Restore the essence of religious education
The conference documents of this conference raised three very meaningful questions when describing the background of the conference: (1) Do people really understand the religion they support? (2) Can they really practice according to the teaching prescribed by the holy book? (3) Can they truly understand the core values of religion?
Jingkong is willing to tell you frankly that I have been engaged in religious education for fifty-four years, and I have been studying, practicing, and expounding on the above-mentioned related issues.
Buddhism is the education of Buddha Shakyamuni. We call Buddha Shakyamuni the "master", and we are the disciples of the Buddha. We have a teacher-student relationship with Buddha Shakyamuni. His name has profound educational significance. "Sakyamuni" means kindness and fraternity, which can help all living beings get away from suffering and happiness. This is the virtue of compassion; "Muni" means silence and purity, and is the virtue of wisdom. Speaking of Buddha Shakyamuni, we immediately think that we should be pure and undisturbed to ourselves, and be kind and fraternal to others. This is totally inspired by education. Buddha Shakyamuni has been speaking for forty-nine years in his life and has lectured more than 300 meetings. He is a kind multicultural society educator.
And all religions in the world are social education advocated by their religious founders. Every religion must move towards teaching and towards religious education. Although the form of religion is needed, the teaching of religion is more important. The form is like a coat, and teaching is the content and the essence. On February 18, 2004, when Mr. Wahid talked to me about this issue, he wittily said to me: "Some people are not looking for God at all, they are just looking for the clothes of God. And I know what you feel. We are interested in the true God, not the outer garment of God.” Yes, we must explore the connotation of religion, use the spirit of religion to guide believers, implement the theories and methods in religious scriptures into our lives, improve our spirituality, and transform In our life, this kind of religion is full of vitality. Therefore, to those who come to my lectures for the first time, I first introduce "Knowing Buddhism" to them, so that they understand that religion is not superstition, not blind faith, it is sacred education.
This kind of sage education will change the temperament of people. The first stage will turn people from evil into good, and various kinds of education will make people "do not do evil, and all good will follow." The second stage will make people Enlightenment, through the study of sage classics, make people understand the truth of life in the universe, the universe is the environment in which we live, and life is ourselves; the third stage, conversion to sanctification, through in-depth study, self-transformation, self Perfect, and increasingly consistent with the sages. Not only Buddhism, but the education of all other religions will have such educational results.
In view of the degeneration of social ethics and morality, the decency of etiquette standards, the influx of material desires, and the turn of evil in people's minds, family education, school education, and social education focus only on the inculcation of scientific and technological knowledge, and abandoned ethical education. Only by relying on religious education to enlighten the people with the treasures of various religions, the norms of words and deeds of sages, and the teachings of sacred religions, can we maintain the integrity of the family, the stability of the society, and the long-term governance of the country and world peace.
The famous British historical philosopher, Dr. Tonby, highly praised the Chinese Confucian and Mencius doctrines and Mahayana Buddhism. He believes that this is a good medicine to solve the social problems of the 21st century.
Confucianism of Confucius and Mencius is based on benevolence as the center, etiquette as the norm, and family ethics as the fundamental education. The moral content recommended includes: filial piety, loyalty, faithfulness, etiquette, righteousness, integrity, shame, benevolence, love, harmony, and peace. The Confucian and Mencius doctrine emphasizes five relationships and ten righteousness in dealing with the relationship between people. The "five relationships" refer to father and son, husband and wife, brothers, monarchs and ministers, and friends. The five relationships should be "father and son are relatives, monarchs and ministers are righteous, husbands and wives are distinguished (different division of labor), elders and children are orderly, and friends are trustworthy. "(See "Mencius • Teng Wen Gong Zhang Ju"). "Ten righteousness" refers to "the righteousness of the father, the filial piety of the son, the brotherhood, the brotherhood, the righteousness of the husband, the wife (docile cooperation), the long benefit, the young shun, the emperor and the benevolence, and the loyalty of the minister. "Book of Rites" Li Yun chapter). These five principles and ten righteousness clarify each person's interpersonal relationship in society, moral and ethical concepts, and their obligations. Using the twelve virtues and five ethics and righteousness included in the Confucian and Mencius doctrines to cultivate one's body, align the family, govern the country, and pacify the world, the hearts of the people will be good, the family will be harmonious, the country will last forever, and the world will be peaceful. And it is all about whether the "Disciples Regulations" are truly implemented.
Confucianism inherits the teachings of ancient Chinese Yao and Shun, and has a long history of at least five thousand years. And another one that has a profound influence on the Chinese is Buddhism. Buddhism came from India during the Han Dynasty in 67 AD. The basic doctrine of Buddhism is: "All evils are forbidden, all goodnesses are practiced, and they are self-purifying. It is all Buddhism." The Buddhist classics advocate: filial piety to support parents, serving teachers, and practicing ten kinds of good karma: 1. No killing, 2. No stealing, 3. No adultery, 4. No lying, 5. No profligacy, 6. No evil talk , Seven, no two tongues, eight, no greed, nine, no aversion, ten, no foolishness. Buddhism advocates education of true wisdom, education of cause and effect, where good is rewarded for good, and evil is rewarded for evil. The Buddha explained to people the six things of "nature, appearance, reason, matter, cause, and effect" in life in the universe. The Buddhist scriptures tell us, "If you want to know the cause of the past life, the recipient of this life is; if you want to know the effect of the next life, the author is the author of this life." Therefore, Buddhism educates the public not to create evil causes and avoid evil consequences. The root of Buddhism teaching is filial piety and respect for the teacher, and the foundation of filial piety is also in the concrete practice of the "Disciple Guidance".
Mahayana Buddhism in life is based on the principles of self-interest, altruism, and self-consciousness. It implements the six practice methods (six degrees) of generosity, precepts, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom. When getting along with the public, use generosity and love The four ways of receiving and helping sentient beings, namely, speaking, benefiting (serving for sentient beings), and colleague (integrating into the masses), make merit and wisdom more perfect. The teaching of Buddhism is the teaching of wisdom and love. To enable the educated to understand the truth of life in the universe, so as to properly handle the relationship between man and man; the relationship between man and nature; the relationship between man and heaven and earth ghosts (the relationship between man and all creatures in different dimensions). The educational connotation of Buddhism is very rich. It not only guides one's life, can obtain immeasurable blessings and wisdom due to the ten good karma, six degrees, four repercussions, etc., but also guides people to transcend the suffering of birth, old age, sickness and death, and transcend the suffering of reincarnation.
If you do not stay in the external form of religion, but completely restore the essence of religious education and thoroughly implement the teachings of the classics, all sentient beings will gain real benefits. And the happiness of the family, the prosperity of the country
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