證嚴法師「人間菩薩」的生命觀

Dharma Master Cheng Yen’s Life Views of“Bodhisattva in This World”

本文以慈濟功德會創辦人證嚴法師濟世教化所歸結的生命觀為研究對象，以彰顯「人間佛教」思想的傳承與實踐。其廣開救助苦難的行善法門，提供許多人悲心學菩薩行的機會。法師在勸勉信眾時，常以啟發、成長、延續慧命來標示行菩薩道的內涵，他對生命／慧命的種種對比譬喻，雖不出一般佛教概念範圍，但闡揚與實踐方式也有在此一時代創發的特色，皆在回應現代人如何面對苦難無常，現實人生如何救濟與轉化，如何開創具佛法智慧的新生命，顯現人間佛教落實於現代社會的諸多途徑樣貌。本文以證嚴法師開示的言論為主要研究資料，分析其立論重點有「把握生命的時空」、「在人群中成就慧命」、「過秒關的身體力行」、「慧命的延續與循環」、「在『大於我』的基礎上『了生脫死』」，法師認為慧命需靠把握當下，服務他人的身體行動來體現，其慧命觀也有將個人消融於「大我」的意涵，所作所為是要為未來眾生開拓慧命福田。本文也述及法師和其皈依師，人間佛教的思想導師印順長老對「人菩薩行」的修行觀點契合之處。

This paper examines Dharma Master Cheng Yen’s life views of“Bodhisattva in this world”with reference to her charity work and teaching, in order to highlight dis- semination and practices of the idea of“engaged Buddhism.”When creating missions of relieving suffering, Master Cheng Yen offers many people opportunities to walk on the path of Bodhisattva. She often urges her followers to enlighten, grow and continue their own lives of wisdom, and thus substantiate Bodhisattva’s Way in this world. She compares difference between the life and “the life of wisdom”according to Buddhist traditional ideas. Yet her interpretation and practices are characteristic in answering how modern people face impermanence and suffering, how the life can be saved and transformed, and how to cultivate new life of dharma wisdom. Under the leadership of Master Cheng Yen, Tzuchi volunteers’work demonstrates various forms of engaged Buddhism in contemporary society. Drawing upon Master Cheng Yen’s talk, this paper analyzes her viewpoints as the following:“to hold on to time and space of this life,” “to accomplish one’s life of wisdom among people,”“to take actions without losing a second,”“to continue and make the life of wisdom cycle,”“to liberate oneself on the basis of‘larger-than-me”’. Master Cheng Yen emphasizes that one’s life of wisdom can be embodied through grasping the moment to serve others. Her notion of “the life of wisdom”also implies merging oneself into“the great I,”namely, all beings. She expects one’s altruistic doing to cultivate“the life of wisdom”and field of bless-ings for generations in the future. This paper also relates Maser Cheng Yen’s stand-points to thoughts about “Bodhisattva in this world” of the leading thinker of“engaged Buddhism,”Master Yin Shun, who is also Master Cheng Yen’s teacher.