..续本文上一页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.

　　不应该为了尊重自己的宗教而蔑视其他的宗教。这么做，往往只会使自己所信仰的宗教蒙受更大的损失。贬低他人来抬高自己，对他人造成伤害。诋毁其它的宗教并非在捍卫自己的宗教，而是伤害自己的宗教。我们应该聆听和关注其它宗教的教义。」

　　在公元前二八六年，阿首咖使佛教成为当时印度的最大动力。医院、社会服务、学校、机构、水供和娱乐中心如雨后春笋般的竖立起来，人们也理解到无情的战争是残酷和无益的。

　　在印度和其它亚洲国家的黄金时代──艺术、文化、教育，人类文明的全盛时期，就是佛教影响力最大的时期，也是国家最强盛的时期。在佛教国家的历史里，没有所谓的「神圣的宗教战争」，也没有受到镇压异端和宗教歧视的伤害，是一页令人类骄傲的纯净历史。公元二至九世纪的那兰陀大学，就是佛教的产品，是世界第一所为全世界学生而开放的大学。

　　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.

　　在过去，交通困难，人们必须攀山越岭、横渡沙漠才能到达东方，可是佛教的传教士并不畏惧这些困难，终于使东方大部分的国家都接受了佛教信仰。逐渐的，佛教成为亚洲最主要的宗教，至今仍然是亚洲最多人信仰的宗教。今天佛陀那和平的信息已传播到西方，西方人也开始接受了佛教思想，并认为佛教是唯一能和现代科学协调的宗教。

　　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.

　　佛教的传教士，无意劝说那些已满足原有宗教信仰的人，放弃原来的宗教，改信佛教。佛教的传教士充分的支持其它的宗教和它们的传教士。如果他们的目的是劝人向善，提升人们的道德性，使他们过有意义的宗教生活，佛教的传教士同样的给予他们热心的支持和协助。佛教的传教士也为那些骚扰其它宗教信仰的传教士感到遗憾，如果他们的宗旨是崇高的，目的在指引人们过神圣的生活，就没有理由为了让人们转信他的宗教而做出不健全的竞争。

　　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.

　　佛教的传教士，绝对不会浮夸的去描画那虚妄的天堂生活，来刺激人类感官的欲望，从而获得人们的追随和信仰。佛教是以佛陀的教诲来解释人间和天堂，本来就是「无常」本质。

《传教 Buddhist Missionaries》全文阅读结束。