佛性与人的尊严——兼与基督教伦理中的尊严观相比较

Buddha nature and human pride:a comparison of pride between Buddhism and Christianity

在人的尊严问题上,佛教和基督教有各自的表述,佛教从佛性角度确立对此主题的观点,这是从人性尊严角度讨论人的尊严,由于人人先天具有佛性,人人生而具有人性尊严,因而,人与人之间也是生而平等的,所谓的社会差异都是外在的。在由此种尊严而平等的基础上,佛教提出处理人与自我关系的自信原则和处理人与他者关系时的恭敬原则。基督教对于人性尊严的讨论有两重性,一方面,人因为是被神依照其自身的形象而创造,具有神的荣耀,而具有人性的尊严,另一方面,由于人类始祖滥用了神赋予的自由意志而选择了犯罪,此种原罪又损害了人性的尊严。也许从佛教的角度,可以对此有不同的理解,但基督教有其自身的解释传统。

Buddhism and Christianity have different descriptions and understandings of human pride.Buddhism interprets it from the perspective of Buddha nature,believing that everyone is born with Buddha nature and human pride.Hence everyone is born to be equal,and social differences are imposed.On the basis of that,Buddhism advocates the principle of confidence in terms of the inner world,and the principle of courtesy regarding the relationship with others.The interpretation in this regard in Christianity is dual: human beings are created in God's image and therefore people have human pride;the abuse of the freedom violates the rules,which hurts human pride.