《牟子理惑論》的三教融合思維──以身體觀為徑路

The fusion of Confucianism, Buddism, and Taoism in Mouzi Li Huo Lun: a discussion through the viewpoint of body

《牟子理惑論》為佛教初傳中國時期，中國士人闡揚佛教義理之著作，內容融合儒釋道三教思維。牟子融合佛教思想與中國儒道思維，及中國傳統氣論觀點，重新建構出中國士人於聖凡、倫常、地域等個體與外在之新距離架構。並於時間觀點的延展下，重新思考關於氣、生死、報應、命論，及養生與欲望等身體相關命題。牟子以重身、用身思維解構中國傳統倫常之制。但對身之「重」與「保」，最終仍在傳佛道之工具性意義。又以習佛能度、脫現世之苦，主張離世而不「黏著」於現世。以身體之生及存續為習佛之「用」，待習佛已成，身即功成身退。又於魂神不滅基礎下，云現世身體以氣的同質性延續至來世。故於現世的保而用身，為待佛道實踐與期望來世福報的基礎。試圖於氣論基礎上，融合儒、釋、道三教。

“Mouzi Li huo lun” is a work written by Chinese scholars when Buddhism first spread to China. The content integrates the thinking of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. Mouzi combined Buddhism and Chinese Confucianism, together with traditional Chinese theory of Qi, to re-develop a “new” structure of distance between ordinary, saint, ethics, region and the outer world. Mouzi also pondered over again the body-related propositions such as Qi, life and death, karma, the concept of destiny, health preservation, and desire from the viewpoint of time extension. Mouzi deconstructed the Chinese traditional system of ethics by using the concepts of “valuing” and “employing” the body. However, the purpose of “valuing” and “preserving” body is, eventually, to propagate Buddhism. The focus was on the fact that converting to Buddhism can help transcend and escape the woe of this life, or in other words, to keep oneself aloof without being attached to this life. The “birth” and “preservation” of body was employed for the conversion to Buddhism, “waiting” for the cultivation to be done, upon when the body would be discarded since the purpose was served. Meanwhile, based on the theory of eternal existence of human spirit, the body in this life would be prolonged to the afterlife in the form of homogeneity of Qi. Therefore, the “preservation” and “employment” of body in this life was the foundation of Buddhism practice and the karmic reward in afterlife. One should renounce the desire in this life and look forward to the afterlife, in which one would earn a fruitful and blessed reward. One should also sacrifice individual physical body for the karmic reward of the entire family. Attempts to integrate Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism on the basis of Qi theory.