喇嘛“斗法”考——兼论忽必烈及元皇室独尊藏传佛教的由来

Research on Lamas' “Battle of Wits”: Kublai Khan and the Mongol Courts' Acceptance of Tibetan Buddhism

藏传佛教在有元一代占有主导地位,固然有蒙藏两个民族地理相近、文化相通、生活习惯类似的天然特质成份,但藏传佛教高僧多方经营,至以展示所谓"神通法术"而炫人眼目,也是吸引蒙古王室成员信奉的内容之一。为争夺元皇室的信奉支持,即使藏传佛教内部的各教派之间,也会出现针锋相对的斗争。在此过程中,即出现藏传佛教不断增加的"世俗化"倾向,对其本身及元代政治有多方面的不良影响,而宗喀巴大师以戒律为本对藏传佛教的改造、整顿,功不可忘。

Owing to the closeness and cultural connections between Mongols and Tibetans,during the Yuan Dynasty Tibetan Buddhism was naturally elevated as a ＂national religion. ＂But this elevation was also due to the various methods of senior monks who exhibited so-called ＂miraculous powers＂ which dazzled the eyes and attracted many members of the Mongol royal court. In order to gain support from the Mongol royalty,various branches of Tibetan Buddhism struggled against each other. During this process,Tibetan Buddhism was continually inclined to turn more ＂secular,＂which impacted various aspects of the religion.