Page 73 - YBAM 50th Anniversary Souvenir Magazine

度、佛教的本来面目）都一一涉猎。也许 佛教，并接着学习佛法。同时，这也有利

这和国内英文源流佛教徒多为南传信众， 于佛教争取更多社会资源作为佛教弘化之
中文源流佛教徒多为北传信众有关。南传 用。
佛教向来比较注重解脱道，也许因此比较

专注于个人的修行。北传佛教则比较关注 然而，无法否认的事实是，这些佛教论
众生的福祉，可能也就相对的比较关心社 坛，在出席人数和社会议论方面，渐渐的
会议题。 开始不如以往，更加无法复制2002年的英
文国际佛教会议或2004年的中文国际佛教
这一系列的佛教论坛，特别是较早期的论 论坛的创举。但是仍然能够吸引至少三百 ADDRESSING THE

坛，我们发现到许多一般上不出席佛教活 人以上出席，同时也在一定程度上带领佛 CONTEMPORARY BUDDHISM
动的知识份子参与，甚至有国会议员主 教界关注当代的议题。盛况不再，除了可
动报名参加。即使在今日的“个人社媒”时 能因为已经失去大型会议的新鲜感之外， THROUGH CONTEMPORARY

代，知识份子仍然较一般人更能影响舆 国内佛教学佛的风气的转变也是一个因 BUDDHIST FORUMS LIAU KOK MENG
论。因此有更多的知识份子参与佛教的弘 素。过去十年，国内学佛者显得更重视禅
化，特别是间接的弘化，对佛教弘化工作 修。但是，个人觉得类似以上的佛教论坛
必然起着积极作用。所谓间接的弘化，即 和禅修并不相悖，甚至可以相辅相成。 Since 2000, YBAM has been organising YBAM also organised some Dharma
是说这些知识份子可能在非佛教传统平台 various Buddhist forums in Chinese or talk series, with Venerable and Dharma

上提出佛教的观点，特别是学术会议或学 综合以上的论述，我寄望马佛青可以继续 English. This is an important milestone Speakers giving Dharma talks in different
for YBAM in its 50 years of journey. It Buddhist societies in a ‘roadshow’ model.
术著作上。此外，如果能造就更多了解佛 举办这类佛教论坛，也许规模可以缩小，
can even be viewed as an important Even though this model still exists today,
教的议员或从政者，对马来西亚佛教的发 参加者及讲师人数都可以减少，议题可以
achievement for YBAM within 20 years but on a small-scale basis. In fact, such
展必定是正面的。 更集中。如果可以兼具教理的理论和对时 after 2000. Among all events organised, small-scale model has been practiced
代议题的回应，则最为理想。办类似论 some were conferences while there were after year 2000. The attendance rate for
另一方面，由于这类佛教论坛规模盛大， 坛，需要动用相对更多的资源，但是由于 a few seminars organised. In this article, most of the Dharma talks was low.
所以较能获得媒体和大众的垂注，也因此 这类论坛具有如前所述的种种优势，投入 it will all be referred to as ‘Buddhist forum’
论坛的主题及其他议题，也就更能引起大 这些资源毕竟还是必须和值得的。 or just ‘forum’. On the other hand, in the 1990s, there
was a wave of learning Buddhism
家的注意和讨论。佛教对这些议题的主张
Despite the changes of the era, the among the varsities’ students. Dharma
也就能让人更广泛的知道。同时，这也可
teachings of the Buddha remain the camp or meditation camp organised by
以激起教内重视及思考这些当代议题，让
same. However, we need to keep Venerable Chi Chern or Venerable Kai
更多人参与讨论，及让更多佛教徒明白佛 making changes on the way the Dharma Zhao received overwhelming response
教如何看待这些新兴议题。此外，它也更 is propagated, and the projection of from the students. Nonetheless, the rate
能让社会看见佛教对当代议题的关注，对 Buddhism to the community, to address of return to the Buddhist organisations
提升佛教的社会形象有很大的助益——佛 the need of the community. In the early after graduation was very low, with many
教不但有着两千五百年的古老智慧，也有 days, the Dharma propagation activities of them not participating in the Buddhist

最现代的视野；佛教不但关注个人的修行 were based on the Dharma talks by the activities anymore. YBAM has been
Venerable or Dharma Speakers in the putting effort into reconnecting this group
与解脱，也关注新兴科技和科学发展对 昔加末佛教会 Buddhist societies. There were a few of people with Buddhist activities again. At
人类生活的影响。良好的社会形象，无疑
Buddhist seminars and forum organised, the same time, YBAM also realised that
可以吸引更多人，特别是年轻人，来接触 but they were all organised in small scales. there are not many activities that catered
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50 YEARS OF DHARMA PRO PA GATION CO NTINUING THE MIS SION IN THE 5G ER A