..續本文上一頁，因不平等的對待而受苦，處于控製地位者，卻愈來愈自大與傲慢。昭慧法師強調，讓不正義的繼續存在就是不慈悲，因爲我們不曾爲減輕他人的苦難盡任何一點的力量。

　　 Venerable Chao Hwei cautioned against glossing over injustice in the name of maintaining harmony and practicing compassion. She pointed out that in Buddhism, we give such premium to the need to harmonize with everyone that we shy away from speaking out against injustice. Unfortunately, this silence in the face of unjust practices is often interpreted as endorsement of these practices, and we are therefore as guilty as those who defend such injustice. Complicity in injustice is certainly not in accordance with compassion, since we fail to take action to stop a system from inflicting suffering.

　　 In the name of maintaining a community”s harmony, we often fail to speak up against injustice because we do not want to cause open pisions within the community. But Venerable Chao Hwei argues that true compassion prompts us to speak out against injustice. Not only does the effort to end injustice help save the victims from suffering, it also helps the perpetrators, by stopping them from causing suffering, and thus from creating unwholesome karma.

　　 對于那些假藉維持和諧及實踐慈悲之名，來掩飾不正義的行爲，昭慧法師特別提出告誡，因爲佛法告訴我們，人與人之間要維持真正的和諧，決不能怯于伸張正義。對于不正義的行爲保持緘默，就是爲它們背書的意思，對于這種遭致人痛苦的製度沒有任何作爲，這與護衛不正義的犯行是一樣的，也是不正義的共犯，不能叫做慈悲。但是在維持團體和諧的大帽子底下，爲了不願意承擔製造分裂的罪名，使得我們往往不會爲不正義的事情發聲。然而法師卻認爲，真正的慈悲，應該是對于不正義的事，勇于立刻表態，因爲這不僅能使因不正義而受苦的人遠離痛苦，也是在幫助爲惡者，令他們不再造成別人的痛苦及不善的業。

　　 Venerable Chao Hwei pointed out that the practice of compassion requires constant reflection and courage. One needs to reflect critically on why a certain practice is followed. Is it in accordance with wisdom and compassion, or is it merely in compliance with tradition passed down from a different era that may no longer be relevant

　　 It takes courage, as critical examination challenges those in power and those benefiting from the status quo. Speaking out risks being accused of causing conflict within the Buddhist community, of being egotistical, of being uncompassionate, in other words, of being un-Buddhist. Venerable Chao Hwei contends that it is precisely out of great compassion that she challenges unjust practices, of which gender discrimination is one.

　　 昭慧法師指出，慈悲的實踐是需要勇氣及持續反省的，我們應該認真去反省，爲什麼要持守這些戒律？持戒是爲了帶給我們慈悲與智慧，還是僅僅爲了遵循一個早已不合時宜的傳統？向傳統戒律下的既得利益者挑戰是極需勇氣的，畢竟他們擁有權威，挑戰者很可能被扣上製造教內沖突、自我主義、不慈悲等等，甚至于非教徒的罪名。但是對于向諸如性別歧視之類的不公義挑戰，法師並不同意這是不慈悲的行爲。

　　 I suggested to Venerable Chao Hwei that tolerating injustice not only prolongs the suffering of the victims, it is also very damaging to Buddhism”s reputation in the West.

　　 Justice is a very important value in the West, and it is difficult for people in the West to accept a religious tradition that condones unjust practices. Venerable Chao Hwei urged everyone to keep in mind that the Buddha taught that the purpose of the precepts was to preserve the proper Dharma, not to be an end in themselves. Since the equality of sentient beings is at the heart of the Buddha”s teachings, keeping silent about unjust practices is complicity, and is equivalent to slandering the Buddha”s teachings. It is thus the responsibility of every Buddhist practitioner, monastic or lay, to speak out and act against injustice

　　 我提醒昭慧法師，容忍不正義的情事，除了增長受害者的痛苦之外，對于佛教在西方的聲譽，也會造成相當程度的傷害。公平正義是西方社會很重要的價值觀，對于西方社會的人而言，如果一個宗教的傳統裏，竟然允許不公義的行爲，這個宗教是很難讓人接受的。因此昭慧法師籲請大家，應牢牢記住，佛陀製戒的目的是“令正法久住”，衆生平等是佛教的核心教義，對于不正義保持緘默，就是不正義的共犯，也就等同毀謗佛陀的教法，所以每一個佛弟子，不論出家或在家，都有責任以言語的譴責及行動來對抗不正義。

　　 Some worry about a schism if some in the Buddhist community push hard for changes while others insist on preserving the tradition. I think this is an excellent opportunity for the Buddhist community to put the Dharma into practice collectively. It is easy to be calm and compassionate when everyone is in agreement. The challenge is to engage in a dialogue and to examine the issues critically, stimulating each other”s thinking, learning the other side”s perspective without being dismissive, and working together to find a satisfactory solution without allowing our self-centered attachments to get in the way. This is not easy.

　　 或許有人會擔心，如果佛教內部有人極力推動改革，又有人堅持維護傳統，就會造成分裂，我反倒認爲這是促成教界合宜的實踐佛陀教法的一個契機。當大家意見一致的時候，慈悲祥和是非常容易的，但是要能仔細檢視這些爭議，開啓相互之間的對話，刺激各自的思考，互相學習對方的觀點，過程之中排除自我中心，共同合作找出令彼此滿意的答案，這就是挑戰了。

　　 But I believe that if we all put the Dharma into practice while engaging in this debate, applying the Buddha”s wisdom and compassion, this dialogue will help the entire Buddhist community move forward into the 21st century. The process will bring hope to the world as it will illustrate that it is possible to engage in a debate over difficult and controversial issues and to find satisfactory solutions by applying compassion and wisdom. Thus everyone, Buddhist and non-Buddhist, may benefit from this compassionate action.

　　 但是我相信，如果應用佛陀的慈悲與智慧，透過對話與論辯，能夠使佛法真正的實踐，這必將帶領佛教邁向21世紀。對于一個這麼困難的議題，佛教都能夠透過對話，應用慈悲與智慧，找到滿意的解答，這將帶給世人希望，不論佛教徒或非佛教徒，相信都能從這樣慈悲的行爲中，得到受益。

　　 (published in the Autumn 2006 issue of Chan Magazine, page 23 to 25)

《慈悲與正義－－與昭慧法師晤談》全文閱讀結束。