direction∵and∵the∵manifestation∵of∵Buddhism∵cannot∵be∵comprised∵of∵our∵mortal,∵penitent∵habits.

Second,∵while∵conveying∵Buddhism∵to∵the∵general∵public,∵it∵is∵wise∵to∵apply∵simple∵dialogue∵and∵plain∵language∵without∵losing∵the∵original∵connotation∵of∵Buddhism.∵∵Writing∵could∵be∵presented∵in∵an∵interesting∵way∵that∵draws∵the∵readers’∵attention.∵∵Thoughts∵could∵be∵expressed∵in∵a∵fashionable∵manner∵without∵forfeiting∵the∵original∵meaning∵of∵Buddhism.∵∵Also,∵one∵should∵never∵use∵Dharma∵as∵a∵vehicle∵to∵gain∵personal∵popularity.∵∵The∵depth∵of∵Dharma∵is∵far∵beyond∵words∵and∵often∵surpasses∵scientific∵phenomena.

Third,∵a∵practitioner∵should∵establish∵his/her∵standard∵routine∵by∵practicing∵Buddhist∵precepts∵and∵virtues.∵∵The∵root∵of∵becoming∵a∵Buddha∵contains∵belief,∵understanding,∵practice,∵and∵wakefulness.∵∵A∵practitioner∵must∵solidify∵himself/herself∵by∵continual∵study∵and∵perpetual∵contemplation∵so∵that∵he/she∵will∵not∵be∵moved∵by∵negative∵influences.∵∵Simultaneously,∵one∵must∵serve∵society.∵∵Our∵mission∵should∵be∵to∵purify∵society∵and∵build∵Pureland∵in∵our∵current∵surroundings.∵∵As∵Master∵Tai∵Hsu∵pointed∵out,∵we∵must∵stay∵focused∵on∵the∵primary∵concepts∵of∵Buddhism∵while∵establishing∵‘Humanistic∵Buddhism.’∵∵If∵a∵modern∵audience∵finds∵Buddhism∵to∵be∵old-fashioned∵or∵ludicrous,∵some∵practitioners∵may∵temporarily∵give∵up∵their∵practice.∵∵Doing∵so∵breaches∵the∵precepts.∵∵They∵may∵be∵drawn∵into∵a∵negative∵view∵of∵Buddhism∵and∵become∵materialistic∵and∵contaminated.∵∵Hence,∵the∵dissemination∵of∵Dharma∵is∵infertile∵and∵‘Humanistic∵Buddhism’∵in∵our∵contemporary∵society∵becomes∵pointless.

In∵this∵21st∵century,∵let∵us∵work∵together∵to∵disseminate∵Dharma,∵defeat∵the∵challenges∵and∵overcome∵the∵unknown∵difficulties.