| By: Ven. Master Chin Kung | （净空法师） | 2007/12/11 |
Link from: http://read.goodweb.cn/news/news_view.asp?newsid=59330
根据韦氏字典，宗教的定义如下:“有组织的信仰体系、仪式、和庆祝为中心有关一个超自然的存在力量；信仰虔诚的追求。”佛教并不是宗教，因为：首先，佛陀不是一个“超自然的存在力量”。佛陀是一个简单的人，已经达到完全证悟人生和宇宙的实在(reality)。生活是指我们自己，而宇宙是指我们的生活环境。
佛陀教导我们所有的众生都同样具有能力达到完全证悟人生和宇宙真理，并从所有的痛苦中解脱出来获得究竟的幸福。所有的众生皆可成佛，一切众生与佛陀在本性上是平等的。佛陀不是神，而是一个老师，他教我们恢复智慧和理解的方法就是征服当下遮蔽我们的贪、嗔、痴。
“佛”这个词是一个梵文词，翻译这个词的意思是:“智慧、意识/理解”。我们称佛教的创始人释迦牟尼佛为“佛陀”，因为他已经完全证悟和理解了人生和宇宙的真理。佛教是他对我们的教育，是他照耀我们成佛之路的教言。
第二，佛教不是宗教，因为“信仰”在佛陀的教诲中不是盲目的信仰、盲目的信心，而是远离迷信。释迦牟尼佛教我们不要盲目地相信他所告诉我们的，他想让我们去尝试他的教导并证明这些教导。佛陀要我们知道，而不只是相信。
佛陀的教法来自他自己对生活和宇宙真实一面的理解方式的体验，并向我们展示一条我们自己品尝真理的道路。这是就像一个好朋友告诉我们他的欧洲之旅，他所看到的景色，到达那里的方式，而却需要我们自己去看。佛陀使用一个完美的科学方法展示给我们实在的真实形态。
第三，佛教不是宗教，因为所有的‘仪式和庆祝’的不是集中在一个超自然的存在，而是人们参加集会。佛教的仪式和庆祝都是服务于教育的目的，让人想起佛陀的教导并鼓励所有的学生来实践它。例如，在中国新年期间修行的千佛忏仪式是为了帮助参加者培养谦卑的心，并能尊重他人。所有 “仪式”的关键点是帮助他人从妄想中觉醒，回到智慧和理解的彼岸。
最后，佛教不是宗教，因为“虔诚”用于佛教不是基于情绪，而是基于原因。佛陀的弟子致力于维护纯洁心灵的修行，因为这个修行能带来真正的快乐。
我们致力于帮助他人和社会获得究竟的理解和智慧。只有通过究竟的理解和智慧我们才能实现真实的自我与居住的环境。佛陀的教育真正地不是宗教而是一种教育，一种教导我们如何打破无知并达到一个完全证悟我们自己和我们周围的一切的教育。
Buddhism is an Education, Not a Religion
According to the Webster’s Dictionary, the definition of religion is as follows, "An organized system of beliefs, rites, and celebrations centered on a supernatural being power; belief pursued with devotion." Buddhism is not a religion because: First, the Buddha is not a ’supernatural being power’. The Buddha is simply a person who has reached Complete Understanding of the reality of life and the universe. Life refers to ourselves, and universe refers to our living environment. The Buddha taught that all beings possess the same ability within to reach Complete Understanding of themselves and their environment, and free themselves from all sufferings to attain utmost happiness. All beings can become Buddhas, and all beings and the Buddha are equal by nature. The Buddha is not a God, but a teacher, who teaches us the way to restore Wisdom and Understanding by conquering the greed, hatred, and ignorance which blind us at the present moment. The word ’Buddha’ is a Sanskrit word, when translated it means, "Wisdom, Awareness/Understanding". We call the founder of Buddhism Shakyamuni ’Buddha’ because He has attained Complete Understanding and Wisdom of life and the universe. Buddhism is His education to us, it is His teaching which shines the way to Buddhahood.
Second, Buddhism is not a religion because ’belief’ in the Buddha’s teachings is not blind belief, blind faith, and far from superstition. Shakyamuni Buddha taught us not to blindly believe what he tells us, he wants us to try the teachings and prove them for ourselves. The Buddha wants us to know, not merely believe. The Buddha’s teachings flow from his own experience of the way to understand the true face of life and the univ`rse, and show us a path of our own to taste the truth for ourselves. This is much like a good friend telling us of his trip to Europe, the sights he has seen, and the way to go there and see for ourselves. The Buddha uses a perfectly scientific way of showing us reality in its true form.
Third, Buddhism is not a religion because all the ’rites and celebrations’ are not centered on a supernatural being, but rather the people attending the assemblies. The ceremonies and celebrations in Buddhism all serve an educational purpose, a reminder of the Buddha’s teachings and encouragement to all students who practice it. For example, the Thousand Buddhas Repentance Ceremony practiced during Chinese New Year is to help the participants cultivate a humble heart and respect for others. The point of all ’ceremonies’ is to help others awaken from delusion and return to Wisdom and Understanding.
Finally, Buddhism is not a religion because the ’devotion’ used in Buddhism is not one based on emotion, but one based on reason. Students of the Buddha are devoted to their practice of maintaining Purity of Mind because this practice brings true happiness. We are devoted to help others and the Society attain Complete Understanding and Wisdom. Only through Complete Understanding and Wisdom can we realize our true selves and living environment. The Buddha’s education is truly not a religion but an education, teaching us the way to break through ignorance and arrive at a perfect understanding of ourselves and everything around us.
Our goal is True Happiness.
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