Religion of Freedom

　　宗教自由

　　This is a religion of freedom and reason for man to lead a noble life.

　　佛教鼓勵信徒以自由的心靈過崇高的生活，佛教是一個自由及理性的宗教。

　　Buddhism does not prevent anyone from learning the teachings of other religions. In fact, the Buddha encouraged His followers to learn about other religions and to compare His Teachings with other teachings. The Buddha says that if there are reasonable and rational teachings. The Buddha says that if there are reasonable and rational teachings in other religions, His followers are free to respect such teachings. It seems that certain religionists try to keep their followers in the dark, some of them are not even allowed to touch other religious objects or books. They are instructed not to listen to the preachings of other religions. They are enjoined not to doubt the teachings of their own religion, however unconvincing their teachings may appear to be. The more they keep their followers on a one-track mind, the more easily they can keep them under control. If anyone of them exercises freedom of thought and realizes that he had been in the dark all the time, then it is alleged that the devil has possessed his mind. The poor man is given no opportunity to use his common sense, education, of his intelligence. Those who wish to change their views on religion are taught to believe that they are not perfect enough to be allowed to use free will in judging anything for themselves.

　　佛教不阻止任何人閱讀或研究其它宗教，事實，佛教鼓勵信衆研究和比較其它宗教。佛陀說：「假如一個宗教有它合理的一面，它的信徒也有自由去崇敬這合理的一面。」某些宗教爲了征服它的信衆，使他們永遠受困于黑暗，堅決的不允許信衆接觸其他宗教，不允許信衆接觸其它宗教的典籍，不許信衆聽聞其它宗教的教理。它們不允許信衆對自己的信仰和教理有所懷疑，即使教理的表現是不能讓人信服的。它們使信衆生活在迷蒙中，有如羊群一樣被牧放。假如有人睜開雙眼看見光明，它們就會說，他已被魔鬼占據了內心，要打入黑暗的地獄。這些可憐的人，沒有機會去運用他們的常識、他們的教育和學識。即使有人想改變這種看法，也會因爲自己不夠完善，以致不能自由的運用自己的意識來做出正確的判斷。

　　According to the Buddha, religion should be left to one”s own free choice. Religion is not a law, but a disciplinary code which should be followed with understanding. To Buddhists true religious principles are neither a pine law nor a human law, but a natural law.

　　根據佛陀所教，宗教是一種自由選擇的信仰，不是律法，而是一種應該奉行的道德規範。佛教不是世間法，而是自然法。

　　In actual fact, there is no real religious freedom in any part of the world today. Man has not the freedom even to think freely. Whenever he realizes that he cannot find satisfaction through his own religion to which he belongs, which cannot provide him with satisfactory answers to certain questions, he has no liberty to give it up and to accept another which appeals to him. The reason is that religious authorities, leaders, and family members have taken that freedom away from him. Man should be allowed to choose his religion which is in accordance with his own conviction. One has no right to force another to accept a particular religion. Some people surrender their religion for the sake of love, without a proper understanding of their partner”s religion. Religion should not be changed to suit man”s emotions and human weaknesses. One must think very carefully before changing one”s religion. Religion is not a subject for bargaining; one should not change one”s religion for personal, material gains. Religion is to be sued for spiritual development and for self-salvation.

　　事實，在今天的世界裏，根本就沒有真正的宗教自由，人類甚至失去了思想自由。當一個人發現他無法從自己信仰的宗教獲得滿足時，無法爲他解答某些特殊的問題。他不能自由的放棄他原來信仰的宗教，而去接受一個對他更有吸引力的宗教。原因無他，因爲這是一個權威性的宗教，宗教領導人和他的家庭成員剝奪了他的自由。人類應該有選擇自己宗教信仰的自由。沒有人有權力去強迫別人跟隨自己的信仰。有些人是因爲屈服于戀愛對象，而跟隨他的信仰，這種人對宗教的了解還比不上木偶。宗教不應該令人屈服于情感的弱點而改變一個人。在轉換信仰的時候，也應該慎重的考慮，因爲宗教不是一種交易。一個人不應該爲了個人或物質的利益而改變信仰，宗教信仰是爲了開發心靈而獲得自我的解脫。

　　Buddhists never try to influence other religionists to come and embrace their religion for material gain. Nor do they try to exploit poverty, sickness, illiteracy and ignorance in order to increase the number of Buddhist population. The Buddha advised those who indicated their wish to follow Him, not to be hasty in acceptin…

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