「性」與「愛」之佛教觀點   全文下載

Sex and Love: A Buddlist Perspective

本文中討論「性」與「愛」的佛教觀點，有五個基本理論：
一、「性」是習以成性，而非不可改易的天性。
二、「性欲」是心理需求所引發的生理變化。
三、「情」是由愛己而外射，轉向的愛彼之心。
四、「性」與「愛」（「情」與「欲」）的根源來自「我愛」與「我所愛」。
五、「情」與「欲」為障道法。至於對治的關鍵，則是以下兩個要領：一、「情」的轉化與昇華可依「慈悲」的觀照；二、「欲」的節制與超越可依「止觀」的練習。
佛教徒對「情」與「欲」應如何自處？在這方面，出家與在家略有不同：在家眾必須遵守對配偶忠誠、對欲望節制的「不邪淫戒」；出家者則依「戒定慧三學」的三種力量以超越情欲：戒律是在言語與行為方面作情欲的防制；禪定則透過心念專注的定學訓練而自然離欲；智慧的修學，可透過四念處的身心觀照而以智化情。就以上的理論基礎，本文對當代兩大「性」倫理議題 ─「性解放運動」及「同性戀與異性戀」，提出了佛教的倫理觀。扼要言之，佛家的「性」、「愛」觀，可依「緣起、護生及中道」理論以作整體綜觀。

Discussed in this article, "Sex and Love, The Buddhist View", are five basic theories:
1.Sex is a repeated activity that gradually turns into a habit rather than an immutable part of human nature.
2.Sexual urges are a psychological need initiate physiological changes.
3.Emotion transforms the love of oneself into the love of others.
4.Sex and love (or desire and emotion) stem from the deep love of the self, and the deep love of those things contained within the self.
5.Sex and love are terms for the passions or delusions which hinder enlightenment.
The two essential practices for dealing with love and sexuality are: 1. Transforming and sublimating emotion into compassion through contemplation; 2. Restricting or transcending beyond desire through meditation exercises.
How should Buddhists deal with love and sexual desire? In this regard, monks and lay Buddhists have slightly different approaches. The lay Buddhist must show loyalty and fidelity to their spouse, controlling their adulterous urges. A monk focuses on discipline, tranquility and wisdom to transcend beyond lust. Discipline requires self control and prevention through both words and actions. Meditation allows one to distance themselves from lust through mental focus and concentration. Wisdom transforms the mind and body through adherence to the Satipatthana approach (the four foundations of mindfulness).
Based on these theories, this article discusses two contemporary ethical issues – "the sexual liberation movement" and "homosexuality versus heterosexuality" – in the context of Buddhist ethics. It will further analyze sex and love through the Buddhist concepts of dependent origination, life conservation and the middle way.