序──中华佛学研究所的脚步
　　作者: 释圣严
　　本所的学报，原则上是每年出版一期，可是由于集稿、打字，编校等多种主客观因素，自民国七十六年（1987）三月发行至今，仅出版到第四期，平均四年之间脱掉一期。不过我们很有信心要把这份学报办好，我们已投注了相当的财力，集合了当今第一流的佛教学者的人力和学力资源，提供了代表着台湾佛教学术研究的一块园地和一座讲坛。
　　本所自从民国七十四年（1985）脱离中国文化大学附设的中华学术院，而独立为中华佛学研究所以来，在各项设施上，几乎都是从零再出发，好在由于本所全体师生的共同努力，以及护法信众的热心资助，使得本所的基础已粗具规模，现有专任老师九位，兼任老师九位，开了二十多门课程．原先是光有必修课而无选修课，如今则选修科目多于必修科目，重视语文，重视佛学，也重视方法的训练。同时每年邀请外国的著名佛教学者，来所担任专题研究的教学及指导。
　　在图书馆购置方面，本所已从国内及日本、印度、尼泊尔、欧美国家，不断增添，如今已有不同语文、不同版本、不同内容编辑的藏经二十一种，相关佛教研究的工具书、期刊杂志学报及参考书，已有一万多册，目前在冉云华教授的建议及其指导之下，尽可能地搜求有关以明清数据为主的各项图书．预计到民国九十年（2001）时，总藏书量达十六万册。
　　本所的宗旨，是希望「站在中国佛教的立场，放眼世界佛教。把世界佛教的成果引回中国，把中国佛教的智慧传到世界。」（我为『佛教伦理与现代社会』所写的总序）。因此而于民国七十九年（199O）元月十二至十五日，举办第一届中华国际佛学会议，其永久主题是「佛教传统与现代社会」，第一届的议题是「佛教伦理与现代社会」。兴奋的佛教学者，来自十八个国家，共计一百多位，宣读了四十篇论文。会后立即聘请美国天普大学的傅伟勋教授，圣地亚哥州立大学的华珊嘉教授（sandra wawrytko）担任论文集的主编．分别编辑成为中英文两册，中文论集『从传统到现代──佛教伦理与现代社会』交由台北东大图书公司编入「沧海丛刊」，已于民国七十九年（l990）十月出版．英文部份则洽由美国纽约的绿林出版社（Greenwood Press）于本年（1991）四月出版。类此的国际会议，我们预期每二至三年召开一次。所以现在已着手进行第二届的筹备事宜。
　　本所的所训共有八句话：「立足中华，放眼世界；专精佛学，护持正法；解行互资，悲智双运；实用为先，利他为重。」因此本所老师之中大半数以上，或曾留学国外，或系来自外国。同时还向国外邀聘学者作短期讲授。近年以来．本所不仅在国内获得台大、文大、东吴、辅大、中央图书馆等协助，举办国际学术会议，同时也跟日本的京都佛教大学佛教文化研究所，东京立正大学法华经文化研究所、美国夏威夷大学佛学研究所，密西根大学佛教文学研究所，泰国法身中心等，签订合约，建立了交换师生、出版物，共同召开学术会议的关系。
　　为使本所的学生获得国际的视野，便不得不加强与国外佛教学术界的合作联系。为使本所的学生养成学以致用的能力，我们由二年级同学每年主办一次大专学佛青年夏令营。为使本所的学生在做学问之外不要忘了自己是身负弘法责任的佛教徒，我们提供佛殿、禅坐室，以及参加禅七修行等活动的机会。
　　由于本所的工作项目、设备项目、及师生人员的不断扩充，继续增加，现在借用中华佛教文化馆的建筑空间，已经感到越来越小，所以自民国七十八年（1989）四月初起，在台北县的金山乡，陆续购进山坡地，作为本所迁建之用，迄民国八十年（1991）四月的现在，已有三十二公顷，并且经过主管机关教育部及内政部先后核准事业计划及开发计划，预定于五年之内，以新台币十亿元的总金额，将那片已被命名为「法鼓山」的土地，建设成为国际性的教育、学术、文化及修持的佛教园区。这是我们要向关心本所动向的诸位高贤报告的另一项消息。
　　本期的中华佛学学报第四期，刊出了十四篇论文，内容的范围，包括南传巴利语系，北传汉语系、密乘西藏语系，从印度初期佛教，到禅与现代的西方。稿源来自台湾本地者占多数，也有从美国、加拿大、香港等地邀约而来。其中的丁敏、汪娟两位女士及释成观法师所提三篇，是获得本所奖学金的佳作，我们乐见研究佛教的学者群中，发现了新生代的生力军。其余除了冉云华、稻田龟男是世界知名长老级的佛教学者，傅伟勋、华珊嘉、筱原亨一，是世界级的国际学者，杨郁文、林崇安、陈玉蛟、刘贵杰、高明道、吴汝钧，都是台港佛教学界知名之士，都是治学严谨而勤奋的学者，我要在此致谢，并请继续赐稿。
　　谨序如上，用报诸贤。
　　释圣严序于民国八十年（1991）四月一日
　　Preface
　　The Steps of the Chu g-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies
　　In principle, the Chung-Hwa Buddhist Journal is issued every year. However, due to the various subjective and objective factors such as the soliciting of articles, typing, editing, proof-reading, etc., since the first issue published in March 1987 until now, only four issues are published. There is a shortage of one issue in four years. Nevertheless, we have full confidence to publish a high-levelled Buddhist Journal. We have invested considerable financial resources. We have gathered the manpower and the academic resources of the first class Buddhist scholars. We have offered a garden and a forum which can represent the academic study of Taiwan Buddhism.
　　Since its separation from the China Academy of the Chinese Culture University and becoming an independent academic organization in 1985, the Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies nearly re-started from zero in terms of various facilities. Thanks to the joint effort of all faculty and students, as well as the enthusiastic donation from dharma protectors and devotes, a solid foundation has been built. Right now, the Chung-Hwa has nine full-time and nine part-time teachers who teach more than 20 courses. In the beginning, there are only required courses, no selective courses. Right now, the selective courses are more than the required courses. We emphasize on language, Buddhism and methodology. Meanwhile, each year we always invite foreign famous Buddhist scholars to the Chung-Hwa to conduct the teaching and guidance of topic research.
　　As to the books, the Chung-Hwa continues to purchase from Taiwan, Japan, India, Nepal, Europe and America. Today, we have 21 Tripitakas of different languages, different editions and different contents. We also have more than ten thousand Buddhist study-related tool books, periodicals, magazines, dictionaries and reference books. Now, following Prof. Jan Yyn-hwa’s suggestion and guidance, we are doing our best to collect the various books mainly in relevance to the data of Ch’ing and Ming Dynasties. It is expected that until 2001, the total collection will reach 160,000 copies.
　　Our objectives are “To look at the world Buddhism from the standpoint of Chinese Buddhism. To bring back the fruit of the world Buddhism to China. To spread the wisdom of Chinese Buddhism to the whole world.” (See my preface to the book “Buddhist Ethics and Modern Society.”) Therefore, we held the First Chung-Hwa International Conference on Buddhism from Jan. 12 to 15, 1990. The everlasting theme of the conference is “ Buddhist Tradition and Modern Society.” There are more than 100 Buddhist scholars from 18 countries. A total of 40 papers were presented. After the conference, we invited Prof. Charles Fu of the Temple University and Prof. Sandra Wawrytko as the chief editor/editress of the anthology of papers. The Chinese anthology, entitled “From Tradition to Modernity—Buddhist Ethics and Modern Society”, has been published as one of the Great Ocean Serial Books by the Tung-ta Book Company in October, 1990. The English anthology was published by the Greenwood Press, New York in April, 1991. We plan to hold such international conference every two to here years. Therefore, we are now organizing the second conference.
　　We have motto in eight sentences: “To stand on China, to look at the world. To penetrate the study of Buddhism, to protect the right dharma. To emphasize on both understanding and practice, to exert both compassion and wisdom. To put practical utilization at first , to stress on benefiting others as priority. “Hence, most of the teachers have once gone abroad for advanced study or come from foreign country. Meanwhile, we also invite foreign scholars to make short-term lecture. In recent years, we not only obtain the assistance from local institutions such as National Taiwan University, Chinese Culture University, Soochow University, Fu-jen Catholic University and National Central Library in hosting international academic conference, but also sign contracts of cooperation with foreign institutions such as the Institute of Buddhist Culture, Kyoto Buddhist University, Tokyo, Japan; Institute of Buddhism, University of Hawaii, the USA; the Institute of Buddhist Literature, the University of Michigan and, the Wat Phra Dhammakaya Centre to establish the relations of the exchange of faculty, students and publications as well as the co-sponsoring of academic conference.
　　In order to let the students have international view scope, we have to enhance the cooperation with local and foreign Buddhist academic community. In order to let the students nurture the ability of exerting what they have learnt, we ask the sophomores to organize one summer camp for college Buddhist youths. In order to let the students not forget that, they are the Buddhists who have the ability to expound dharma except pursuing knowledge, we provide Buddha hall, meditation room and the opportunity of participating 7-day meditation retreat.
　　Due to the ever-expanding of our business, facilities, student and staff, we feel more and more crowed in using the Chung-Hwa Buddhist Culture Hall. Therefore, starting from April 1989, we have been purchasing hill slope land at Kin-shan, Taipei for the future site of Chung-Hwa. Until April 1991, we have bought total area of 32 hectares. Our “enterprise project” and “development project” have been approved by the authorities, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Interior. It is expected to invest one billion N.T. dollars in the coming five years. When the project is completed, this land which is named “Mt. Dharma Drum” will turn into an international Buddhist garden of education, academy, culture and practice. This is another news which we wish to report to the virtuous ones who concern about the activities of the Chung-Hwa.
　　This issue of Chung-Hwa Buddhist Journal No.4 consists of 14 papers. The contents include the Southern Buddhism of Pali language, the Northern Buddhism of Chinese Language and the Tantric Buddhism of Tibetan language, from the primitive Buddhism of India to Ch’an and modern west world. Most of the contributors are Taiwan scholars. Some are from USA, Canada, Hongkong and other places. Among them, Ms. Ting Ming Wang Jiuan and Ven. Chen Kuan are the winners of our scholarships. We so glad that the new forces are found among the Buddhist scholars. Beside young generation, Prof. Jan Yun-hua and Prof. Kenneth K. Inada are world-known leading Buddhist scholars; Prof. Charles Fu, Prof. Sandra Wawrytko, Prof. Koichi Shinohara are international scholars of world class; Prof. Yang Yu-wen, Prof. Lin Chung-an, Prof. Chen Yu-jiau, Prof. Liou Guei-jie, Prof.F.F. Grohmann and Prof. Ng Yu-kwan are famous scholars in Taiwan and Hongkong Buddhist circle. They are all scholars of strict discipline and intelligence. I have to thank them.
　　My sincere gratitude is expressed as above to all of you.
　　Ven. Sheng Yen
　　April 1, 1991