三朝僧傳中的亡／遺身高僧及其行動爭議的當代反思

Contemporary Reflections on Self-immolation in Biographies of Eminent Monks in the Three Dynasties and the Controversy about Their Actions

黃敬家(huang jingjia)

《人間佛教研究》 3期 (2012/12) Pp. 169-198

摘要

在漢傳佛教的歷代僧傳中，收錄多位亡／遺身的高僧事例，他們以捨身、燒身的方式來實踐成佛之道。然而，這種宗教行為是凡夫僧所能堪忍的嗎？以及這個行為在宗教內部和社會觀感的認知之間存在怎樣的差距？不僅各方持論各異，乃至佛教內部的看法也難以一致。大乘佛教重視從六度萬行累積福德資糧，經三大阿僧祇劫逐步實踐成佛之道，而捨身、燒身則是以非常之發心和行動，以迅速圓滿菩提道，就解脫次第的實踐倫理而言爭議尤多。本文將以三朝僧傳的亡／遺身篇為範圍，從宗教行為與修證次第的關係，探討高僧的捨身、燒身行為及其意義。並從佛教根本教義、戒律和修行方式三方面，討論慧皎、道宣和贊寧對僧侶亡／遺身的態度和觀點的異同，以及三位僧史家對高僧捨身利生或燒身供養行為的評價。以期提高吾人對亡／遺身之行的認識，從而理解成佛之道的多元和不易，令當代的修學者，對於前人如何由信仰產生強烈的實踐信念和宗教行動，有更深刻的理解。

關鍵字

高僧傳 ； 續高僧傳 ； 宋高僧傳 ； 捨身 ； 燒身

並列摘要

Throughout the biography of eminent monks recordings within Chinese Buddhist history, there are records of many eminent monks of self-immolation, including bodily sacrifice and bodily sacrifice by burning, in order to achieve the enlightened status of buddhahood. However, is this form of religious practice to be endured by monks of the lay? Mahayana Buddhism places great emphasis on the accumulation of virtue and goodness by various means of pilgrimage practice, and purports that buddhahood may be attained by passing through the many stages and many tests of faith. Bodily sacrifice and bodily sacrifice by burning, which require immense motivation and radical actions, are expedient ways through which buddhahood may be attained. But in the perspective of the Buddhist practice theory, all stages and tests must be passed through in order to be enlightened, and acts of self-immolation are regarded as highly controversial. This study discusses acts of selfimmolation described in the biographies of eminent monks in the three dynasties, and probes into the meaning of bodily sacrifice and bodily sacrifice by burning performed by eminent monks. Hui-jiao, Dao-xuan and Zan-ning's opinions and commentaries on the bodily sacrifice and bodily sacrifice by burning of monks are examined in the following three perspectives: basic Buddhist doctrines, disciplines and practice, so as to obtain a clearer understanding of the meaning of self-immolation, as well as the complexities and difficulties of the path to buddhahood attainment.

並列關鍵字

Gaoseng Zhuan ； Xu Gaoseng Zhuan ； Song Gaoseng Zhuan ； bodily sacrifice ； bodily sacrifice by burning