Chapter 14 Promoter of True Human Culture

第十四章 佛教与文化

Modern Religion

现代的宗教

Buddhism is strong enough to face any modern views which pose a challenge to religion.

佛教能面对现代观点和任何宗教的挑战。

Buddhist ideas have greatly contributed to the enrichment of both ancient and modern thought. Its teaching of causation and relativism, its doctrine of sense data, its pragmatism, its emphasis on the moral, its non-acceptance of a permanent soul, its unconcern about external supernatural forces, its denial of unnecessary rites and religious rituals, its appeal to reasoning and experience and its compatibility with modern scientific discoveries all tend to establish its superior claim to modernity.

佛教对古代和现代思潮都有很大的贡献。佛教的「因果法」、「缘起法」、「五蕴论」和它的实用主义、强调道德性、否定灵魂的存在、否定外力对修持的关系、否定一切仪轨，佛教追求理性的认识和经验，它和现代科学不谋而合，建立了它卓越的现代性。

Buddhism is able to meet all the requirements of a rational religion that suit the needs of the future world. It is so scientific, so rational, so progressive that it will be a pride for a man in the modern world to call himself a Buddhist. In fact, Buddhism is more scientific in approach than science; it is more socialistic than socialism.

佛教结合了宗教和一切理性所必要的条件，它更适合于未来世界的需求。佛教是如此的科学、如此的理性、如此的进步，在现代世界中，人人都以身为佛教徒而感到自豪和荣耀。事实，佛教比科学还要科学，比社会主义更社会主义，比一切进步的东西更进步。

Among all the great founders of religion, it was the Buddha alone who encouraged the spirit of investigation among His followers and who advised them not to accept even His Teaching with blind faith. Therefore, it is no exaggeration to say that Buddhism can be called a modern religion.

在所有的宗教创始人当中，只有佛陀鼓励信徒去审核自己心灵的发展，佛陀告诫他们，不要盲目的信仰，要经过试验后才接受他的教诲。所以说，佛教是现代的宗教，这一点也不夸张。

Buddhism is a well-elaborated scheme of how to lead a practical life and a carefully thought-out system of self-culture. But more than that, it is a scientific method of education. This religion is best able in any crisis to restore our peace of mind and to help us to face calmly whatever changes the future may have in store.

佛教是一种尽心尽力的实际生活，也是一种自我内在文明的彻底思想，此外，它也是一种科学的教育方法。佛教能在任何危机中，恢复我们内心的宁静，同时，帮助我们沉着的应付将来所面对的一切变化。

Without sensual pleasure, would life be endurable? Without belief in immortality, can man be moral? Without resorting to divinity, can man advance towards righteousness? YES, is the answer given by Buddhism. These ends can be attained by knowledge and by the purification of the mind. Knowledge is the key to the higher path. Purification is that which brings calmness and peace to life and renders man indifferent to and detached from the vagaries of the phenomenal world.

没有感官的欲乐我们能生存吗？不相信灵魂的存在会有道德心吗？不去神社祷告能过正直的生活吗？是的，这些都是佛教要回答的问题。这些问题可透过智慧和内心的净化来完成。智慧是攀登高楼的钥匙，净化带来宁静与和平，使人在面对风暴等现象时能屹立不倒。

Buddhism is truly a religion suited to the modern, scientific world. The light which comes from nature, from science, from history, from human experience, from every point of the universe, is radiant with the Noble Teachings of the Buddha.

佛教是适合现代科学的宗教，它的光明来自：自然、科学、历史的人类文明的经验。在宇宙的任何一个角度，都能散发出佛陀崇高教义的光辉。