The Idea of Compassion

Abstract

The paper discusses the Buddhist notion of compassion through an analysis and critique of the Mahayana doctrines of bodhisattva (enlightened beings) and upaya (skillful means). While it recognizes the importance of the soteriological context of the concepts considered, it proposes both the possibility and necessity to look beyond this original meaning to one encompassing the social-historical dimension. It is only in this way can the notion of Buddhist compassion contribute to a discussion of salvation in the fullest sense of the word. The process thought influenced by A. N. Whitehead as well as the Liberal Protestant tradition have influenced the development of this discussion.

大乗仏教の菩薩と方便の二つの概念の分析と批判的再考を通じて仏教の慈悲論を新たに考える。慈悲の救済論的意味を認識した上で新たなる慈悲の社会的歴史的側面の展開の可能性と必然性も認めなければならない。これによって初めて仏教の慈悲論は救済論の全ての側面について論ずることができる。ホワイトヘッド・プロセス思想とキリスト教自由神学の考えを参考しながらこの論点を展開する