佛教的精华：智悲双运

BUDDHISM— THE DEFINITION

佛教的定义

The Definition of Buddhism

二、佛教的定义

Buddhism actually means Buddhist studies, a subject taught and transmitted by the Buddha; or, a way through which ordinary people can learn to reach Buddhahood.

佛教的真实含义就是佛学。因为佛教实际上就是释迦牟尼佛所传下来的学科；或者可以说，佛法是让凡夫人通过修学以达到佛之境界的一种方法，因此，佛教就是佛学。

In the scriptures, Buddhism is defined by the two words— “doctrine” and “realization.” Doctrine refers to the teachings transmitted by the Buddha himself or the commentaries on canonical texts and other treatises written by the bodhisattvas after the Buddha gave his blessing and approval, such as the Tibetan Buddhist canon of Kangyur (The Translation of the Word) and Tengyur (Translation of Treatises). Realization refers to personal realization gained through practice, which encompasses discipline，meditation and wisdom. In other words, “doctrine” and “realization” stand for the whole of Buddha Dharma. Two other words, even more significant，can also summarize the full meaning of the Dharma，that is，“compassion” and “wisdom”，which will serve as the cornerstone of our discussion on Buddhism here.

佛经对佛教的定义就是两个字：“教”和“证”。教，是释迦牟尼佛亲口传讲的，或是经过释迦牟尼佛加持和开许，然后由菩萨们写下的经论，如藏传佛教的《丹珠儿》和《甘珠儿》；证，是指个人的修证，其中包括了戒——戒律、定——禅定、慧——智慧三部分。也就是说，教证这两个字代表了整个佛法；另外，还有更重要的两个字，也可以概括佛法的所有定义，那就是“智”和“悲”。下面就从智悲两方面来谈谈佛教。

All Buddhist teachings, be they Mahayana or Theravada, exoteric or esoteric, can be summed up by wisdom and compassion. In fact, the union of wisdom and compassion is the essence of Buddhism; it is ultimately what to be learned and practiced in Buddhism.

所有的佛教，包括大乘、小乘，显宗、密宗的内容，都可归纳于智悲当中。智悲双运，是整个佛教的精华所在。修行就是要修智悲双运，所谓学佛，也就是学智慧与大悲。

 

What about burning incense, performing prostrations, reciting sutras and the like? Do these activities signify the process of learning Buddhism? Yes, they are part of that process, but certainly not the main part.

那么，烧香、磕头、念经等等是不是学佛呢？是学佛的一部份，但不是最主要的内容。

 

What is a Buddha? Is the real Buddha the one appearing in a thangka with golden face and sitting in a full lotus position?

佛是什么呢？唐卡中画的面色金黄、结跏趺坐的佛是不是真的佛呢？

 

That is only a partially real Buddha. In the view of Mahayana, the Nirmanakaya (Emanation Body) and the Sambhogakaya (Bliss Body) are the manifestations of the Buddha in order to liberate ordinary people and bodhisattvas of the first to the tenth bhumi, respectively.

那是不了义的佛。大乘佛法认为，佛的化身与报身，是佛陀为了度化凡夫与十地菩萨而分别显现的形象。

 

The Nirmanakaya is for the Buddha to communicate with ordinary people. Although Buddha-nature exists within the mind of every sentient being, the Dharmakaya (Truth Body) of the Buddha is rendered powerless to those who have not attained realization and thus must rely on the Nirmanakaya and the Sambhogakaya of the Buddha for guidance to enlightenment. However, neither the Nirmanakaya nor the Sambhogakaya is the true Buddha, only the Dharmakaya, the union of wisdom and compassion, is.

佛为了能与凡夫人沟通，就必须显现化身。虽说每个众生都具有如来藏，但由于没有证悟，因此佛的法身对我们还无法起到作用。要想证悟，想走解脱道，就必须依靠化身与报身佛的引导，然而，化身与报身都不是真正的了义佛，唯有法身才是真佛。所谓的法身佛，就是指智悲双运。

 

To learn Buddhism is to learn wisdom and compassion. To attain Buddhahood means the manifestation of the inherent wisdom and compassion of Buddha-nature after all the obscurations have been purified. That is all it means.

我们学佛，就是要学智慧与大悲。所谓的成佛，就是指断尽所有的贪嗔痴烦恼之后，所显现出的原本具备的如来藏之所有智慧与大悲。除此之外，别无他意。