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Studies On Master Hsing Yun's Views On The Ethics In Humanistic Buddhism

Posted on:2012-08-23Degree:DoctorType:Dissertation
Country:ChinaCandidate:X PengFull Text:PDF
GTID:1115330374488003Subject:Ethics
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According to the principle "basing on and surmounting the tradition", Master Hsing Yun, the important practitioner of Humanistic Buddhism in the present age, further develops the contemporary Buddhism into a popularized, modernized, systematized and internationalized one, which takes root in the human world and daily life and spreads among the young. Thus, the keynote and foundation of the theories and practices of Humanistic Buddhism get established. Compared with those of traditional Buddhism, the ethical ideologies and practice patterns of Humanistic Buddhism are obviously epochal, universal and integrated, maintaining the sanctity of their religious ethics.The author of this thesis explores Master Hsing Yun's Humanistic Buddhism in terms of the general-to-detail pattern. The essential feature of Humanistic Buddhism is that it takes root in the secular human world, with special emphasis on utilizing Buddhism ideologies on goodness and beauty to mediating all kinds of relationships among individuals, families, societies, natures and international countries. Considering features of the modern society, and basing on the Buddhist "Origin ideology" on the universe and life, and the Cause-effect ideology of morality, Master Hsing Yun has developed the ethical connotations, modern ethical ideologies and moral practice patterns of Humanistic Buddhism, which is the result of the integration of the human world and the other world, tradition and modern, self benefit and altruism. These are the theory basis of Master Hsing Yun's Humanistic Buddhism, and also the source of his theories on the individual morality, family ethics, social ethics as well as life ethics.The moral principles of the traditional Buddhism mainly aim at mediating the ethical relationships among monks and disciples of the same religion. In contrast, the perspectives of Humanistic Buddhism are broader because it takes roots in human world and their daily life. Therefore, Master Hsing Yun interprets the individual morality, modern family ethics, management ethics and economic ethics from the perspective of Buddhist moral principles. What's more, Humanistic Buddhism has been employed to interpreting the applied ethics like life ethics and ecological ethics, showing its courage of getting involved in the modern life. Thus, the adjustable range of Humanistic Buddhism has greatly surpassed traditional Theravada Buddhism which pays attention to its own uplift only, and Human Life Buddhism that gives priority to Household ethics. This happens to reflect the characteristics of Mahayana Buddhism which teaches people to deal with the material world with the above-worldly considerations. Actually, Humanistic Buddhism not only distinguishes the realm order from human morality to Bodhisattva morality, but also unites them into the moral frame of Mahayana Buddhism.Humanistic Buddhism is regarded as the best instrument in employing Buddhist doctrines in the modern society. Thus, with the penetration of the practice of Humanistic Buddhism and the formation of its global perspective, Master Hsing Yun has establishes his modern ethical ideologies like joy and integration, symbiosis with the body, respect and tolerance, equality and peace. All these ideologies possess modern features, which are different from those of traditional Buddhism ethics, surpassing the religion and containing universal values. He utilizes these ideologies in handling the relationship of man and man, or of man, family and society, man and nature, nation and nation, religion and religion. All of them are universally applicable in discussing Master Hsing Yun's individual ethics, family ethics, social ethics as well as his life ethics.Nowadays, there are diversities, conflicts and clashes all around the world. Master Hsing Yun is trying hard to reconcile all these differences, including those between tradition and modern times, secular customs and sacred ones, self benefit and altruism, being a common person and being a Buddhist. As far as Master Hsing Yun is concerned, even the differences between all kinds of Buddhism, those between inner sections of Buddhism, or different nationalities, beliefs, and countries can survive together. His theories on the five initial approaches for people to become a Buddhist believer make the integration of all differences possible, for they can meet all kinds of people's moral demands. According to Master Hsing Yun's interpretation, the loyalty and filial piety of traditional values can survive together with the democracy, equality and freedom of modern values. All in all, basing on his identification of moral hierarchy, Hsing Yun's Humanistic Buddhism possesses extensive adaptability, covering utilitarian theories, deontological theories, and moral theories. Thus, his Humanistic Buddhism can meet the moral demands of people from different levels and different situations.The detailed discussion part of this thesis focuses on the modern application of Master Hsing Yun's Humanistic Buddhism moral ideologies, including ethical management ideologies, economic ethical ideologies, and life ethical ideologies. The discussion highlights the distinguishing features of its practical ethics as well as the applied ethics, displaying its modern features which are different from those of traditional Buddhism moral ideologies.All in all, Master Hsing Yun's Humanistic Buddhism is the people and life oriented, practice and ideal oriented one, which center on human beings, carrying out interpretation and mediation on all kinds of relationships like that of man and himself, man and man, man, family and society, man and nature in view of Humanistic Buddhism. Compared with moral principles of traditional Buddhism, Master Hsing Yun's Humanistic Buddhism is the kind of religious ethics that is deeper rooted in the society, whose application is more universal. Therefore, considering its universal application on the society and its moral influences, Master Hsing Yun's Humanistic Buddhism ethics is a successful model of blending religious ethics and secular customs.
Keywords/Search Tags:Master Hsing Yun, Humanistic Buddhism, Buddhism ethics, applied ethics
PDF Full Text Request
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