試論聖嚴法師對「空性」與「佛性」之詮解與貫通

Abstract

聖嚴法師晚年曾清楚定位自己為「一個帶動思想的人」，認為自己不是學問家、不是學者，但承認自己是一個宗教思想家；法師以思想家自我定位，其對佛教思想的詮釋和理解有哪些特色，成為可關注的點。本文試著從聖嚴法師對「空性」與「佛性」之詮解與融通，進行初步的分析論述。 「空性」與「佛性」兩大概念之間，在印、漢、藏佛教思想史上早有廣泛討論，包括近來學界亦有諸多反思乃至論辯。本文以聖嚴法師觀點為主，在漢傳佛教的脈絡底下作探討，先介紹近代漢語學界三種觀點：第一以太虛法師為例，簡介佛性高於空性之說；第二以印順法師為例，概述空性高於佛性之說；第三以牟宗三先生為例，說明佛性與空性不同但卻互補的立場。對上述三種觀點，聖嚴法師顯然有不同看法，他認為佛性即是空性，佛性和空性相通，只是表達方式的不同。 本文藉由聖嚴法師與近現代華人思想家判釋異同之對比，向佛學界介紹聖嚴法師的特見，並進一步分析、評論他對佛典的解讀及論證，盼能從中看出現今漢傳佛教弘揚者對於佛性和空性之主張，顯示聖嚴法師兼容互攝、調和（合）的思想特色。

In his old age, Master Sheng Yen once identified himself as “Buddhist thought leader”. He considered himself not an academic nor a scholar but a religious thinker. Since Master Sheng Yen identified himself as a Buddhist thinker, the unique features of his interpretation and understanding of Buddhism are worth exploring. In this paper I try to analyze and discuss Master Sheng Yen’s exposition and integration of “emptiness” (śūnyatā) and “Buddha-nature” (Buddhatā). The relationship between emptiness and Buddha-nature has been discussed extensively in the ancient Indian, Chinese, and Tibetan history of Buddhist thought, and there have been some reflections, and even debates, in modern academic circles. Here I focus on the views of Master Sheng Yen to see how he responds to this issue. In the beginning I introduce three positions in modern Chinese circle: firstly I take Master Tai Xu as an example to illustrate the viewpoint that the teaching on Buddha-nature is superior to the teaching on emptiness; secondly I take Master Yin Shun to illustrate the view that the teaching on emptiness is superior to the teaching on Buddha-nature; thirdly I introduce Mou Zong San’s viewpoint to present the view that the teachings on Buddha-nature and emptiness are distinct but complementary. Compared to the aforementioned views, Master Sheng Yen obviously has a different understanding. He suggests that Buddha-nature and emptiness are simply different ways of expressing the same idea. Comparing the differences and similarities of his views with these contemporary thinkers, I wish to introduce Master Sheng Yen’s syncretic interpretation of emptiness and Buddha-nature to the Buddhist academic circle. I further analyze and comment on his viewpoints on Buddhist scriptures and arguments, not only illustrating the standpoints of a contemporary advocate of Chinese Buddhism, but also representing his unique form of syncretic thought.