「同志婚姻」的佛學反思－印順法師觀點的啟發

A Buddhist Reflection on Same-Sex Marriage: Insights from Master Yinshun's (印順法師) Perspective

林建德(Chien-Te Lin)

《臺灣宗教研究》 18卷2期 (2019/12) Pp. 47-78

摘要

同志婚姻之相關議題近來在世界各地引發關注，此一風潮在台灣亦有廣泛討論，也在多方爭論中於2019年5月立法通過保障同性與異性婚姻伴侶權利相當，成為亞洲第一個同志婚姻合法化的國家。對此爭議佛教可能的立場為何呢？本文試著以印順法師之佛學見解作為探討線索。首先，從印順法師對於道德和戒律的寬容立場、情欲的理性態度以及強調平等的可貴價值、慈悲的苦痛解除，略可看出印順佛學之於性別倫理的可能觀點。其次，印順法師認同婚姻有其正向功能，視婚姻為道德觀念進步的象徵，透過婚姻形式的彼此承諾、相互規範，有助於雙方道德人格的提昇，因此重點未必在於可不可以結婚，而卻在於如何結婚，只要「志同道合」，以「法」為前提的婚約關係，不管性別為何都予以肯定和支持。最後，本文指出尊重同性戀的婚姻選擇為時勢所趨，當今佛教領袖如一行禪師、達賴喇嘛等人亦表達了相近的意向。

關鍵字

印順佛學 ； 同志婚姻 ； 情欲 ； 平等 ； 慈悲 ； 以智導情

並列摘要

Issues related to same-sex marriage have recently drawn the attention of many around the world, and the contentious matter has also been widely discussed in Taiwan. Amidst a diverse debate, Taiwan's Legislative Yuan passed legislation ensuring equal rights for marriage partners in both same-sex and heterosexual marriages in May 2019. Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. But what is the possible position of Buddhism in this dispute? This article attempts to explore clues to this question through Master Yinshun's understanding of Buddhist doctrine. First, I try to outline potential perspectives on gender ethics in Yinshun's Buddhist doctrine from the perspective of his tolerant stance on morality and precepts and his rational attitude towards desire, as well as his emphasis on the value of equality and the relief of suffering through compassion. Second, Master Yinshun recognizes that marriage has its positive function and regards marriage as a symbol of progressing moral views. The commitment to another and the mutual standards found in marriage help to improve the moral integrity of both sides. Therefore, the key point is not necessarily whether one can marry but how one marries. As long as a like-minded couple places the Dharma at the forefront of the engagement relationship, the marriage can be affirmed and supported regardless of gender. Finally, I point out that respecting the marriage choices of LGBTQ individuals is an unavoidable trend of the times. Current Buddhist leaders such as Thich Nhat Hanh and the Dalai Lama have also expressed similar inclinations.

並列關鍵字

Yinshun's Buddhist doctrine印順佛學 ； Same-Sex Marriage ； Desire ； Equality ； Compassion ； Guiding Passions with Wisdom以智導情

參考文獻

Dalai Lama XIV 2012 Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World. Boston: Mariner Books.

Egner, Robert E. and Lester E. Denonn (eds.) 2009 The Basic Writings of Bertrand Russell. London: Routledge.

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Kymlicka, Will 1990 Contemporary Political Philosophy: An Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Thich Nhat Hanh 1998 Interbeing: Fourteen Guidelines for Engaged Buddhism. Berkeley: Parallax Press.