..續本文上一頁s his own religion and condemns other religions, does so indeed through devotion to his own religion, thinking, ”I will glorify my own religion.” But on the contrary, in so doing he injures his own religion more gravely, so concord is good. Let all listen, and be willing to listen to the doctrines professed by others.” In 268 B. C., he made the doctrines of the Buddha a living force in India. Hospitals, social service institutions, universities for men and women, public wells and recreation centers sprang up with this new movement, and the people thereby realized the cruelty of senseless wars. The golden era in the history of India and the other countries of Asia--the period when art, culture, education and civilization reached their zenith--occurred at the time when Buddhist influence was strongest in these countries. Holy wars, crusades, inquisitions and religious discrimination do not mar the annals of Buddhist countries. This is a noble history mankind can rightly be proud of. The Great Nalanda University of India which flourished from the second to the ninth century was a product of Buddhism. It was the first university that we know of and which was opened to international students.
不應該爲了尊重自己的宗教而蔑視其他的宗教。這麼做，往往只會使自己所信仰的宗教蒙受更大的損失。貶低他人來擡高自己，對他人造成傷害。诋毀其它的宗教並非在捍衛自己的宗教，而是傷害自己的宗教。我們應該聆聽和關注其它宗教的教義。」
在公元前二八六年，阿首咖使佛教成爲當時印度的最大動力。醫院、社會服務、學校、機構、水供和娛樂中心如雨後春筍般的豎立起來，人們也理解到無情的戰爭是殘酷和無益的。
在印度和其它亞洲國家的黃金時代──藝術、文化、教育，人類文明的全盛時期，就是佛教影響力最大的時期，也是國家最強盛的時期。在佛教國家的曆史裏，沒有所謂的「神聖的宗教戰爭」，也沒有受到鎮壓異端和宗教歧視的傷害，是一頁令人類驕傲的純淨曆史。公元二至九世紀的那蘭陀大學，就是佛教的産品，是世界第一所爲全世界學生而開放的大學。
In the past, Buddhism was able to make itself felt in many parts of the East, although communication and transport were difficult and people had to cross hills and deserts. Despite these difficult barriers Buddhism spread far and wide. Today, this peace message is spreading in the West. Westerners are attracted to Buddhism and believe that Buddhism is the only religion that is in harmony with modern science.
在過去，交通困難，人們必須攀山越嶺、橫渡沙漠才能到達東方，可是佛教的傳教士並不畏懼這些困難，終于使東方大部分的國家都接受了佛教信仰。逐漸的，佛教成爲亞洲最主要的宗教，至今仍然是亞洲最多人信仰的宗教。今天佛陀那和平的信息已傳播到西方，西方人也開始接受了佛教思想，並認爲佛教是唯一能和現代科學協調的宗教。
Buddhist missionaries have no need or desire to convert those who already have a proper religion to practise. If people are satisfied with their own religion, then, there is no need for Buddhist missionaries to convert them. They give their full support to missionaries of other faiths if their idea is to convert the wicked, evil, and uncultured people to a religious way of life. Buddhists are happy to see the progress of other religions so long as they truly help people to lead a religious way of life according to their faith and enjoy peace, harmony and understanding. On the other hand, Buddhist missionaries deplore the attitude of certain missionaries who disturb the followers of other religions, since there is no reason for them to create an unhealthy atmosphere of competition for converts if their aim is only to teach people to lead a religious way of life.
佛教的傳教士，無意勸說那些已滿足原有宗教信仰的人，放棄原來的宗教，改信佛教。佛教的傳教士充分的支持其它的宗教和它們的傳教士。如果他們的目的是勸人向善，提升人們的道德性，使他們過有意義的宗教生活，佛教的傳教士同樣的給予他們熱心的支持和協助。佛教的傳教士也爲那些騷擾其它宗教信仰的傳教士感到遺憾，如果他們的宗旨是崇高的，目的在指引人們過神聖的生活，就沒有理由爲了讓人們轉信他的宗教而做出不健全的競爭。
In introducing Dhamma to others, Buddhist missionaries have never tried to use imaginary exaggerations depicting a heavenly life in order to attract human desire and arouse their craving. Instead, they have tried to explain the real nature of human and heavenly life as taught by the Buddha.
佛教的傳教士，絕對不會浮誇的去描畫那虛妄的天堂生活，來刺激人類感官的欲望，從而獲得人們的追隨和信仰。佛教是以佛陀的教誨來解釋人間和天堂，本來就是「無常」本質。
《傳教 Buddhist Missionaries》全文閱讀結束。