藥師佛本願的精神與契世應機 -- 以「生佛平等」願與「轉女成男」願為論

Abstract

As Humanistic Buddhism has been promoted since Master Taixu, practices of Medicine Buddha that emphasize on benefiting all living beings in the human world are propelled. Nonetheless, it is worthwhile of noticing that said practices of Medicine Buddha are taken partially as ＂eliminating misfortune and extending life＂ whilst deserting Bodhi is becoming an issue, which is a reflection on the problems of maintaining the core value, the Dharma of Buddha. In that case, how can we carry out redeeming missions for the world, while not only focusing on eliminating misfortune and extending life for the self, but also making the world a pure land, besides considering returning to the core value, instead of restricting oneself inside the box, and being flexible upon corresponding to different values of the world? To answer this question, it requires complete and deep understanding of the practices of Medicine Buddha. Therefore, two of the twelve great vows from Medicine Buddha are to be interpreted herein: The First Vow of ＂Equality of Beings and Buddhas＂ is to explore the integration of benefiting all living beings in the human world and the core value; on the other hand, the Eighth Vow of ＂Transferring from Female to Male Figures＂ is to further analyze the benefiting all living beings in the human world, as well as offering thoughts on adjusting the self to face all variations in modern worlds. The very First Vow of Medicine Buddha that suggests ＂Equality of Beings and Buddhas＂ contains broad visions which consisted of both the complete, supreme Bodhi and the redemption of current world. As is known, practices of Medicine Buddha correspond to the concept of development of the pure land in the human world; since Master Taixu, Master Hong Yi and Master Yin Shun in the early 1900s, the bias of ＂eliminating misfortune and extending life＂ has been eliminated, allowing the practices of Medicine Buddha to travel on the righteous path. Additionally, there was also Master Hong Qisong, who carried out the idea of the First Vow profoundly via ＂Perception of Buddha in All Beings＂ and ＂Perception of Trikaya＂; his theories have surpassed other ideas from the past in the genre. As for the Eighth Vow suggesting ＂Transferring from Female to Male Figures,＂ it was actually developed to satisfy women’s needs, and to provide them solutions for their suffering, since males were superior to females in earlier times. However, since time has changed, the short-term task of the vow could be considered accomplished; still, potential aspects contained in this vow are still needed, so that the ＂temporary＂ spirits of redemption in the Primal Vow of Medicine Buddha inside this Eighth Vow may be presented. As the requirements from modern women differ from those in earlier times, gender equality between both sexes is the first to be practiced comprehensively in the current world; meanwhile, when it comes to practices of Dharma, it is necessary to eliminate the worshipping of masculinity; ＂Transferring from Female to Male Figures＂ is thus no longer needed. In other words, women could as well become Buddhas in their body; presenting the Eighth Vow through displaying gender equality directly in the modern world would thus be relatively appropriate.