Part Four

　　Human Life in Society

　　第四篇 人类的生活与社会

　　Chapter 11 Life and Culture

　　第十一章 生活与文化

　　Traditions, Customs and Festivals

　　传统.习俗与节目

　　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.

　　只要是不造成伤害、利益群众的传统和习俗，佛教都能接受。

　　传统与习俗：

　　佛陀说，不要因为是传统或习俗就相信它，然而，佛教并不鼓励抛弃所有的传统和习俗。

　　佛陀说：

　　「你必须试验它们，彻底的检验，如果它们合理、有助于我们的幸福，那么，就应该接受和实行这些传统和习俗。」

　　《卡拉马经Kalama Sutta》

　　这是从未有过、最自由的宗教宣言。在其他宗教里，对他人的传统和习俗的容忍就非常的罕见了。有些宗教经常劝告皈依者，放弃他们所有的传统、习俗和文化，不管是好、或是坏的。佛教在弘法的过程中，从来就没有要求信徒放弃他们原有的传统和习俗，不过，这些传统和习俗要在佛教道德范围内，换句话说，一个人不可以为了顺从自己的传统和习俗，而背弃佛教原则。如果人们倾向于自己的传统和习俗，而这些传统和习俗又没有佛教价值，倘若他们不以佛教名义，一样可以奉行他们原有的传统和习俗，但是，不可以对自己或对他人造成伤害，或伤及无辜的生命。

　　Rites and Rituals

　　典礼与仪轨：

　　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.

　　典礼和仪轨是传统和习俗的一部份。典礼和仪轨美化了宗教，并吸引了群众。典礼和仪轨为某些人提供了心理的帮助。但是，不是所有的修行者都需要靠典礼和仪轨的帮助。在人们心目中，某些仪轨对宗教而言是非常重要的，其实，佛教只重视自我的解脱，并不重视仪轨。依据佛陀的教诲，仪轨化的修持方式，在净化心灵，会造成障碍。

　　Festivals

　　节日庆典：

　　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，不以饮酒作乐、屠杀无辜及可怜的动物来庆祝节日。正信的佛教徒以完全不同的方式来庆祝节日，在节日里，他们专心的杜绝一切邪恶的行为，他们以布施帮助他人解除痛苦与忧愁。

　　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.

　　很多节日庆典都与宗教拉上关系，从而亵渎了宗教的神圣性。对一般人而言，宗教如果没有庆典，就显得沉闷和没有生气。一般，孩子们和年…

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