The Buddhist Association of China Holds the 2022 Humanistic Buddhism Thought Construction Seminar

　　China News Service, Beijing, December 31 (Reporter Yang Chengchen) Recently, the 2022 Seminar on Humanistic Buddhist Thought Construction, hosted by the Buddhist Association of China and undertaken by the Institute of Chinese Buddhist Culture and the Humanistic Buddhist Thought Research Base of the Chinese Buddhist Association, will be held offline and online. Fusion is held.

　　The theme of this meeting is "Constructing the Ideological System of Humanistic Buddhism in the New Era", which aims to study and implement the spirit of the 20th Party Congress and General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions at the National Religious Work Conference, hold high the banner of patriotism and religion, and promote the core of socialism Values, adhere to the direction of Sinicization of Buddhism in China, enrich and develop the ideological system of Humanistic Buddhism in the new era, and promote the practice of the Sinicization of contemporary Buddhism.

　　From Central Institute of Socialism, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Peking University, Tsinghua University, Renmin University of China, Nanjing University, East China Normal University, Southwest University for Nationalities, Sichuan University, Zhejiang Academy of Social Sciences, Heilongjiang Academy of Social Sciences, Zhejiang Buddhist Academy (headquarters) More than 20 experts and scholars from universities and research institutions such as Fujian Huangbo Zen Culture Research Institute and Buddhist masters attended the online meeting and discussed and exchanged around the theme of the meeting.

The opening meeting of the symposium was presided over by Liu Wei, secretary-general of the Buddhist Association of China.

The picture shows Yuan Sha, vice president of the Central Institute of Socialism, making a video speech at the seminar.

Photo courtesy of China Buddhist Association

　　Zong Xing, vice president of the Buddhist Association of China, pointed out in his speech that "adhering to the direction of my country's religion in China and actively guiding religion to adapt to socialist society" is an important exposition of General Secretary Xi Jinping on religious work, and it is also the focus of the current work of my country's Buddhist circles .

The thought of Humanistic Buddhism is an important theoretical achievement of the Sinicization of Buddhism. Guided by the thought of Humanistic Buddhism, we should continue to promote the practice of Sinicization of contemporary Buddhism in terms of classic interpretation, ideological system construction, canon system improvement, and etiquette and custom adjustment.

Constructing the ideological system of humanistic Buddhism in the new era is the practical starting point for promoting the Sinicization of Buddhism, and it is also the proposition of the times to realize the healthy inheritance of contemporary Buddhism.

　　Master Yizang, vice president of the Buddhist Association of China and director of the Humanistic Buddhist Thought Research Base, pointed out that Chinese Buddhism is the first religion in history to carry out and realize Sinicization, and has accumulated rich experience in the Sinicization of religion.

In the new era, Buddhism is facing a new task of Sinicization. Humanistic Buddhism, as the main guiding ideology of Chinese Buddhism, should be constantly adjusted, enriched and improved to better fit "political identity, cultural integration, and social adaptation." According to the requirements of the Sinicization of religion, it is time to construct the ideological system of Humanistic Buddhism in the new era.

　　Yuan Sha, vice president of the Central Institute of Socialism, said that my country is the country with the most complete Buddhist system in the world. A harmonious and integrated holistic view and system theory of Chinese Buddhism will help the process of Chinese Buddhism and the modernization of Chinese Buddhism. The three major language families as a whole have entered into the era and modernization of theoretical support.

　　Zheng Xiaoyun, director of the Institute of World Religions of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that today, "Humanistic Buddhism" has become an important banner and practice path of Chinese Buddhism in the new era.

To construct the ideological system of humanistic Buddhism in the new era, the important spiritual background should inherit and carry forward the fine tradition of Chinese Buddhism "advocating frugality and abstaining from extravagance".

In June 2022, national religious organizations jointly issued the "Common Initiative on Respecting Thrift and Abstaining from Extravagance."

Inheriting and carrying forward the fine tradition of "respecting frugality and abstaining from extravagance" of Chinese Buddhism is an inevitable requirement for constructing the ideological system of humanistic Buddhism in the new era, adhering to the Sinicization of Buddhism, and promoting the healthy inheritance of Chinese Buddhism.

　　Li Silong, deputy dean of the Institute of Religious Culture at Peking University, pointed out that institutional innovation is the key to the steady and long-term development of Buddhism in the world. Through the reconstruction of ethics and systems in Chinese Buddhism, Buddhism has adapted to the cultural form of "government and bishop obedience" and human relations and teaching in Chinese society.

Referring to the tradition of Indian Buddhist theories and combining with the knowledge structure of Chinese believers to explain the Chinese-translated Buddhist scriptures, this is the basic way of Sinicization of Buddhism in history, and it should also be the basic way of contemporary humanistic Buddhist thought construction.

The possible ways of constructing Humanistic Buddhism thought are, on the one hand, to inherit the fine traditions of Chinese Buddhist thought and system; The social attributes of colleges and universities in the new era.

　　The participating scholars and masters said that the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics is also a new era of the development of Chinese Buddhism. The construction of the new era of humanistic Buddhist thought system is not only the presentation of the era of Buddha's original intention, but also the spirit of Mahayana Buddhism, the fine tradition of Chinese Buddhism and the development of Chinese Buddhism. The contemporary penetration and practice of the century-old humanistic Buddhism movement is an important way and starting point to promote the Sinicization of Buddhism.

In the process of building a modern socialist country in an all-round way and promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, how to make humanistic Buddhism more adaptable and harmonious with Chinese society is the focus of further promoting the Sinicization of Buddhism, which depends on the understanding of "Humanistic Buddhism" The theoretical core and practical approaches contained in the book will be rethought, re-researched, and re-discussed.

Construct the ideological system of Humanistic Buddhism in the new era, let it play a more important role as a "leader" in the process of Sinicization of Buddhism, carry forward the concept of "Humanistic Buddhism" serving the country, serving the society, and serving all sentient beings, and living up to the era's endowment to the Chinese Buddhist community responsibilities and missions.

(use up)