疫情時代的佛法教化：以慈濟之「推素」為例

Buddhist Edification in an Era of Epidemics: Tzu Chi’s Promotion of Vegetarianism

2019年底爆發新冠病毒（Covid-19）疫情以來，隨著各式變種病毒出現，實給人「防不勝防」之感。本文試著以證嚴法師「大哉教育」的疫情開示，探討其因應的觀念與方法，如多方宣導「敬天愛地」、「戒慎虔誠」、「驚世災難，警世覺悟」、「向天求懺悔，向地道感恩」等，並大力推動素食（「推素」）作為防疫除災的「靈方妙藥」。本文以此「推素」運動，探究「人間佛教」之於疫情時代的行動實踐，藉由素食以內淨己心、外行慈悲，試以善業的福德因緣防災、減災；指出此透過德行的修為涵養因應災疫，背後有其義理基礎與人文理想，除顯示佛法的業報觀，也體現「人間佛教」的信仰特質。雖然「推素」仍存在挑戰，但也展望理想與現實兼顧，使得疫情時代的「佛法教化」成為一種「人文教化」、「道德教化」，含攝普世性意涵而寄許成為未來趨勢。

Since the outbreak of Covid-19 towards the end of 2019, more virulent variants of the virus have continued to appear, arousing doubts about the possibilities of defending against the virus. This article aims to discuss Master Cheng Yen s ideas of and approaches to the epidemic through an exploration of her conception of the cosmos s“Great Education＂(Dazai jiaoyu大哉教育), revealed at the outset of the pandemic. In many instances, she has called for people to respect nature and love the earth, be cautious and pious, awaken to the lessons from alarming disasters, seek repentance from the heavens, and express gratefulness to the earth, among other appeals. Moreover, she has been promoting vegetarianism as an effective method and wondrous antidote to be used in preventing epidemics and relieving related disasters. Through an examination of Tzu Chi s movement to promote vegetarianism, this paper explores the practices and teachings of Humanistic Buddhism in an epidemic. By purifying the mind internally and promoting kindness and compassion in external action, vegetarianism offers an attempt to prevent and mitigate disasters through the blessed virtues and karma accumulated through good actions. Underlying this response to the epidemic, one that emphasizes the cultivation of moral action and self-restraint, there are theoretical foundations and humanistic ideals. In other words, besides revealing the principles of karma espoused in Buddhist teachings, this approach embodies a unique quality of Humanistic Buddhism beliefs. Although challenges still exist in promoting vegetarianism, such a response looks to account for both ideals and practical realities, in the hopes that Buddhist teachings during the pandemic can become a form of humanistic and moral edification with universal value and a trend of the future.