1992 -- 歡喜與融和

1992 -- Joy and Harmony

Keynote speech given at the 1st BLIA General Conference
Los Angeles, CA, USA, 1992

國際佛光會各國地區會長、各位會員代表、各位貴賓：

今天，欣逢「國際佛光會」第一屆會員代表大會，暨世界總會成立大會，有來自世界五大洲，四十八個國家和地區的精英代表，齊聚於美國洛杉磯西來寺，四千餘人參與此一盛會，初步體現了「佛光普照三千界，法水長流五大洲」的理想。

在現代世界文明互相交流，地球村民往來頻繁之際，佛教也逐漸突破舊有型態，走出山林，進入社會；擴大寺院功能，深入人群服務；步向家庭，助益國家，進而超越國界而延伸全球。為了促進人類融和，發揚慈悲友愛精神，國際佛光會乃應運而生。

依星雲個人的體會，本會是具足：

一、信仰的根性--以虔誠信仰的佛法，建立本會的基礎。
二、普及的特性--以普及人間的服務，作為本會的目標。
三、現代的適性--以適應現代的發展，形成本會的風格。
四、國際的廣性--以擴大國際的交流，開闊本會的胸襟。

所以我們主張，佛光會員要能做到：

一、做個共生的地球人。
二、做個同體的慈悲人。
三、做個明理的智慧人。
四、做個有力的忍耐人。
五、做個布施的結緣人。
六、做個清淨的修道人。

在我們步上世界舞台的時刻，呈現給世人的必須是一個歡喜的團體，融和友愛的組織，所以將此次大會的主題定為「歡喜與融和」。

過去，佛教常常給予人們以消極、悲觀、厭世的錯覺，深山苦修，導致佛教積弱不振。誠然佛陀慈悲教誡世間是苦、空、無常，但他同時也指示對法樂喜悅的追求。因此現世悲苦的實相，不足以代表佛教，佛教的真象是襌悅與法喜。佛教有慈悲喜捨的內容，有利樂人間的聖道，有極樂淨土、琉璃世界的美妙樂悅。凡是在佛法中有體驗証悟的人，總是歡呼著：「法喜！解脫！襌悅！安樂！」在在表現佛教導人歡喜、令人快樂的實情。

我相信國際佛光會的建立，一定能把我們的歡喜展現出來，將我們的法樂散佈出去。我們要用入世替代出世，用積極取換消極，用樂觀改變悲觀，用喜世摧毀厭世。用歡喜的奉獻，展現國際佛教的生命力與正覺觀。

依據佛經記載，佛陀宣講佛法時，他是「助令歡喜」、「歡喜說法」、「示教利喜」的典範，諸弟子聞法皆「心生歡喜」、「願樂欲聞」，大眾更以「歡喜踴躍」、「歡喜信受」、「歡喜奉行」乃至「歡喜讚歎，作禮而去」表達對佛法的信受。這麼一場歡喜春風，早在佛陀時已散發遍佈。佛教所擁有的法喜襌悅，才是真諦寶藏。

所以國際佛光會全體會員，所許的共同的願望：「我們要把歡喜佈滿人間！」

因歡喜修道而體悟功德者，也所在多有，如：「我於喜樂念樂中，欲求五功德果。」（釋提恒因問經）。「歡喜恭敬心，能問甚深法。」（華嚴經入法界品）。「諸佛子菩薩，住於極喜地時，極多歡喜，多淨信、多愛樂、多適悅、多忻慶。」（十地經）。普賢菩薩就是以「隨喜功德」作為第五項修行指標。（華嚴經普賢行願品）。彌勒菩薩也讚成在快樂修行中獲至菩薩行：「以善巧方便，安樂之道，積集無上正等菩提。」（彌勒菩薩所問本願經）。

諸佛菩薩當中，以「歡喜」成就佛道的，有眾所熟悉的笑顏常開的彌勒佛之外，尚有：歡喜王菩薩、歡喜念菩薩、歡喜意菩薩、歡喜力菩薩、歡喜快樂佛、歡喜自在佛、歡喜莊嚴佛、歡喜藏佛、歡喜德佛、歡喜無畏佛、歡喜威德佛等（出自佛名經），可見「歡喜人生」的提倡，諸佛菩薩早就以此作為修行入佛的常道。

其實，人類生命輪迴的過程已夠苦了，何忍再加諸憂悲苦惱於世間？我們為了解決苦惱的難題，提出一劑「歡喜」的良藥來醫治。我們要創造一個進取的理念：給人幸福，給人快樂；要讓大家分享歡喜，具足希望。佛陀說「諸行無常」當得會意：「無常很好！」無常就是變化，好的會變成壞的，壞的也會變成好的，因為無常，所以一切在「因、緣、果」的法則下，只要善因善緣，均能否極泰來，時來運轉，生機出現而希望無窮。故吾等國際佛光人由尋求自身輕安法喜，體証超越時空的清淨安樂，更要散播自受用和他受用的襌悅給大眾。將我們身口意的無限歡喜，呈獻於法界之內，普世之前。讓那些已經忘了微笑，許久沒有關懷，愁眉深鎖的朋友獲得一份「歡喜灌頂」。讓我們秉持著：「慈悲喜捨遍法界，惜福結緣利人天，禪淨戒行平等忍，慚愧感恩大願心」的理念，開創佛教歡喜的風氣，促使幸福快樂的人間佛教，源遠流長；讓歡喜的人們永保樂觀，就算娑婆八苦交煎，我們也要做到從心不苦，進而做到身不苦，因為在佛光普照下，我們要讓憂苦的陰影蕩然無存！

在佛光山上，靈山勝境的山門定為不二門，有一則對聯是：「不二本無門，二不二，具是自家真面目；靈山稱勝境，山非山，無非我人清淨身。」佛陀的清淨法身與眾生的真實自性，是同源一體，無二無別。在佛性中根本存在融和、平等與圓滿的本性，不需外求。今天國際佛光會草創開始，除歡喜外，必能秉著「融和」之容性，吸收會員，接納會友，擴展會務，發揚會風。

「融和」是一種容人的雅量，一種平等的相待，一種尊重的言行。國際佛光會正需具備一份容納異己的氣量，方能有博大的未來。古諺：「泰山不辭土壤，大海不捐細流。」昔日，齊桓公延用敵師管仲，得以九合諸侯，一匡天下；唐太宗推崇魏徵魯直規諫，顯示寬容大度。同樣地，佛門傳頌：「百川匯歸大海，共一鹹味」，「各族入佛，同為佛子。」昔日，剎帝王孫難陀和阿難尚對首陀羅賤民出身的優波離，拜火教的迦葉，好玄論的迦旃延，尊奉為師兄，概因「四姓出家，同為釋氏」的平等性，由此可知佛陀早就打破種族交界線、階級差別。佛陀慈悲融和的性格，使佛種得以遍撒各地，佛法得以流傳至今。今日，國際佛光會要屹立於世界，更需要努力接納別人，融和眾生，才能成長茁壯。

星雲一向主張，同中容異，異中求同。在佛教裏，南北傳的佛教要融和，傳統和現代的佛教也要融和；禪淨要融和，顯密也要融和；僧信要融和；世出世法也要融和；融和就是中道，中道才是真正的佛法。今日世界更需要融和，國家與國家要融和，種族與種族要融和，士農工商與士農工商要融和，群我之間更要有群我之間的融和，政黨主義應與政黨主義融和，因為融和才是今後地球人的共生之道！

世人以心地不夠寬大的陋習是：「自己萎弱，厭人健全；自己惡動，怪人活潑；自己飲水，嫉人喝茶；自己呻吟，恨人笑聲。」國際佛光人與此陋習恰恰相反；佛光人是實行菩薩道的：「人在山林，要心懷社會；立足地球，要放眼宇宙；身居道場，要普利大眾；天堂雖好，要美化人間」。處在融和的修行中，平等尊重，有活潑的人我一如，更有健全的自他兩利。

古來的佛教，一直十分注重融攝反對者的理論，以及吸收異論者合理的思想，更不斷取得其他學派、宗教中適合的善巧與方便，以適存於各地域、各歷史、各文化、各社會與環境之中，以發揮佛教強韌的生命力。佛教對外如此，對內更是以融和來兼容並蓄。二千六百多年來，佛教幾經萬花齊放、百鳥爭鳴，綻放出極其繽紛的光彩。在佛理、教義上有頓漸、迷悟、真妄、空有等不同的學說與議論；在印度宗派上有大眾部、上座部的分岐，在中國有八大宗派的不同，不管什麼殊異的發展，但總是不離佛教的三法印和八正道的軌範。可見佛法中蘊涵極深，包容極廣。國際佛光會所推崇的，正是這類融和的佛法。我們的主張是：

一、以平等、尊重和開放的態度，容納異教和異言、異人和異事，但要正而不邪。
二、以積極、慎重和穩健的作風，吸收其他的精華、特色與方法，但要與人有益。
三、以佛法、豐富和廣博的內涵，滋養世間和人類，同體和共生，但要氣宇胸襟。
四、以融和、交流和溝通的行動，接受文明和訊息，自覺和覺他，但要正心誠意。

所以國際佛光會全體會員共同的願望是：「我們要以融和與世相處！」

融和的重要，從最近發生的洛杉磯種族暴動事件也反映出來。正因為缺少了融和，缺少了包容，缺少了互相諒解，缺少了互相尊重，才會產生種族隔閡，才會產生種族歧視，最後也才會產生種族暴亂。看看世界種族糾紛不斷，國家暴力糾纏不已，現代的文明已影響了和平與安寧，已敗壞了天地法則與自然生態，這說明了國際佛光會提倡的「歡喜與融和」，不僅是主觀的願望，也確是客觀的需要。就這一點來說，象徵著歡喜與融和的國際佛光會世界總會，此時此地在洛杉磯正式宣告成立，更具有特殊的時代意義。我們在消除種族彼此歧視中扮演一個角色，我們在發展現代文化思潮中促進人類的和諧，我們在提倡弘法利生佛光普照時，帶給世間的希望，我們在復興佛教宣揚法音時，提醒大眾的良知，這是國際佛光人的光榮，也是國際佛光人的義務！

國際佛光會的任務是一件接一件，國際佛光人的精神是一代傳一代。在此，祈願在三寶加被及佛陀慈光下，我們共以信心、耐心與恒心延續佛法慧命，同用佛心與慈念，化解自己和世人的愚昧！我們領納「融和」的無量，付出「歡喜」的布施，實踐國際佛光人的目的：「提倡人間佛教，建設佛光淨土，淨化世道人心，實現世界和平。

Presidents and Representatives of the various Buddha’s Light International Associations and Distinguished Guests,

Welcome to the inauguration of Buddha’s Light International Association and the first General Conference. Thousands of people from all over the world, including representatives from forty-five countries, are gathered here at Hsi Lai Temple. We are fulfilling the ideal of having the Buddha’s light illuminate the three thousand realms and of letting the Dharma water flow throughout the five [counted as seven in the West] continents.

In this modern era, mass communication is very accessible; the citizens of our planet can travel around the world as if visiting their neighbors. Buddhism must change its traditional ways of doing things by coming out of the forest and entering society. It must expand the functions of temples to serve the community through involvement with families, nations, and the world. The Buddha’s Light International Association was established in order to effect this change by promoting harmony, compassion, and friendship among the entire human race.

In my opinion, the Buddha’s Light International Association is characterized by the following:

1. faith - Having a strong faith in Buddhism is the foundation of this association.

2. outreach - Serving the general public is one of the objectives of this association.

3. modernization - Adapting to the needs of modern society is a feature of this association.

4. international exchange - Increasing international exchange is the spirit of this association.

Buddha’s Light International Association members should observe the following:

1. Realize that all beings on earth are interdependent.

2. Be compassionate and treat all beings as ourselves.

3. Have the wisdom to distinguish right from wrong.

4. Have the strength to be magnanimous towards everyone. 

5. Be generous and befriend others.

6. Be practitioners of pure mind.

At this moment, we are stepping on the international stage. We must demonstrate to the people of the world that we are a community of happiness, harmony, and friendship. With this in mind, we have decided that the main theme of this General Conference should be "joy and harmony."

In the past, Buddhism seems to have conveyed about itself the misguiding images of passivity, pessimism, and aversion to the world, strongly emphasizing ascetic practices. This misunderstanding has led to the gradual decline of Buddhism. It is true that the Buddha taught the concepts of suffering, emptiness, and impermanence, but he also taught us to seek happiness in the Dharma. The Buddhist teachings do not instruct that suffering and unhappiness are all there is to experience in this world; on the contrary, Buddhism attempts to guide us along the path of liberation and happiness.

Kindness, compassion, sympathy, joy, and equanimity are the teachings of Buddhism. A true Buddhist practitioner tries to do everything possible to benefit society. The Buddha also taught about the Pureland of Ultimate Bliss. Those who are enlightened often joyfully express the happiness of their liberation. These examples illustrate that Buddhism is a religion of happiness.

The establishment of the Buddha’s Light International Association is an expression of the joy and happiness that we have experienced through the practice of Buddhism. We have to take part in this society. We have to change from being passive to being active. We have to replace pessimism with optimism. We have to transform an aversion of the world to genuine love. We have to express right views of international Buddhism through joyous, altruistic giving.

Being subject to the endless cycle of birth and death already causes great suffering. Why would we want to make our situation any worse? The "medicine of happiness" can cure the disease of suffering. We have to foster forward-looking views by sharing our joy with others. The Buddha once said, "All phenomena are impermanent." We have to understand that impermanence implies change. Good changes to bad, and bad changes to good. If good causes and conditions are present, we can be sure that the final result will be good, even if we might encounter certain difficulties.

Not only will we as members of the Buddha’s Light International Association strive to realize the joy of the Dharma for ourselves alone, but we will also share this happiness with others. To create an atmosphere of joy, we must keep the motto of the Buddha’s Light International Association in mind. This motto is "May kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity pervade all Dharma realms; May all beings benefit from our friendship and kindness; May our ethical practices of Ch’an and Pureland help us to realize patience and equality; May we undertake the Great Vows with humility and gratitude." May the joy of Humanistic Buddhism last forever. May those who are happy maintain their optimism, even when they are confronted with the Eight Sufferings. We must learn to liberate ourselves both mentally and physically. Wherever Buddha’s light shines, there should be neither sadness nor suffering.

At the entrance to Fo Guang Shan Monastery stands the Gate of Non-duality. The following verses are inscribed on the gate: "Non-duality originally has no gate. Duality is not really duality; it is our true nature. The mountain is called a holy place. The mountain is not really a mountain; it is actually a manifestation of our pure body." The pure Dharma body of the Buddha is each individual’s true nature. Equality, harmony, and perfection are already present in our Buddha nature. There is no need for us to seek outside of ourselves for these things. We are hopeful that, by chartering the Buddha’s Light International Association today, happiness will permeate all beings.

Harmony means acceptance, equality, and respect. The future of the Buddha’s Light International Association will only be assured if those in the Association maintain an open mind and accept everyone unconditionally. According to the Buddhist scriptures, "When all the rivers flow into the ocean, they will only have one tastethe taste of saltiness." The Buddha treated all his disciples with equality, regardless of whether they were originally from a royal family or from the untouchable caste. The Buddha’s harmonious accommodation of all people is a major contributing factor to the strength and propagation of Buddhism.

Followers of the Theravada and Mahayana schools will have to harmonize, as well as will traditional and modern practices, Ch’an and Pureland, esoteric and exoteric, monastics and the laity, and the mundane and the supramundane. Harmonization is actually the Buddha’s teaching of the Middle Path. Harmony is a necessary part of our modern world. It is essential between countries, people of differing ethnic origins, all sectors of society, and political parties. People on earth can only survive if they can live in harmony with each other. Members of the Buddha’s Light International Association are followers of the Bodhisattva Path, which is as follows: Though one is practicing the supramundane practice, one should have a concern for society. As citizens of the earth, we should keep the universe in mind and benefit the multitude. Though heaven might be very appealing, we should beautify our human world." This kind of harmonious practice encompasses the factors of both equality and respect.

Since its early development, Buddhism has placed much emphasis on the assimilation and absorption of even controversial and so-called heretical ideas, as well as continuously adopting the useful methods employed by other religious traditions. In order for Buddhism to flourish, Buddhism has had to adapt to the various geographical, historical, cultural, and social environments. Having such an open attitude towards their external environment, it is easy to see that, internally, Buddhists embrace the religion with harmony and acceptance. For more than 2,500 years, Buddhism has continuously emitted a rich luminance, like a continent of floral blossoms and a flock of singing birds. Within the body of the Buddhist teachings, differences in theoretical arguments are not uncommon: instantaneous versus progressive enlightenment, delusion versus realization, reality versus phenomena, emptiness versus existence, and so forth. In Indian Buddhism, a split developed between the Mahasanghika and Theravada schools. In China, there are eight major schools. Though the variations have been many throughout Buddhism’s development, the teachings have never deviated from the fundamental concepts of the Three Dharma Seals and the Eightfold Noble Path. This is why the Dharma can be viewed as extremely profound and broad. It is exactly this harmonious quality of the Dharma that we members of Buddha’s Light International Association hold dear to our hearts. We advocate the following:

• • Honor every religious tradition, both its teachings and its followers, by keeping an impartial, respectful, and open-minded attitude, provided the tradition is righteous and not harmful.

  • Adopt the characteristics and methods of others in a positive, willing, and prudent manner, provided these is beneficial to the human race.

  • Nourish the world and the human race to be an interdependent universal one and to be coexistent with the Dharma, and a rich broad inner culture, provided we possess an exalted aspiration.

  • Be receptive to modern societies, their messages, and information to be self-awakening and to enlighten others through harmonious exchange and interlocutory actions, provided we have a righteous heart and a sincere mind. 

Therefore, the vow that all the members of the Buddha’s Light International Association have in common is "We will live together in harmony with all the beings of the world!"

The importance of harmony was also made apparent in the recent racial riots that occurred here in the Los Angeles area. We were shown how a lack of harmony, patience, mutual forgiveness, cultural understanding, and respect constructs barriers among races, and how discrimination and outbursts of violence follow. When we take a look at the ongoing racial disputes around the world and the endless entanglement of violence between nations, we can see how modern civilization has adversely affected peace and tranquility, has created chaos around the world, and has greatly harmed our natural environment. This is why joy and harmony are advocated by the Buddha’s Light International Associationnot only as a hope, but most certainly as a need. This is why, at this time and in this place in Los Angeles, the inauguration of the Buddha’s Light International Association, symbolizing joy and harmony, holds special significance for this epoch. We can play a role in putting an end to discrimination among races. We can promote harmony for the human race by developing progressive ideas. We can bring hope to the world by advocating the propagation of the Dharma for the benefit of all living things. We can shine the Buddha’s light universally and arouse everyone’s sense of responsibility for the revival of Buddhism and the spreading of the Dharma. This is our wonderful opportunity as Buddha’s Light International Association members, as well as our obligation.

The Buddha’s Light International Association has many tasks ahead. The spirit of the Association will be handed on from generation to generation. We hope that through the blessings of the Triple Gem and the kindness of the Buddha, we can offer our faith, patience and perseverance in our efforts to spread the Dharma. We hope that together we can arouse within ourselves compassionate thoughts that will rid us of our own ignorance, as well as that of others. We celebrate the freedom of harmony, and offer our joy so that we may realize the objectives of the Association. These wonderful goals are to advocate Humanistic Buddhism, to develop a pureland of the Buddha’s Light on earth, to promote morality, and to realize world peace.