11月15日

人人皆可成佛
佛光星雲 ( 1927~ )

為什麼皈依三寶是民主的體現呢？

因為佛說：「眾生皆有佛性，人人皆
可成佛！」

佛性人人平等，每一個眾生都是未來
的諸佛，所有的諸佛都是當初的眾生。

皈依三寶就是皈依自己的自性佛、
自性法、自性僧。所謂「沒有天生的釋迦，
沒有自然的彌勒」，有為者亦若是，
直下承擔「我是佛」、「我是法」、
「我是僧」，這就是民主。

吾人與佛同具真如實性，所以「心佛
眾生，無二無別」。佛陀把眾生提昇到
與他平等，這還不夠民主嗎？

世界上所有的宗教，都把教主定為主
宰者，都認為是神聖不可侵犯，而佛陀
沒有以成佛為大，也沒有以眾生為低。
他認為自己是已覺悟的眾生，眾生是未
覺悟的諸佛；自性本心，同一無二，
所以皈依佛就是皈依自己的本性

──選自《人間佛教論文集》

November 15

All Can Become Buddhas
Venerable Master Hsing Yun (1927 - , Fo Guang Shan)
English translation: Fo Guang Shan International Translation Center

Why do we say that taking refuge in the Triple Gem
is a manifestation of democracy? The root of this idea
resides in the Buddha's statement, "All sentient beings
possess the Buddha Nature; all can become Buddhas."
Everyone is equal in the Buddha Nature; every sentient
being is a future Buddha, and all Buddhas were once
sentient beings.

Because all sentient beings possess the Intrinsic Triple
Gem, taking refuge in the Triple Gem is, in actuality,
taking refuge in one's own Buddha nature, Dharma
nature, and Sangha nature. There is an expression that
states, "There is no inborn Sakyamuni; there is no natural
Maitreya." One who has great will and can emulate
the diligent cultivation efforts of Sakyamuni Buddha
and Maitreya Buddha will, indeed, eventually uncover
their Buddha Nature. Democracy, in Buddhism, means
continuously asserting, "I am the Buddha, I am the
Dharma, I am the Sangha."

This suchness* is as true for us as it is for the Buddha,
hence the expression, "There is no difference among the
mind, the Buddha, and sentient beings." The Buddha's
insight into the intrinsic nature of all sentient beings
elevated everyone to a level on par with himself. Is this
not sufficiently democratic?

All of the world's religions view their founders as
gods and regard the holy as inviolable. But, the Buddha
does not position himself above sentient beings; he sees
himself as an enlightened sentient being, and sentient
beings as unenlightened buddhas. There is no difference
between one's intrinsic nature and the original mind, also
referred to as the Buddha mind. As such, to take refuge in
the Buddha is to take refuge in one's own original nature.

── from On Buddhist Democracy, Freedom, and Equality

* Suchness: a term for the true nature of all things; the pure, original
essence of all phenomena, which is called tathata or bhuta-tathata.