Part Four

　　Human Life in Society

　　第四篇 人類的生活與社會

　　Chapter 11 Life and Culture

　　第十一章 生活與文化

　　Traditions, Customs and Festivals

　　傳統.習俗與節目

　　Buddhism is open to traditions and customs provided they are not harmful to the welfare of others.

　　The Buddha advised us not to believe in anything simply because it is the traditional custom. However, we are not advised to suddenly do away with all traditions. ”You must try to experiment with them and put them thoroughly to test. If they are reasonable and conducive both to your happiness and to the welfare of others, only then should you accept and practise these traditions and customs.” (Kalama Sutta) This is certainly one of the most liberal declarations ever made by any religious teacher. This tolerance of other”s traditions and customs is not known to some other religionists. These religionists usually advise their new converts to give up all their traditions, customs and culture without observing whether they are good or bad. While preaching the Dhamma, Buddhist missionaries have never advised the people to give up their traditions as long as they are reasonable. But the customs and traditions must be within the framework of religious principles. In other words, one should not violate the religious precepts in order to follow one”s traditions. If people are very keen to follow their own traditions which have no religious value at all, they can do so provided that they do not practise these traditions in the name of religion. Even then, such practices must be harmless to oneself and to all other living creatures.

　　只要是不造成傷害、利益群衆的傳統和習俗，佛教都能接受。

　　傳統與習俗：

　　佛陀說，不要因爲是傳統或習俗就相信它，然而，佛教並不鼓勵抛棄所有的傳統和習俗。

　　佛陀說：

　　「你必須試驗它們，徹底的檢驗，如果它們合理、有助于我們的幸福，那麼，就應該接受和實行這些傳統和習俗。」

　　《卡拉馬經Kalama Sutta》

　　這是從未有過、最自由的宗教宣言。在其他宗教裏，對他人的傳統和習俗的容忍就非常的罕見了。有些宗教經常勸告皈依者，放棄他們所有的傳統、習俗和文化，不管是好、或是壞的。佛教在弘法的過程中，從來就沒有要求信徒放棄他們原有的傳統和習俗，不過，這些傳統和習俗要在佛教道德範圍內，換句話說，一個人不可以爲了順從自己的傳統和習俗，而背棄佛教原則。如果人們傾向于自己的傳統和習俗，而這些傳統和習俗又沒有佛教價值，倘若他們不以佛教名義，一樣可以奉行他們原有的傳統和習俗，但是，不可以對自己或對他人造成傷害，或傷及無辜的生命。

　　Rites and Rituals

　　典禮與儀軌：

　　These are included within customs and traditions. The rites and rituals are an ornamentation or a decoration to beautify a religion in order to attract the public. They provide a psychological help to some people. But one can practise religion without any rites and rituals. Certain rites and rituals that people consider as the most important aspect of their religion for their salvation are not considered as such in Buddhism. According to the Buddha, one should not cling to such practices for his spiritual development or mental purity.

　　典禮和儀軌是傳統和習俗的一部份。典禮和儀軌美化了宗教，並吸引了群衆。典禮和儀軌爲某些人提供了心理的幫助。但是，不是所有的修行者都需要靠典禮和儀軌的幫助。在人們心目中，某些儀軌對宗教而言是非常重要的，其實，佛教只重視自我的解脫，並不重視儀軌。依據佛陀的教誨，儀軌化的修持方式，在淨化心靈，會造成障礙。

　　Festivals

　　節日慶典：

　　Genuine and sincere Buddhists do not observe Buddhist festivals by enjoying themselves under the influence of liquor and merry-making or holding feasts by the slaughtering of animals. The true Buddhists observe festival days in an entirely different manner. On the particular festival day, they would devote their time to abstaining from all evil. They would practise charity and help others to relieve themselves from their suffering. They may entertain friends and relatives in a respectable way.

　　正信的佛教徒，不以飲酒作樂、屠殺無辜及可憐的動物來慶祝節日。正信的佛教徒以完全不同的方式來慶祝節日，在節日裏，他們專心的杜絕一切邪惡的行爲，他們以布施幫助他人解除痛苦與憂愁。

　　The festivals that have been incorporated with religion sometimes could pollute the purity of a religion. On the other hand a religion without festivals can become very dull and lifeless to many people. Usually children and youths come to religion through religious festivals. To them the attraction of a religion is based on its festivals. However, to a mediator, festivals can become a nuisance.

　　很多節日慶典都與宗教拉上關系，從而亵渎了宗教的神聖性。對一般人而言，宗教如果沒有慶典，就顯得沈悶和沒有生氣。一般，孩子們和年…

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