Buddhism and Contemporary Society

 Buddhism and Contemporary Society building strong
Moderator: Welcome into the held in Hangzhou, China. It's held once again allow people to look toward the Buddha's Birthday, but also to invest in this ancient Buddhist religion. This forum presents a theme, is the eight words, a harmonious world begins in the mind. So and Buddhism share a harmonious world what kind of relationship, and from the heart with the words and what kind of meaning. today's Professor, Department of Religious Studies, Mr. Lie buildings.
Welcome, Mr. House, Hello, please sit down.
building strong building strong resume
born in 1934 in Hangzhou, 1956, he was admitted to the Department of Philosophy, Peking University , and studied under the famous master of philosophy lan, who study Chinese philosophy, and therefore the fate of Buddhism began. years of research on Buddhism, so that this ancient religion, he had special feelings, inspired by compassion in the Buddhist wisdom , the House with a different perspective professors to see the world from the essence of Buddhism, to the sentiment of life, thinking about how to build a society for the benefit of Buddhism to benefit all beings.
House President, I would like to ask you a question is Do you remember the first time the first contact with Buddhism is when?
House: University to study the time because of Chinese philosophy, it is sure to come into contact with Buddhism. So from time to contact the University to study Buddhism in some cases, but more and more should be said that after graduation, in the teaching needs, just as many opportunities for contact with a Buddhist.
Host: A short film from which we have just learned that you are in college, should be in the 50's that time have learned what it was like Buddhism?
F: Buddhism is of course at that time should be critical of a culture, and that it is a superstition, a religious as the general, it is a poisoned people the soul is the soul opium bar, is that situation, but also of idealism, so some of the views.
Moderator: Why at that time, Buddhism will be demonized it?
F: I think the most important issue is our understanding of this religion, including Buddhism included, this learn too little, because a long time, that we are in the middle of all levels of education, lack of religious education, including Buddhism included, so people of religious, very superficial understanding of Buddhism, so that is just repeating it.
Host: Over the years, Buddhism For you, it is your belief, or that Buddhism is the object of your research?
F: I think I come from study to study Buddhism. Because I have this, of course, can be said that faith, because faith issue, it is not a narrow one above us of a blind worship of a thing, Faith is actually the problem, it can be said that their ideal, their own kind of aspirations. So I think faith is itself a religion to be more than a broad concept. So I think for many of the Buddhist concept of can also say that I am faith. but I am not a Buddhist? I think I probably was not a Buddhist.
Moderator: That the word Buddha, what does it mean to you?
House: I think Buddhism is very simple, it is a consciousness, Buddha consciousness itself is a meaning.
Moderator: Well, Mr. Xie Xielou to share with us your insights on some of the Buddhist. that this next lecture Among it, I think, Mr. Lie building will give us further elaborate what Buddhism is a kind of religion, the purification of the human mind for us will play a role in what has requested the floor to us today, Mr. speech.
House: Today I want to talk about the topic is Buddhism in the modern meaning of what there is to do a very rough introduction. So I would like to talk about a problem is, what kind of Buddhism is a religion, Buddhism is the world's oldest religion. So at the same time, Buddhism it is modern society, life is a great tonic religion. this issue, I think today really want to, today I want to say an important question.
F: So the other one hand, Buddhism it is a people-centered religion, there was a monk in modern China, called Master Tai. Taixu master he once said, the problem is the Humanistic Buddhist problem, that is people-oriented, and such a religion. then this is one, it should be said a very profound one view. So in general, we can say that, it is all the human issues of common concern religion. But most of the religion, it is the spirit and the help of God theory to focus on human issues, and the help of God's power bar, or the spirit of God to pay attention to human issues and theories. then only Buddhist teaching from the Buddha's time to start creating, full of great importance to mankind, the wisdom of relying on its own and perseverance to carry out such a self-release of the human spirit, then the same time, it is a concern of Buddhist religion in real life, speaking from the Mahayana Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism developed but the core of life is to make a better life by improved. So we say it is a Buddhist master Zhang Zili free of religion, on its own to obtain relief religion. then this means that it is a Buddhist, you can also say that Buddhism is a religion of wisdom. We probably often heard the word, called the to the other side of the mean. it is wisdom Prajnaparamita to the other side, so we call it the wisdom of the degree, or intellectual level, with wisdom, his wisdom to save themselves, so it is an advocate of Buddhism on their own the wisdom of such a relief to get religion. then Buddhism does, it is a promotion of his religion degree from the degree, not only to free themselves, but also to all sentient beings have been liberated, such a religion, so we can said that Buddhism is a religion of compassion.
F: Buddhism stresses compassion, it is from two aspects, Mercy is for sentient beings to happiness, sorrow is the middle of the living beings from the suffering of rescues out. so compassionate spirit Baku is with music, give pleasure to all living creatures, and let the creatures out from the suffering of the middle relief. So this is it reflects the Buddhist religion of a people-oriented is a real-life importance of such a religion. then finally we can say Buddhism is a religion rule the heart. in China from the Tang Dynasty began to spread with such a statement, called the rule of Confucianism, with the Confucian philosophy to governing the country with the Tao itself, to the Taoist philosophy to health, to the Buddha Governance heart. so it can be said that it is a cure for the heart of Buddhist religion. then some of the features of Buddhism Why is this so? I think it is saying this is the basic doctrine and its main theory is associated together. So I would like to talk about following the teachings of Buddhism and its main theories.
so there is often talk about Buddhism, not enemies would meet somehow Yeah.
in the Buddhist view, you are actually suffering a lot of fun, getting too much of There are plenty of things.
is like a fleeting dream, as in the water, like the middle of a dream, wake up with nothing.
main teachings of Buddhism, if we take the words of the brief, I think that the two words, a bitter, an empty word. hard to say a Buddhist view of life, and air can also be said to be a Buddhist world view, cosmology. Buddhism teaches that all beings, sentient beings in Buddhism as a , sentient beings, that is such a thing has a life. then this life on sentient beings, he was born the middle of the troubles in the pain center. Buddhism is often talked about, there are eight living body suffering. in front of four very simple birth and death, this bitter, is that everyone goes through illness and death. In fact, as the pain, it is not only life form, you can say that all phenomena, including the lack of life, it also have to go through this, because animate all things have life, so for non-life body is concerned, Buddhism is called a process called times have changed, but also the demise of the last.
House: So in addition to these four, there are four bitter, bitter called Aibie Li, do not we just talking about death is bitter, the Health and off, especially love the people, this from it, it sure it probably tears shall flow into the river. Aibie Li bitter. then the second is the unpleasant bitter enemies meet, that's very sad, with the unpleasant, meet, and meet , and hate is best not to meet, but happens to meet, so there is often talk about Buddhism, not enemies would meet somehow, especially his wife, parents, children, and often are the past lives of the enemy, not the enemy without a head together. with the unpleasant, much suffering. Third, seeking not bitter, not want to get that trouble, all sorts of problems, troubles, are here. The last is the five aggregates flaming (hard), because Buddhists believe that a life body, which is a combination of the five kinds of things, gathered from the five areas, including the material, including the spiritual, then the five areas, whether from a physical or spiritual pursuit pursuit It is constantly expanding, then this expansion if the demand can not, or excessive, it will bring us a lot of pain. So Buddhism teaches that all life on its fundamental problem is that he will always live in the middle of a worry , also is suffering. So why have such a number of such a situation? we ordinary people sometimes feel that I am still happy, in the Buddhist view, you are actually suffering a lot of fun, getting too much of it plenty. So why would produced this way, then the Buddhists believe that is because you have a lot of reverse paranoia, it's understanding of the phenomenal world is a wrong perception, wrong understanding. then it is the nature of the phenomenal world is it? the nature of the phenomenal world is empty . Buddhism stresses the air, is not nothing. we think about, Oh, empty, nothing being done, is nothing, Buddhism stresses the air did not mean that Buddhism stresses the meaning of what is it empty? is all about It is not a phenomenon of constancy, why all the phenomena of the world it has no constancy, no such independent body as well? Buddhist scriptures which is often made that in terms of this analogy, that is like a fleeting dream, as in the water, like a dream among a Awakening to what is not, like a fog with the electricity, the morning mist while it scattered the sun is out, power begins to flash past, did not have, so that all the phenomenal world is not such a constancy, eternity , eternal.
House: So it's not that there is no phenomenal world, we see so much, no? there, but those of us are eternal? No. and every thing it, it is by the Hop from a variety of causes and conditions. So gather up in one of these cause this thing, cause scattered, and it this thing is gone. So Buddhists believe that all the trouble comes from what? you all the trouble to come from these false illusory as the real thing. unreal things, not just treat it as the real thing to look at, but also to distinguish between, this is mine, that is you, that is his, with such a After the distinction between, respectively, after the heart with this difference, they begin to have attachments, and I give it a good thing to hold, what is your best chance to something when I can get it Come, So with such a discriminating mind, he would have this attachment, so the Buddhist say to the null is to let you know its true, the phenomenal world. As for the phenomenon is still to be fully given to understand, then how to explain this kind of A reason for this? It is proposed that the most fundamental Buddhist theory, that is the origin of. the so-called origin of this there is a Gubi, Gubi off this off. They are born from causes and conditions, so there is no cause this thing is not , cause there is this thing coming together, cause scattered, it is no such thing, this is the origin of Buddhism, a basic theory.
F: Well, from this origin theory, Buddhism also stresses that it causal reasoning, that is, the phenomenon is not without reason, everything has its reasons for the phenomenon is, but for this reason, the main reason for this phenomenon is not in addition to another thing, but it is precisely this phenomenon of the inner self things, so karma, Buddhism stresses the cause, because that is the main reason to take the words of now, since the result, the margin is a condition in all aspects, so the cause polymerization have this phenomenon, cause scattered to not have this phenomenon, because some things has its cause, so it has its fruit, the result is a comfortable, then get a life form is concerned, he's due to where? because of the Buddhist analysis, is called his industry, because of that industry, industry , the cause of the industry, then the Buddhist analysis of it, this industry has three major categories, from the living body is concerned, there are three major categories, body, mouth, Italy, the three industries. the body, that of course, is that some of our actions, and behavior. mouth means of our words. Italy is our concept, think. The three industries, then in the middle of your daily actions, it will make many, many things to. We normally when the activity is through the body, mouth, intended to do. It seems to do it later, your thought, speech, behavior, this caused all sorts of things is tantamount to industry. So what made you trade it, what it will bear fruit. so there industry have reported that the industry is due to be reported to the fruit. so there will be retribution that argument, saying karma. So Buddhism is no any external cause, the Buddhist say, and you are such a situation, how it You deserve it, this industry is you do, so this report it is by your own. So in Buddhism, there's no say, with the Chinese tradition is different, because of China's traditional thought is often the parents, parents species because of the children to enjoy the fruits of the so-called there is no such thing, he is self-inflicted, has nothing to do with your parents, your parents just take the body to put your original accumulated into this industry, this report now, so he has no parent child bond Such a concept is not, so Buddhism which had stressed, so I just said, Why, boomerang Well, as to ourselves, then of course you should be a degree of self-nature from their own to liberate ourselves. So the Chinese traditional inside, often touching to this. Some people say, oh, this Zen, the Zen master, I worry very much, this bugging me so much trouble. the Zen Master would ask him, who tied you, you tied yourself, no one tied you, so do not let others to the rope solution is to your own solution, so the Buddhism which was about this problem.
the color does not mean sex, not that beautiful young lady, but refers to all phenomena.
people to truly become a Buddha, can not leave this world.
we come into this world naked above, we leave this world naked, and you can take what?
Well, thank you for giving us the answer, thank you
House: Then the origin of theory, the theory of karma, how to change it? then this fact, which can be said of Buddhism, we can say is divided into two phases said. In the original Buddhism, which is mainly used on the Four Noble Truths, the Four Noble Truths, the so-called hard, set, off, way, the truth of this in terms of the Four Noble Truths. your life, life is hard body Well, that is the trouble comes from you made a trade, so the industry is due, you bitter fruit, the result is set, your set is a collection of a wide variety of industries, so you have this pain, then is made by your industry caused. So how to eliminate it? those with Buddhist practice approach, these teachings of the Buddhist insights. that is called the Road and off, bitter, set, off, road, so off the pursuit of the original Buddhism, Taoism is its method of bitter root of all phenomena, then the reason is that it sets a variety of industries, and we use it to destroy the Buddhist way is to reason about the set, then the terms at the time, Buddhism is the main means of this road eight truth . then it is basically to leave the bitter dispassion to achieve a quiet road. then this, is an off-color process. so that by the Mahayana Buddhism, to the Buddhist concept of space to further push ahead the future, they emphasize the idea of a color space Fuji. that it is the nature of all phenomena are illusory, and its essence is empty , but the phenomenon is there, of the illusory there. so you have to get this space, can not leave this situation to get it, it is not able to completely eradicate this phenomenon, and I is empty, no, but it is precisely in this to understand the phenomenon of the middle of its emptiness. This is what we often read to the color does not mean sex, not referring to a beautiful young lady, but to all the phenomena, we often have misunderstandings, in fact, it refers to all phenomena. So that is our real life to the middle, in the face of such a phenomenon to chaos know this space, to hold the air, that is not to have an obsession for this phenomenon not to have an obsession, dedication of the will give you a lot of trouble.
House: So therefore to Mahayana Buddhism, took birth and the WTO issue, but also to integrate it well, and we generally want to avoid it, the phenomenon of the world's troubles, and therefore want to find a quiet. Well, this seems in Mahayana Buddhism, which is a Theravada thought, grown tired of life and death to pursue that Nirvana, the scene then in the Mahayana view, not going to bore the real world, do not go into the envy or the real world, not to envy the realm of Nirvana, is not going to grow tired of the Nirvana world, is everything is in such a way of thinking Fuji to take it. So to think that Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism believes that all worldly good deeds, all the world's best methods are Buddhist, people should really into Buddha, we can not leave this world, then so is this some ideas of Buddhism, so the formation of it, so I have some of the characteristics mentioned it. So some of its modern society, what sort of inspiration? I think our modern society, can be said to be a sick society, especially now that our society is full of all sorts of contradictions, the contradiction between man and nature, individual and social conflict, physical and psychological self-contradiction is caused by these contradictions can be said, are due to our human self-alienation, take the words of a philosophy called the alienation, the alienation of philosophy in terms of the meaning of words, did we create something out of this is to make our own freedom more fully, more freedom the result will be what our own shackled created our own, which is called alienation, alienation means the above philosophy. Then we look at our society today is so.
F: So the rapid development of science and technology, and the other On the one hand the loss of human spirit, we sometimes will unconsciously become slaves of God, for God, blind faith, or we will become a thing of the slaves, became the pursuit of material desires of such things. So we often want to self-centered, self indulgent, but also very fashionable now, we all feel that we should be self-centered, self-publicity. Well, this self-centered, self-assertive course of the middle, actually caused a lot of split personality, then This is the core of the middle of things, is actually a loss of self. I remember my teacher gave us lan lectures at the time mentioned, he said that we look at history, what a thinker he most emphasized how a concept of what time, it is certainly the most serious social problem. So I think we emphasized that everyone in the self-apparent, self-centered, self indulgent, self-expression, etc., so precisely that the loss of our self. take the word of Buddhism Six Primary Afflictions about what we, the three drugs, the result of unlimited expansion. greed, mainly referring to the above physiological, mainly referring to the above physiological, but also spiritual pursuit of unlimited desire, anger is a kind of Chen Hui, Chen Hui is unbalanced, always jealous of others, others that better than you, and his heart was unhappy, people better than you, and you happy. this hatred, so we are now extremely mental illness in a competitive society inside, is starting a process than the middle of the most powerful such Chenhui Xin, so why we are very serious social situation of sub, sub is the most fundamental psychological imbalance, ignorance is reversed, that reversal delusion, that is, the face of the phenomenal world, the true face of blind and ignorance is the opposite of wisdom, wisdom is the ability to see the essence of the phenomenon, which is the illusory nature there. so for a number of diseases that, I want to give us now the Buddhist Social life is a great tonic for. I know the true colors of the Buddhist emphasis on not only understanding, but also awareness. then people really are what is it? clean. that is, or null. have been the case if we are the most popular, according to the words of popular, we students do not already naked, so they took material things (terms), we come into this world naked above, we leave this world naked, and you can take what? I always talk about worldly possessions is the case, but the results of the human spirit, the spirit of achievement can be taken away, and die, we often lost a lot of spiritual wealth, which is a very important issue now is that for such intangibles us how to protect the property of the problem, how come the question of succession, inheritance issues. so aware of the nature of peace and quiet, a phenomenon recognized some of the world are impermanent, all without me, then you can use such a kind of wisdom is Prajna wisdom to eliminate the difference in your heart, let go of your attachment. we can do in a heart of accession to the WTO was born to do, we need to do a heart born WTO thing. We to face the reality, do not avoid the reality, not escape to the middle in the real world how to complete the personality to develop, so we focus on Buddhism to the present, we have to learn in the moment, walk now, and realize in the moment, permits in the moment . so I think you can sum up the last, Mahayana Buddhism is the wisdom and compassion of these two fundamental spirit, then the two fundamental spirit of the language used to express the present it, is called the consciousness of life, dedicated life. So Buddhism is Bodhi, on demand, on demand awareness, under the souls of the masses on the consciousness of life is seeking enlightenment and dedication of all beings is the next life. then the two is yet inseparable. by the awareness and active dedication, devotion and continue to improve by the consciousness. So I think this Buddhist society we are now, in this sense is still very large, and if we are able to Buddhism, such a carry forward the spirit of compassion, to carry forward, and everyone that played such a compassion to his love, then I think the world will be harmonious, it will be at peace. I talked about it. Well.
Moderator: Thank you very much, Mr. Lie buildings which give us the presentation of Buddhism in the end is what it is kind of religion, with what kind of doctrine, what is it the spirit of pursuit. over here, I would like to ask you to give us about that, we know that since the introduction of Buddhism after it, in different historical periods, In fact, it has a different rise or fall, then in the end what factors determine the rise and fall of its ups and downs, and the prevailing political environment is what kind of relationship?
F: I think this is a good question, that is, After Buddhism entered China, the rise and fall several times indeed, the ups and downs. then this rise or fall, I think from a different point of view would. because it is not the same, it's rise or fall is not the same. such as it pre- I think this is a great reason for running with the Chinese traditional culture, the need for a running process, but slowly slowly it running, so it can adapt to China's traditional culture. and because it is in the nature of the above emphasis on self- promotion, self-liberation, so the middle with the Chinese culture emphasizes the perfect personality, ethical self-cultivation of such a spirit, it should be said to be quite compatible. it formed up, and penetrated into every aspect of Chinese culture as Chinese culture is an integral integral. that it is also bad (down), which has a number of complex reasons, political reasons, there are economic reasons, such as Buddhism, Taoism against, but ultimately, I think it was some kind of competing political forces and a certain economic problems. so that by the latter, we often say, is the decline of Buddhism in China after the Song and Ming Dynasties, in fact, I want to separate the look of this decline. because of the Song Dynasty, Buddhism can penetrate into the Chinese culture that went to the middle, when speaking, can be said that many of the fundamental of the classic Buddhist intellectuals are each must have his knowledge it contains, and there is no such thing, he is not above to activities in the community, so this situation below, hard to say that Buddhism is fading, but the transformation of a way to penetrate into the us, the fact that we have penetrated into the inside of such a Confucian. but on the other hand, it is a large number of believers in supporting the activities that , so the rise and fall, it is this situation is very complicated, very complicated.
Moderator: Well, thank you for giving us the answer, thank you.
brother named Bodhi finger bone, he said that building, Professor I was curious how this relic is formed in the end?
If you believe in it, it would have, if you do not believe it, I'll give you speak, you say no, I have no way to debate with you,
spiritual teachers look at how the so-called environmental issue?.
Luo Sangti very good. is indeed a Buddha in your heart, the Buddha is consciously Ziwu.
Moderator: earlier we mentioned that more and more people likely to believe in Buddhism, then of course there are more and more people to care about Buddhism, so today we have collected online to a lot of problems. here are a netizen, called the Buddha's finger bone brother He said House professor, I was curious how this relic is formed in the end? He felt very strange and why only the enlightenment of the monks to be able to form the relics of bone, which in the end what?
House: The I think the problem is very troublesome, so to stand in the perspective of a believer to ask it, to answer it, or stand in the position of a non-believer to answer, or stand in the position of a so-called science to answer it, this difficult. So I think this is best not to ask, if you believe in it, then yes, if you do not believe it, I'll give you speak, you say no, I have no way to tell you the debate Debate is also not a result, because this phenomenon is not just moral support of the monks, other people may say you can. But because the monks attained Ye Hao, for example, a prestigious no matter how we are concerned about high Well, have a high attention Well, I'm ordinary dead, burned, no one would pick me to go inside the relic, right? So you have paid attention to it , does not care about no, you have a letter, you do not believe there would be no, it is one, I think it is such a problem, I might not stand in the position of religion is concerned, I do not stand in the so-called scientific position in terms of.
Moderator: Well, thank you.
Moderator: Well, now what, I want to ask questions of the time left to us here the audience.
Question 1: Building teacher, you good. In my opinion, to achieve social harmony, should be had behaved, do not impose on others, that is, what would you think of this without the consent of the audience, he seeks up to people's phenomenon? Thank you. < br> F: I think this is the case now because this is an ideal, an ideal of Confucianism, has Yuli standing person, he seeks also to reach people, have behaved, do not impose on others. This is an ideal reality it can not be completely such an ideal. So in the middle of such a reality, there are many rely on for it the military, or economic, or political, or even culture, technology, etc., from this strong to make It is the number of values on others and so on, which I think is what we now need to use our philosophy of Confucianism, with Buddhism, such a concept of equality, to vigorously promote and publicize such a thought it, to make more people aware of this.
Moderator: Well, thank you.
Question 2: host, Hello, gentlemen, Hello. Qian master, master of the famous philosopher once said Qian However, Eastern philosophy the highest state of nature and man, but the current situation is that while China's remarkable economic development, but environmental damage is very serious. how do you think of Buddhism to achieve a sustainable environment and economy harmonious development, the end of the current progress of the evil people because, to avoid the consequences of eating? Thank you.
F: I think this is a good question, I think the spirit of Buddhist compassion, it is not limited to sentient beings, It is this phenomenon all over the world, so Buddhism there such a word, called the missed Daci, with great compassion. is not related to the so-called missed Well, we have no relationship to one, granted it is kind, then of course have the same body relations, and we live together as a body, of course, should be the case. so it is this concept, the idea of compassion is over all, throughout all of this emotional world and the ruthless world. So from this perspective, Buddhism should be said that the man with such a harmony of nature, is made a great contribution. the relationship of people with the natural growing tension, then to bring human existence is a very great harm, so actively to promote the Buddhist's spirit of such a compassionate, active years, so including China's traditional Confucian ideas have such a great idea that such a Heaven and Man. So I think This is, today we need to actively do.
Moderator: Thank you.
Question 5: host, hello, there are floor Professor, hello. I would like to ask a question now is, I think it is grew up in the small to this stage of this age, I always pray to Buddha and superstitions that have a relationship. I ask, if in a big city, might burn incense and pray that it may be strong and inclusive city some, others will, rarely linked to superstition, but in some remote areas, or some rural areas, they will use superstition to reflect this phenomenon. I want to ask, say, how you look at this phenomenon, then the Buddhist with this superstition, it has no obvious limits of the division? Thank you.
F: I think this is a now a relatively common problem in many people's minds, or to burn incense and pray as a superstition, it is a relatively common phenomenon, I think this phenomenon is actually a psychological above people's needs, we should not be excessive to stop him, maybe he was holding a superstitious idea to do these things, but In fact he was a psychological reflection of the things above, needs the kind of feel that to withstand natural forces, or against some of the pressure of society, their strength is not enough, want the help of these forces. So why are we going to accuse him of a certain it, I think it should be tolerated, but another ...