陈撄宁与佛教

Chen Yingning and Buddhism

民国时期"仙学"代表人物陈撄宁曾与佛教有着密切的关系。他早年曾遍览佛藏,主张"三教一贯",后则倡导"仙学独立"。二十世纪四十年代,陈撄宁曾对其早期倡导的"仙学"有所反思,再度亲近佛教。陈撄宁之所以极力主张"仙学独立"乃至"仙佛判决",除起因于对传统道教的失望以及对佛教批评的不满,可能还有二十世纪初传统宗教遭受"新文化运动"冲击的缘故;至于后来陈撄宁减少有关"仙学"的议论并对"仙学独立"有所反思,则一方面是"感于"佛教太虚法师的"洪度雅量",另一方面也可能受其夫人吴彝珠患病离世的影响,同时还与他对于传统道教的"纠结"情结有关。

As an advocate of the xianxue( theory of Celestial Beings) in Republican China, Chen Yingning had a close relationship with Buddhism. In his early years he had read the Buddhist sutra extensively and had promoted the integration of Confucianism,Buddhism and Taoism. After 1936 he began to work for the independence of the xianxue. In the 1940 s,Chen reconsidered his early theory about xianxue,and turned to Buddhism once again. Chen 's reasons for advocating the independence of the xianxue and even urging its separation from Buddhism consist in his disappointment with traditional Taoism and his dissatisfaction with the criticism from Buddhism,as well as in the impact of the 'New Cultural Movement' upon Chinese traditional religions. As for his later reduced discussions on xianxue and reflection on his early opinion,three matters may suffice to explain: the effect of the generosity and tolerance of Monk Taixu,the impact of the death of Chen's wife,and his complex feelings to traditional Taoism.