友佛而欲会通:柳宗元的佛教观

Liu Zong-yuan's View on Buddhism

柳宗元初因个人际遇之不幸寻求精神解脱而亲近佛教,尚能持客观、友好的态度,交其徒、学其理、宣其教。后以儒家义理为主而会通之,以善说禅、以孝解空、以礼会律、以"神道设教"容纳"佛教"信仰、以"儒家祖先"提醒出家释子等,期望和平地吸收消化佛教。

Liu Zong-yuan first closed to Buddhism because he wanted to seek comfort for his miserable life. He communicated with monks, learned Buddhist doctrines, and publicized Buddhism theory. He later interpreted and understood Buddhism based on Confucian doctrines. He explained the Zen with benevolence, explained the Nonbeing with filial piety, and explained the commandment with Li, so that people could digest the Buddhism peaceably.