覺悟與救恩－佛教與基督宗教的交談

Enilghtment and Salvation-A Dialogue between the Buddhist and Christian Religions

沈清松(Vincent Shen)

《哲學與文化》 24卷1期 (1997/01) Pp. 2-19

https://doi.org/10.7065/MRPC.199701.0002

摘要

在世紀末的氛圍當中，整個世界正踏入虛無主義的幽谷。從此一人類的窘境看來，佛教和基督宗教應該共同開發靈修資源，透過交談，貢獻其理念、價值和實踐方法，促使人的生活恢復意義。
本文處理基督宗教和佛教的交談的方式，是運用本人的「對比哲學」。這是一種思維與實踐的基本途徑，必須在表面的差異或對立的情境當中發現互補性，一方面尊重差異，一方面尋找互補。所謂「對比」是在差異和互補、連續與斷裂、採取距離和共同隸屬之間的辯證遊戲，構成了所研究的對象的結構及其動態的發展。本人把基督宗教和佛教視為是不同但仍可互補，相互有距離但仍可共同合作的兩個宗教。本文主要集中在佛教所谓的「覺悟」和基督宗教所謂「救恩」兩項重要教理，並且把兩者的创造性詮釋視為是有助於人類走過現代／後現代的虛無主義幽谷。我將集中探討以下四個問題：一、兩大宗教對於人類痛苦的共同關心及痛苦的人性根源。二、基督宗教所謂「救恩」與佛敎所謂的「覺悟」之間的對比，主要集中於所謂「超越性原則」與「內在性原則」。三、基督宗敎敎所論「存有的圓滿」和佛敎所謂的「空性」，或「緣起性空」。四、德行倫理學對於基督宗敎和佛教皆為共法，可以視為一種克服虛無主義、宰制與異化的實踐道路。

關鍵字

基督宗教 ； 佛教 ； 宗教交談 ； 覺悟 ； 救恩 ； 人性論 ； 超越性 ； 內在性

並列摘要

As we are fast approaching a new century, the whole world is sinking into a nihilistic abyss. From the perspective of this very human predicament, Buddhism and Christianity should pull their resources, participate in dialogue, contribute ideas, and evaluate and execute methodology in hopes of restoring meaning to people's lives. It is the intent of this essay to help clarify this dialogues progression by using this author's [Contrast Philosophy]. This process is one of thought followed by action. There is first a need to find some common ground amongst the differences, on one hand respecting the differences but on the other establishing a common ground. This correlation is to develop and establish a solid basis for research amidst the interplay of differences and common ground, progression and bottle-neck that so often occurs when dealing with two such different schools of thought. I would like to think that even though Buddhism and Christianity have their differences, there are still places capable of Co-operation. This article's emphasis will be on Buddhism's notion of ”enlightenment” and Christianity's notion of 'salvation. Considering these two religions very creative explanations of the human dilemma should help mankind out of any nihilistic abyss. Specifically, I would like to investigate the following four questions:
1.) These two great religions position on human suffering and the source of this suffering.
2.) Any correlation between Christian ”salvation' and Buddhist 'enlightenment”, most importantly their respective transcendant and intrinsic principles.
3.) Christianity's notion of ”The Perfect Being' and Buddhism's notion of ”Perfect Emptiness”.
4.) For both Christianity and Buddhism, Ethics can be considered to be a device in which to overcome nihilism, a practical road for different cultures.

並列關鍵字

Christianity ； Buddhism ； Religious Dialogue ； Enlightment ； Salvation ； Theory of Human Nature ； Transcendent ； Intrinsic