佛法在現代社會的重要性
辜成允道長
今天能在緬中印佛法研究,與未來發展論壇組“佛法在現代社會的重要性”的分會上，和大家分享一些個人的看法，感到特別的榮幸。
根據美國著名的獨立性民調機構皮尤研究中心（Pew Research Center）的“2010年全球宗教景觀”報告（The global Religious Landscape），全球約4.88億佛教徒，占世界總人口的7%。世界佛教徒的一半（50%）2.44億人生活在中國大陸，緬甸有（8%）3千8百萬佛教徒、印度則有（2%）9百萬佛教徒。
而我所來自的台灣，根據2013台灣內政部的統計則有35%的人口，8百萬台灣人是佛教徒。也就是說，今天與會的緬中印及台灣的成員一起代表超過62%的世界佛教徒人口。 這更凸顯出此次佛法研究會的殊勝，以及本研討會對於未來佛法與現代社會發展的重要性。
在現代的社會發展的過程中，總是把發展經濟建設GDP成長，改善國民所得當作重要的一環。為了經濟快速的發展對於文化，精神，宗教生活的建設常常都是被放在次要的地位，甚至是被忽略或是被擠壓，犧牲。為了短期的利益，大家你爭我奪，放棄道德與正義只是為了能多賺錢。一切的人事物都有個價錢，只要有錢好像就擁有了一切。一個人的財富多寡也成了社會評斷成功的最重要的衡量。但是，如果單憑經濟建設，科技資訊就能全面改善人們的全面生活品質，那為什麼現代的社會反而人心浮動，道義崩解，病態百出呢？
在一味追尋物質利益或是可量化的衡量的過程中，現代社會忽視了自己內心原來的傳統文化及基本價值理念。社會沒有了中心思想信仰，失去了自我的穩定能力，判斷能力，自我反省的能力，只是一味追隨其外境的好惡而起伏，自然問題不斷了。
2014年8月15日出版的美國“時代雜誌”（Time Magzine）的封面主題是“答案專刊”（The Answers Issue）。主題探討著使用最新電腦 “大數據“科技，找出美國社會千奇百怪問題的答案，並推論未來這樣的科技將可能找到改善人類生活品質的答案。不過，在文章接近結尾時，作者也寫下了下面一段憂心忡忡話：“我們也注意到生活在資訊黃金時代的風險：那就是個人隱私的消失，偶然性，內心平靜的消失。
無獨有偶的，在日前舉辦的2013中國老年健康論壇上，現代社會環境改變所帶來的健康問題引起與會專家的熱議與擔憂。“現代人生活壓力加大，社會分配不公，生存環境受到破壞所帶來的心理健康、心靈健康、社會健康、智力健康、道德健康和環境健康形勢不容樂觀。”這也代表著中國大陸在經濟發展的輝煌成果背後，也承擔了大陸社會的社會文化發展，遠遠落後於經濟發展的窘境。
2014年3月27日，習總書記在聯合國教科文組織總部發表演講，就世界文明的交流與發展發表了觀點。習總書記指出：“佛教產生於古代印度，但傳入中國後，經過長期演化，佛教同中國儒家文化和道家文化融合發展，最終形成了具有中國特色的佛教文化，給中國人的宗教信仰、哲學觀念、文學藝術、禮儀習俗等留下了深刻影響。”
同一天，習近平總書記還在中法建交50周年紀念大會上發表講話，他說：”—中国梦是追求和平的梦。中国梦需要和平，只有和平才能实现梦想。天下太平、共享大同是中华民族绵延数千年的理想。历经苦难，中国人民珍惜和平，希望同世界各国一道共谋和平、共护和平、共享和平。”“拿破崙說過，中國是一頭沉睡的獅子，當這頭睡獅醒來時，世界都會為之發抖。中國這頭獅子已經醒了，但這是一隻和平的、可親的、文明的獅子。”中國要成為和平、可親、文明的獅子,就是要中國文化的復興，而在中國文化復興的征程上崇尚和平的中國佛教可謂天降大任，任重道遠。
台灣的佛教文化是傳承延續了中國佛教文化的精髓，並且加以發揚光大。以今天協辦單位之一的道南書院為例，老師張尚德教授年輕時隨著國民黨到了台灣，後師承太老師南懷瑾教授。在台灣創立達摩書院後又在湖南湘潭創立了道南書院，並經常講學於大陸北大，清華等大學。這正是台灣的佛教文化如何能對於中國大陸的中國文化復興的征程做出重要貢獻的鐵證，不可思議的奇妙旅程。
現在正是現代人類文明朝著自我內省，與大自然永續共存方向發展趨勢的關鍵時期，佛教思想必定會對人類文明發展上大放異彩，做出重大的貢獻。在這因緣具足的盛會，讓我誠心的祝大會圓滿成功，各位身體健康，萬事如意。
尚德附語：
人類幾千年歷史，記錄了一點，那就是：政治與宗教，雖然不是同一個，如果宗教上軌道，政治也常會上軌道，社會也是安定的。中國幾千年改朝換代，民間始終穩固，因有敬天、敬地、敬祖宗三根香之宗教。
宗是理論，教規實現理論。佛法傳到中國，與中國原來的精華人文哲學一拍即合。特別是禪宗，更是大放異彩，龍象輩出。中華民族本是禪的民族，蓋道家的逍遙遊，儒家的隨心所欲不踰矩，即與佛家的遊戲三昧相契應。
欣見中國在各方面蓬勃往前，在百花皆放時節，佛法與佛教的復興，必指日可待也。
辜成允道長此文，是在中緬印佛陀正法研究、合作與未來發展論壇上的主要演講。
二零一五年一月六日
於台灣達摩書院
附：英文原稿
The Important Role of Applying Buddha Dhamma in Modern Society
In the perspective of sustainable growth and environment
Mr. KOO, CHENG-YUN
It is a great honor for me to be able to share some of my thoughts with you at The Myanmar, China, India Buddha Dhamma Forum for Research, Collaboration and Future Development today.
According to the report of “The Global Religious Landscape 2010”published by the renowned Pew Research Center from the United States, there are about 488 million Buddhists in the world. Among which about half, 244 million Buddhists lived in China. Myanmar had 38 million Buddhists and India had 9 million Buddhists population.
I come from Taiwan. According to the Ministry of Interior Taiwan statistics in 2013, Taiwan has 8 million Buddhists which account for about 35% of total Taiwanese population. Therefore, the total attendees from Myanmar, China, India and Taiwan of the Forum today represent more than 62% of the world Buddhist population. This high representation of the global Buddhist population exemplifies the prominence and importance of the Forum and the profound influence it will have on the future development on Buddhism in the modern society.
During the process of modernization in a country, it is very common that the government or the authority normally put economic development and GDP growth as their top priorities with the purpose of improving people’s living standards. In order to expeditethe speed of economic development, aspects of cultural, spiritual or religious developments of that society are usually put at lower priorities than that of the economic development. Moreover, the resources needed for these vital social developments are often squeezed out and sacrificed. With pure economic goals in sight, people give up their virtues and righteousness for short term economic benefits. All of a sudden, everything has a price tag; as if once you have money you can own everything. Personal wealth becomes the most important measurement of success. But, if economic means and scientific advancements alone can truly improve the total quality of people’s lives, then, why do people feel restless and think that the modern society is lack of justices but full of social problems?
During the process of seeking economic development and tangible material well beings, modern society ignored, neglected its traditional culture values and basic social virtues. A society who lost its fundamental believes and cultural roots lost its stability. The society also lost its ability to judge the rights from the wrongs, together with its ability to reflect upon itself. Social problems arise naturally.
On August 15th the Time magazine of the US published an issue titled “The Answer Issue”. The title story explores the newest computer “Big Data” technologies to find all sorts of answers in America. The author was hopeful that these new technologies will be able to find the answers to change the quality of people’s lives. However, the author concluded: “We are mindful of the risks that come with living in a golden age of information: the loss of privacy, of serendipity, of serenity.”
A similar statement was made on the other side of the Pacific Ocean. At the 2013 Chinese Senior Health Forum, Chinese experts enthusiastically expressed their worries about the health related problems caused by the modern society. “The modern life is increasingly stressful. The social resource distribution is unequal and the destruction of the living environment. All caused psychological health, spiritual health, social health, mental health and moral health problems. And the current trends are not optimistic.” These concerns signify that the Chinese society despite of its tremendous economic achievements is also suffering from serious consequences of lacking of adequate social cultural development in parallel with the economic development.
On March 27th ,2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a wide-ranging speech on civilization at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. President Xi said: “Buddhism originated in ancient India. After it was introduced into China, the religion went through an extended period of integrated development with the indigenous Confucianism and Taoism and finally became the Buddhism with Chinese characteristics, thus making a deep impact on the religious belief, philosophy, literature, art, etiquette and customs of the Chinese people.”
On the same day, President Xi Jingping made a speech at the Meeting Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of China-France Diplomatic Relations. President Xi said: ”The Chinese dream is about the pursuit of peace. The realization of the Chinese dream is premised on peace, because only peace can make one’s dream come true. Achieving universal peace has been a cherished ideal of the Chinese nation for several thousand years. Having gone through many sufferings, the Chinese people value peace and hope to build, maintain and live in peace with other countries.“。”Napoleon Bonaparte once compared China to a “sleeping lion” and observed that “when she wakes she will shake the world.” Now China the lion has awakened, but it is a peaceful, amicable and civilized lion.”Therefore, Buddhism, which is deeply rooted in the pursuit of peace and in the Chinese culture, will certainly play a profound and vital role in the great renewal of the Chinese culture and the realization of the Chinese dream.
Buddhist culture in Taiwan not only inherited the true essence of the Chinese Buddhist culture but also promotes the Chinese Buddhism to even greater developments without interruption and stagnation. To take one of the Co-organizers of this Forum, Hunan Xiangtan Daonan Academy, China, as an example, Daonan Academy was founded by my teacher Professor Chang, Shongte. Professor Chang left Mainland China and came to Taiwan with KMT when he was young. Then, he studied Chinese Buddhism under, my Grand teacher, the famous Professor Nan, HuaiJin. Later on, Professor Chang founded Dharma Academy in Taiwan to teach Chinese Buddhism and subsequently Hunan Xiangtan Daonan Academy in China by great demand from his students in China. Frequently, he receives invitations to lecture on Chinese Buddhist culture at top Chinese Universities such as Peking University, and Tsinghua University in China. Briefly speaking, Professor Chang learned Chinese Buddhism in Taiwan and now returns to Mainland for the revival of Chinese Buddhism This incredible life journey is a prime example of how Taiwan helps Mainland China rebuild its Buddhist culture.
Today, the modern human civilization trend is at the critical juncture of moving toward self-reflection, and further to be in coexistence with nature beings in a continuing basis. The Buddhist believes of peace and harmony will certainly enlighten the modern civilization development to the extent beyond comprehensions. On this particular auspicious occasion, let me wish the Forum every success and hope all of you good health and prosperity. Thank you.
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