Religion of Freedom

宗教自由

This is a religion of freedom and reason for man to lead a noble life.

佛教鼓励信徒以自由的心灵过崇高的生活，佛教是一个自由及理性的宗教。

Buddhism does not prevent anyone from learning the teachings of other religions. In fact, the Buddha encouraged His followers to learn about other religions and to compare His Teachings with other teachings. The Buddha says that if there are reasonable and rational teachings. The Buddha says that if there are reasonable and rational teachings in other religions, His followers are free to respect such teachings. It seems that certain religionists try to keep their followers in the dark, some of them are not even allowed to touch other religious objects or books. They are instructed not to listen to the preachings of other religions. They are enjoined not to doubt the teachings of their own religion, however unconvincing their teachings may appear to be. The more they keep their followers on a one-track mind, the more easily they can keep them under control. If anyone of them exercises freedom of thought and realizes that he had been in the dark all the time, then it is alleged that the devil has possessed his mind. The poor man is given no opportunity to use his common sense, education, of his intelligence. Those who wish to change their views on religion are taught to believe that they are not perfect enough to be allowed to use free will in judging anything for themselves.

佛教不阻止任何人阅读或研究其它宗教，事实，佛教鼓励信众研究和比较其它宗教。佛陀说：「假如一个宗教有它合理的一面，它的信徒也有自由去崇敬这合理的一面。」某些宗教为了征服它的信众，使他们永远受困于黑暗，坚决的不允许信众接触其他宗教，不允许信众接触其它宗教的典籍，不许信众听闻其它宗教的教理。它们不允许信众对自己的信仰和教理有所怀疑，即使教理的表现是不能让人信服的。它们使信众生活在迷蒙中，有如羊群一样被牧放。假如有人睁开双眼看见光明，它们就会说，他已被魔鬼占据了内心，要打入黑暗的地狱。这些可怜的人，没有机会去运用他们的常识、他们的教育和学识。即使有人想改变这种看法，也会因为自己不够完善，以致不能自由的运用自己的意识来做出正确的判断。

According to the Buddha, religion should be left to one's own free choice. Religion is not a law, but a disciplinary code which should be followed with understanding. To Buddhists true religious principles are neither a divine law nor a human law, but a natural law.

根据佛陀所教，宗教是一种自由选择的信仰，不是律法，而是一种应该奉行的道德规范。佛教不是世间法，而是自然法。

In actual fact, there is no real religious freedom in any part of the world today. Man has not the freedom even to think freely. Whenever he realizes that he cannot find satisfaction through his own religion to which he belongs, which cannot provide him with satisfactory answers to certain questions, he has no liberty to give it up and to accept another which appeals to him. The reason is that religious authorities, leaders, and family members have taken that freedom away from him. Man should be allowed to choose his religion which is in accordance with his own conviction. One has no right to force another to accept a particular religion. Some people surrender their religion for the sake of love, without a proper understanding of their partner's religion. Religion should not be changed to suit man's emotions and human weaknesses. One must think very carefully before changing one's religion. Religion is not a subject for bargaining; one should not change one's religion for personal, material gains. Religion is to be sued for spiritual development and for self-salvation.

事实，在今天的世界里，根本就没有真正的宗教自由，人类甚至失去了思想自由。当一个人发现他无法从自己信仰的宗教获得满足时，无法为他解答某些特殊的问题。他不能自由的放弃他原来信仰的宗教，而去接受一个对他更有吸引力的宗教。原因无他，因为这是一个权威性的宗教，宗教领导人和他的家庭成员剥夺了他的自由。人类应该有选择自己宗教信仰的自由。没有人有权力去强迫别人跟随自己的信仰。有些人是因为屈服于恋爱对象，而跟随他的信仰，这种人对宗教的了解还比不上木偶。宗教不应该令人屈服于情感的弱点而改变一个人。在转换信仰的时候，也应该慎重的考虑，因为宗教不是一种交易。一个人不应该为了个人或物质的利益而改变信仰，宗教信仰是为了开发心灵而获得自我的解脱。

Buddhists never try to influence other religionists to come and embrace their religion for material gain. Nor do they try to exploit poverty, sickness, illiteracy and ignorance in order to increase the number of Buddhist population. The Buddha advised those who indicated their wish to follow Him, not to be hasty in accepting His Teachings. He advised them to consider carefully His Teaching and to determine for themselves whether it was practical or not for them to follow.

佛教不以物质的诱惑来吸引信徒，佛教也不是在利用那些贫穷、病患、文盲和愚痴的人。佛陀告诫那些追随者，不要急于接受他的教义。佛陀要信徒们要慎重的考虑和判断他的教义，是否确实和实用。

Buddhism teaches that mere belief or outward rituals are insufficient for attaining wisdom and perfection. In this sense, outward conversion becomes meaningless. To promote Buddhism by force would mean pretending to propagate justice and love by means of oppression and injustice. It is of no importance to a follower of the Buddha whether a person calls himself a Buddhist or not. Buddhists know that only through man's understanding and exertion will they come nearer to the goal preached by the Buddha.

佛陀教导我们，对外力和仪式的信仰是无法获得智慧的，因此，对外力和仪式的信仰是没有意义的。以武力来推动佛教，意味着以压迫和不公正的手段去宣扬那公正和仁慈的宗教。是否要自称佛教徒，那是不重要的事，重要的是，要透过自己清楚的了解，和运用自己心识，这样才能更接近于佛陀所宣说的人生真正目的。

Amongst the followers of every religion are some fanatics. Religious fanaticism is dangerous. A fanatic is incapable of guiding himself by reason or even by the scientific principles of observation and analysis. According to the Buddha, a Buddhist must be a free man with an open mind and must not be subservient to anyone for his spiritual development. He seeks refuge in the Buddha by accepting Him as a source of supreme guidance and inspiration. He seeks refuge in the Buddha, not blindly, but with understanding. To Buddhists, the Buddha is not a savior nor is He an anthropomorphic being who claims to possess the power of washing away other's sins. Buddhists regard the Buddha as a Teacher who shows the Path to salvation.

宗教狂热是危险的。不正确的方法得不到好的结果，方法不对，目标也不可能对，一个宗教狂热者不可能以理性和科学性为自己的原则。根据佛陀的教义，佛教徒必须是一个自由的人，以开放和不屈服的胸襟寻求心灵的发展。佛教徒皈依佛陀，是把佛陀当作导师和自我鼓励的对象，是为了了解，而不是盲从。对佛教徒而言，佛陀不是「救世主」，也不是那拥有极高权威能洗清他人罪孽的「神」。佛教徒把佛陀当作一位老师，一位能指引他迈向解脱之道的老师。

Buddhism has always supported the freedom and progress of mankind. Buddhism has always stood for the advancement of knowledge and freedom for humanity in every sphere of life. There is nothing in the Buddha's Teaching that has to be withdrawn in the face of modern, scientific inventions and knowledge. The more new things that scientists discover, the closer they come to the Buddha.

佛教支持现代人的自由和进步。佛教在人类生活的各个层次都代表着人性的自由和知识的进展。面对现代科学和知识的冲击，佛教的教义并未因此而被淘汰或更动。可见佛教教义的科学性。科学的新发现越多，人类就越接近佛教。

The Buddha emancipated man from the thralldom of religion. He also released man from the monopoly and the tyranny of the priestcraft. It was the Buddha who first advised man to exercise his reason and not to allow himself to be driven meekly like dumb cattle, following the dogma of religion. The Buddha stood for rationalism, democracy and practical, ethical conduct in religion. He introduced this religion for people to practise with human dignity.

The followers of the Buddha were advised not to believe anything without considering it properly. In the Kalama Sutta, the Buddha gave the following guidelines to a group of young people:

佛教把人类从宗教束缚中解放出来，也把人类从极权残暴的神权系统中解放出来。这是佛陀对人类的开示，要人类善于运用自己的智慧，不要像那些孱弱愚笨的畜生一样，盲目的接受宗教信仰。佛陀在他的教义中，体现了：理性、民主、实用和道德，佛陀是第一位用大众语言宣说教义的人。佛陀告诫信徒，不要接受那些没有经过适当思考的事。

佛陀在《卡拉玛经》(Kalama Sutta)中，对一帮年青人说：

'Do not accept anything based upon mere reports, traditions or hearsay,

「不要接受那些口头传说、传统或听来的事。

Nor upon the authority of religious texts,

不要相信权威性的宗教经典，

Nor upon mere reasons and arguments,

不要相信理论和争议，

Nor upon one's own inference,

不要相信自己的推断，

Nor upon anything which appears to be true,

这一切，看起来都像真的，

Nor upon one's own speculative opinion,

但这一切都基于个人的揣测或意见，

Nor upon another's seeming ability,

或基于别人表面的能力，

Nor upon the consideration: 'This is our Teacher.'

或基于这样的念头：

'But, when you know for yourselves the certain things are unwholesome and bad: tending to harm yourself of others, reject them.

「这是我们老师所教导的。」「当你知道这对你不适当或无益时──损人不利己，你就应该拒绝它。」

'And when you know for yourselves that certain things are wholesome and good: conducive to the spiritual welfare of yourself as well as others, accept and follow them.'

「当你知道适合和有益于你时──利人利己，你就应该顺从它并接受它。」

Buddhists are advised to accept religious practices only after careful observation and analysis, and only after being certain that the method agrees with reason and is conducive to the good of one and all.

佛教徒只有在仔细的观察和分析后，才接受和实践自己的信仰。同时，也确保了信仰的合理性和利人利己。

A true Buddhist does not depend on external powers for his salvation. Nor does he expect to get rid of miseries through the intervention of some unknown power. He must try to eradicate all his mental impurities to find eternal Happiness. The Buddha says, 'If anyone were to speak ill of me, my teaching and my disciples, do not be upset or perturbed, for this kind of reaction will only cause you harm. On the other hand, if anyone were to speak well of me, my teaching and my disciples, do not be over-joyed, thrilled or elated, for this kind of reaction will only be an obstacle in forming a correct judgment. If you are elated, you cannot judge whether the qualities praised are real and actually found in us.'

(Brahma Jala Sutta) Such is the unbiased attitude of a genuine Buddhist.

真正的佛教徒决不依靠外来的力量而获得解脱，也不希望外力的介入来摆脱痛苦。佛教徒以清除潜在于内心的烦恼，来寻求内在的欢愉。

佛陀在《长部》里这么说：「假如有人诋毁我，或我的教义和我的弟子，我不会因此沮丧或烦恼。这么做，只会带来伤害。假如有人赞扬我，或我的教义和我的弟子，我也不会因此的感到欢喜、感动或得意。因为这是造成正确判断的障碍。如果你沉醉于别人的赞扬中，你就无法判断赞扬的本质是否属实，或我们是否真正值得被赞扬。」

The Buddha had upheld the highest degree of freedom not only in its human essence but also in its divine qualities. It is a freedom that does not deprive man of his dignity. It is a freedom that releases one from slavery to dogmas and dictatorial religious laws or religious punishments.

佛陀提倡高度的自由，不单是为人类，也涵盖了一切平等的众生。自由并不是鼓励放纵。人类自由的从那些奴役人性的宗教权威、神权或宗教惩罚中解放自己。