2月7日

放 生
佛光星雲 ( 1927~ )

所謂「放生」者，就是要重視生態，給予
眾生一個無有恐怖，安全無虞的環境。比方
不在溪邊垂釣、不虐打動物，對生命不殘殺、
對生態不破壞，就是最好的放生。

佛教以人為本，在「放生」之上，更應該
提倡「放人」，放人一條生路：給人信心、
給人歡喜、給人希望、給人方便、給人離苦、
給人救濟、給人因緣，能夠幫助別人，讓人
獲得幸福，才是積極的「放生」。

甚而「情與無情，同圓種智」，對無情而
言，哪怕是一莖花草、一枝筆、一張桌椅、
一塊地毯，任何物品也有生命，應善盡維護
其功能，延長其壽用，創造其價值，這是佛
教對「放生」的廣義詮釋。今人行事，有放
生之名，需謹慎有否放死之行為。

    「誰道群生性命微，一般骨肉一般皮；
    勸君莫打枝頭鳥，子在巢中望母歸。」

──選自《百年佛緣》

February 7th

Life-Releasing
Venerable Master Hsing Yun (1927 - , Fo Guang Shan)
English translation: Miao Guang and Zhi Yue

Life-releasing means to respect life, to ensure that sentient
beings live without fear, and to give them a safe environment
to reside in. The best examples of life-releasing are not to
fish at a riverbank, not to torture animals, and not to kill life
or harm the environment.
In Buddhism, which emphasizes humanity, life-releasing
also includes “releasing people,” which is to give others a
way out. Working for the happiness of others by giving faith,
joy, hope, and convenience is proactive life-releasing. This
also includes when we help others find a way out of difficult
situations, provide relief aid, and give others causes and
conditions.

There is a saying, “whether sentient or non-sentient, all
will attain the Buddha’s wisdom.” Every inanimate object
such as a stem of flower, a blade of grass, a table, a chair, or
a piece of carpet has life; and should be well preserved and
utilized to prolong its lifespan and to give value to it. Such is
the Buddhist perspective on life-releasing.

For those who are practicing the act of life-releasing
nowadays, they must be careful with whether their actions
are in fact causing death.

    Who is to speak of the insignificance of animal lives;
    They are just the same flesh and bones.
    You are urged not to shoot the spring birds,
    For the nesting babies await their mother’s return.
── from Bainian Fo Yuan (Buddhist Affinities Across 100 Years)