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Master Zhan Ru: Social Responsibility of Buddhism in China, Korea, Japan and China under the context of global ethics

More articles 2020-07-26

Social Responsibility of Buddhism in China, Korea, Japan and China under the context of global ethics

Master Zhanru

With the advent of globalization, the world today is becoming a global village.With the development and progress of science and technology, modern civilization has brought many benefits to mankind, while various global crises are becoming increasingly prominent. Human society is facing severe challenges of various global problems: environmental pollution is getting worse, drug smuggling and mental crises are extremely serious, local wars and regional conflicts are one after another, and violent terrorist forces, ethnic separatist forces, and religious extremist forces are still quite active in some regions.In all these things, there is still a long way to go to realize the ideal of universal peace and common development.

When we think deeply about these global crises and conflicts, we will find that the deep causes of the oppositions and contradictions between different countries and regions, and different civilizations often come from differences between religions and the lack of tolerance and understanding between religions.Therefore, today, with economic globalization and information connections becoming increasingly close, the exchanges and dialogues between different civilizations and religions of mankind are stronger than in any previous era.Since Bai published the "Declaration on the Going Global Ethics" at a World Religious Parliament held in Chicago, USA in 1993, religious dialogue has become increasingly the theme of the times.In the global dialogue on ethics and religion, Buddhism should meet and respond to the influence and challenges from Western civilization with an open and equal mindset.

Global ethical and religious dialogue requires the search for a universal global morality among all civilizations and religions around the world.Buddhism faces the pain of birth, old age, sickness and death of human beings, and these pains are universally adaptable to everyone.The moral norms of the Five Precepts and Ten Virtues in Buddhism, the Six Paramitas and Four Conquers the Mahayana Bodhisattva spirit that benefits others, and the Buddhist concept of tolerance, compassion and equality have universal significance as common ethical norms and can provide unique resource value for global ethics.Faced with the rising wave of religious dialogue around the world, it is necessary for Buddhism to deeply explore its fine traditions, play its due role in public affairs, and contribute to promoting social prosperity and development and world peace and progress.

The Buddhist theory of dependent origination reveals the interdependence and harmony of all things and phenomena in the natural world and human society. This is the most fundamental idea that distinguishes Buddhism from other religions and philosophy, and it is also the basis for the Buddhist spirit of tolerance, compassion and equality to build.The so-called dependent origination means that all things and phenomena are established because of the combination of various causes and conditions. There is no independent and eternal and unchanging thing. All mental and physical laws are interdependent and coexist.Therefore, people and nature are interdependent and interconnected;Different ethnic groups, different countries, and different religions coexist in this world, and there are also inseparable connections.Only by respecting the cultures of different ethnic groups and their religious beliefs, acknowledging the differences in civilizations between different regions, and respecting each other's values can we reduce the barriers of civilization and religious conflicts.The Buddhist theory of dependent origination has positive significance for alleviating the ecological environment problems caused by the opposition between humans and nature, and for conflicts and violence caused by interreligious intolerance.

The ethical concept of the Five Precepts and Ten Virtues in Buddhism, the principle of not doing evil and following all good things, plays a positive role in improving morality, improving personality, maintaining harmonious interpersonal relationships and good social order, and even opposing war and maintaining peace and equality.Mahayana Buddhism emphasizes "creating the supreme Bodhi heart", compassionately saves all sentient beings, and through observation of the sufferings of sentient beings in the world, the Bodhicitta of saving sentient beings and awakens others can be developed.In terms of moral practice, six degrees and four photography are emphasized.The Six Paramitas are the basic teachings of Mahayana Buddhism, also known as the Six Paramitas, which include six aspects: giving, keeping precepts, forbearance, diligence, meditation and wisdom. They are six methods of practice for Bodhisattvas to save themselves and save sentient beings.Four-capture is the four methods of Bodhisattvas to capture sentient beings, specifically referring to giving (Divide the property with others, and then you have benefited others )、Love Words (Enlightenment of sentient beings with words that can make sentient beings happy and good )、Profit (Do things that benefit all living beings )、colleague (Live in harmony with all living beings, share their sufferings and happiness, and teach them randomly )。The six paramitas and four enumerations are the basic methods of Bodhisattva’s practice, reflecting the spirit of Mahayana Bodhisattvas who “do not seek happiness for themselves, but hope that sentient beings can be free from suffering.”

Buddhism is a religion that advocates peace. During its dissemination, it is carried out through a peaceful form of cultural exchange and has never launched a war due to faith.Buddhism originated in ancient India was spread to China, and was spread to neighboring countries such as South Korea and Japan through China.As the center of Northern Buddhism, China has been friendly and equal for most of the time in its mutual exchanges with Japan and South Korea for more than 1,500 years, and plays the role of a "golden bond" that communicates the cultures of various countries.The Mahayana Bodhisattva spirit of compassion for the world and selfless and beneficial to others has become an important traditional ideological resource and cultural spirit of Buddhism in the Three Kingdoms, and is deeply rooted in the lives of the people of the Three Kingdoms.Mahayana Buddhism has played a positive role in strengthening friendly ties between the three countries and enhancing cultural exchanges, and objectively promoted peace and stability in various Buddhist countries.This is the biggest feature of the cultural exchanges between Buddhists in the Three Kingdoms, and it is also the fundamental reason why friendly exchanges between Buddhists in the Three Kingdoms today can become an important force in maintaining peace in East Asia and even the world.

Religious dialogue includes both dialogue between religions and religion itself.Not only are there differences between different religions themselves, but there are also differences in belief forms within the same religion, so when religious dialogues, we must require common ground while reserving differences.The idea of "harmony but different" in the concept of "harmony is the most important" in Chinese Confucian culture emphasizes harmonious unity on the basis of respecting differences, forming a cultural tradition of being kind to others, advancing oneself to others, and being friendly to neighbors.Modern society requires respecting the values of various civilizations and religions to achieve social harmony and symbiosis between mankind.Through dialogue, communication and understanding based on the principle of equality, religious cultures that differ from each other between different regions and countries should be able to coexist harmoniously.During the process of spreading Buddhism, China, Japan and South Korea showed their own different characteristics due to their respective historical traditions and cultural backgrounds.Buddhism in the Three Kingdoms should respect the existence of individuality, understand and respect each other's values on the basis of understanding each other's differences.We believe that deepening the exchange of Buddhism and culture in the Three Kingdoms, transcending each other's differences, and giving full play to the spirit of equality in Mahayana Buddhism and the great compassion of all living beings will set a good example for religious dialogue.

Today, when religious dialogue has gradually become the theme of the times, through creative theoretical interpretation and practice, Buddhism can provide a unique resource for global ethics.Buddhism in the Three Kingdoms should jointly assume the social responsibility and peace mission of Buddhism, ease the contradictions and conflicts faced by the world today by enhancing interreligious dialogue, and make its own contribution to achieving world peace and symbiosis with mankind.

2024-02-05 18:09
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