人间净土与他方净土的理论难题——以太虚对净土思想抉择的矛盾为中心

Theoretical Puzzle of Pure Land and Other Pure Land——On the Contradiction of the Choice of Pure Land Thought of Taixu

人间佛教思潮以"人本化""社会化""理性化"为特征,带着"自我批判"和"继承创新"的双向径路而蔚然成风,作为一种应对近世佛教窳败的思潮而逐渐成为中国佛教界的共识。太虚作为人间佛教的倡导者和提出者,他认为佛教的衰败有外部客观条件的制约,然纠其内因,太虚认为很大一部分原因是宋、元以后台、贤诸宗没落,唯留禅、净二宗流传,而至明、清之际,包括禅宗在内的余流皆归净土,使得净土念佛大兴,导致佛教徒不重视人生,产生念佛求死之流弊。太虚针对此现象进行了深刻的剖析与批判,但又同时认可净土念佛的殊胜。太虚对净土思想前后的差异,既是对时代命题所做出的积极回应,也是他个人学术历程必然的归趣。太虚以人间佛教的思想融摄净土思想和修行方法,采取方便之途径,通用在现实性的进程上,适应了普罗大众对于信仰的需求和佛教理解的加深。

The thought of human Buddhism is characterized with ＂humanization＂,＂socialization＂and ＂rationalization＂. With the two-way path of ＂self-criticism＂and ＂inheritance and innovation＂,the trend of Buddhism is a kind of trend that has gradually become the consensus of the Chinese Buddhist community. Taixu,the pioneer and proposer of＂human Buddhism＂,argued that the decline of Buddhism had been caused by the constraints of the external objective conditions. Taixu attributed the decline of Buddhist to the decline of other strong theoretical sects like Tai and Xian after Song and Yuan dynasties,leaving Zen and pure land Buddhism only. Until Ming and Qing dynasties,most of the residues,including Zen had converted to pure land Buddhism,booming pure land Buddhism. It made Buddhists pay no attention to life,resulting in the abuses of death. Taixu carried out a profound analysis and criticism of this phenomenon,but to a certain extent,recognized the pure land Buddha＇s victory. It is not only a positive response to the proposition of the times but also his personal academic course. Based on his human Buddhism,Taixu absorbed the idea of pure land Buddhism and its practice in a convenient way. Through the common process in the reality,Taixu adapted to the general public demand for faith and further understanding of Buddhism.