佛教与现代法律的关系

Study on the Relations between Buddhism and Modern Secular Law

佛法无边、世法有界体现的是无为法和有为法的差别。佛法教化众生向善,达到解脱、觉悟,实现佛国净土;世法规范世人言行,达到尊规、守法,维护社会秩序。虽然是两个不同的知识体系,但追求目标异中有同,本质上都属于行为规范,基本价值都是追求向善,而且无论是佛法还是世法,都在人类世界共行,适用对象在很大范围相同。佛教是对人的至高境界的追求,法律是对人的行为底线的设置。所以,佛教和现代法律之间其实存在着不解之缘,相互影响、相互借鉴、相互尊重,世出世间,共同发展。

The powers of the Buddhist doctrine are unlimited while the secular law has boundedness. This enbodies the difference between Asamskrta - dharma and Samskrta - dharma. The Buddhist doctrines teach people good human quali- ties, leading them to Moksa and enlightenment, and in this way achieving a pure Buddhist land eventually; the secular law intends to regulate people~ words and deeds for the purpose of observing rules and regulations, abiding by laws and keeping social orders. While they are two different recognition systems - Buddhism and the secular law, there is identi- ty in the different goals they pursue because in essence both of them pertain to the behavior criteria and their basic value is to seek for goodness. Moreover, whether Buddhist doctrines or the secular law are concerned, the common behavior criteria and application objects in the human world are the same to a large degree. Buddhism focuses on the pursuit for the supreme realm of the people whereas the law on the setting of the bottom line of the behavior of the people. Hence, there is actually an insoluble bound between Buddhism and modern law, influencing each other, learning from each other and respecting each other resulting in common development in the supramundane and mundane.