《箭喻经》与宗教对话

在<箭喻经>中,佛陀以一种经验主义和实用主义的态度来对待形而上学问题,对于诸如世界是有限还是无限、身体和灵魂是否同一、真如死后是否存在等问题不予回答.这种方法可以运用于当今宗教对话.在形而上学等问题上,理性无法达成最终的统一结论,合理的方式是放弃对它们的探讨,在实践上转向经验现实层面.这种态度和方法在佛教内的对话中可以避免不同宗派之间的诸多隔阂,将注意力集中于不同宗派共同追求的解脱以及服务世界上.同样,在佛教和基督教等不同宗教之间的对话中,这种态度和方法可以避免彼此宗教教义上的抵触,转而携手合作,共同促进世界和平,并顺利地进入第二轴心时代.

Culamalunkya Sutta and Religious Dialogue

In Culamalunkya Sutra,Buddha deals metaphysical questions with an attitude of empiricism and pragmatism .He gives noanswer to such questions as whether theworldis eternal or not,whether the body is identical with the soul,if Tathagata exists after death,etc . This approach could be applied to religious dialogue . Concerning metaphysical questions,our reason cannot draw an ultimate result . The most reasonable way is to discard our exploration and practically turn to our experiences . In the intra-Buddhist dialogue,this approach could help Buddhists of different sects avoid a good many estrangements and focus on liberation to make a contribution to the human world on which all sects target . Similarly,in this approach,the relationship between different religions,such as Buddhism and Christianity,could turn away from doctrinal conflicts and cooperate with each other in promoting world peace and step into the Second Axial Age.