On the Tradition of Dāna: From Ancient India to Contemporary

佛教的供養：從傳統印度到現代

釋覺明/柳麗鳳(Shi Chueming/Liu Lifeng)

《人間佛教研究》 4期 (2013/12) Pp. 73-104

摘要

A religious or philosophical doctrine does not disappear through the changing of eras but continues by adopting and incorporating with the ideologies and cultures of the changing eras. Dāna, literally means alms-giving, generosity, etc., is a common practice among most of the religions worldwide as a rudimentary practice for spiritual cultivation. This paper would like to explore the tradition of dāna from its origin in ancient India to its contemporary interpretation by the Chinese Buddhist reformer Master Hsing Yun. Various aspects of the early tradition of dāna, including its history, meaning and canonical interpretation (Pāli Nikāyas), are critically examined. Specific attention is focused on how the concept and application of dāna varies in different eras and places, where it has integrated into various cultures. The paper provides a general survey and examination of the origin and mutual-influences of the two important cultures of Indian tradition-the Vedic and Buddhism-and their impact on the practice of dāna; and demonstrates that the traditional Buddhist practice of dāna has spread and assimilated into different cultures nearby. The Southeast Asian countries, in particular, have inherited and maintained the practice of dāna outside India up to the present day. This article also pays special attention to Master Hsing Yun’s modern interpretation of dāna, its meaning and relevance in contemporary society of the 21^(st) century.

關鍵字

dāna ； Vedic ； Pāli Nikāyas ； alms-round ； Master Hsing Yun

並列摘要

一個宗教或是一種思想義理能夠不因時代變遷而消失，反而與傳統之文化蘊涵結合，並與當代之語言、思想和文化等兼容並蓄而存續下來。「供養」是各宗教共通的基礎修行方法之一。本文主題企圖探討「佛教的供養」(巴利文dāna一詞有布施或慷慨之意)，從古印度至當代詮釋，論到中國佛教革新者星雲大師所給予之現代意涵。本文對早期「供養」的不同面向，包括從歷史、意涵以及經典（指巴利五部經）的詮釋等，乃至對當代學者之學術研究成果，均作出批判檢視。「供養」概念及其應用會隨著不同時空中與文化的融合而相應變化。本文開頭討論印度的兩個重要文化傳統——吠陀與佛教——之起源及其相互影響，以及它們對供養實踐的影響；繼而簡述佛教供養之修持模式傳入鄰近東南亞國家，使此傳統能在印度以外的地方持續至今。本文特別關注到星雲大師如何賦予「供養」新的意涵與落實奉行，及其在廿一世紀當代社會的意義。

並列關鍵字

供養 ； 吠陀 ； 巴利五部經 ； 托缽 ； 星雲大師