藏传佛教格鲁派活佛转世化身谱系建立现象探析

An Analysis on Incarnation Hierarchy of Gelugpa of Tibetan Buddhism

藏传佛教活佛转世制度作为一种特殊的宗教现象经常被神秘化、神圣化。从格鲁派达赖喇嘛、班禅额尔德尼、章嘉·若必多吉等大小活佛建立转世化身谱系的过程来看,活佛转世化身谱系,是在特定的历史环境中由宗教上层人为建立的,目的是为了维护该世系的宗教权威及政治影响力。同时,在化身谱系的背后,蕴含着扩张政治权利、稳固教派地位、平衡不同活佛世系间地位的功能。我们应以马克思历史唯物观辩证地来看待活佛转世现象,不应被刻意神格化的现象所迷惑。

As a special phenomenon,incarnation usually is mystified and sanctified. On certain historical circumstances,in order to maintain the religious and political power,the incarnation hierarchies of Dalai Lama,Penchan Lama,Zhangjjia Lama were built by religious upper levels on purpose. Those hierarchies had functions on expanding political power,firming sectarian status,balancing status of different incarnations. We should use Marx＇s historical materialism to analyze the phenomenon.