---
title: "太虛大師全書．第二編　五乘共學 · 甲　佛學之名義"
description: "太虚大师著《太虛大師全書·第二編 五乘共學》成书于民国时期，是近代佛教革新运动的重要文献。作者太虚为民国高僧，倡导人间佛教。本编以五乘（人、天、声闻、缘觉、菩萨）佛法为框架，系统阐述佛教基本教义，强调人乘正法为出世之基，融通世间与出世间法。该书为现代佛教教育及人间佛教实践提供核心理论依据，在近代佛教复兴中具有承前启后的重要地位，是研究中国佛教现代化转型的必读经典。"
url: "https://rushiwowen.co/en/r/cmpjj97jl00nvt1thfuew41cr"
---

### 甲　佛學之名義

> The Meaning of Buddhist Studies

「佛」，舊譯「佛圖」，從Buddha一字譯音，其義訓則為覺者；覺者猶言學者，謂有覺悟之人也。然此所謂覺，非尋常一部分的覺，乃普遍的、正確的覺也，謂之「正遍覺」。正遍覺者，其覺最遍、最正、最高、無上，故又稱「無上覺」。合言之，為「無上正遍覺」。佛典之「諸法實相」，即普通所謂「宇宙萬有真相」。佛學與通常科學、哲學不同：科學家以五官感覺為工具，根據其所得之經驗而歸納之，其所得結論為種種之學問，此種學問恆確而不遍，屬部份的。至哲學家，則以一種假設為根據而論宇宙事物，其結論為普遍的，然恆患不確。蓋確而遍，惟佛學為能；而又有超常之覺者，所謂「無上正遍覺」，彼於事事物物萬有之相，皆能體妙入微，人得此覺即為無上正遍覺者，即「佛圖」也。然萬有皆有真相，相亦皆有變遷，處處變遷、時時變遷，而在佛識大有之中，其變其住、其有其無、其實其虛，自佛察之皆是真相，此之察覺謂之「無上正遍覺」。夫一切學問必有對相，必承認此對相為真，而後結論可以成立。宇宙萬物無不有真相，惟微察之乃能認識，乃能無上遍覺，釋迦即能得此覺者也。然則佛學非科學之確定一物一事而不移，亦非其他哲學之超人生而恆不切實際者也。佛學以為一切真相，皆在尋常萬有之中、日用事物之內，故無上正遍覺非惟佛能得之，人皆能得之；非惟人能得之，一切有情生物盡能得之。人能覺悟宇宙萬有之真相，即能最高無上，即能成佛，此佛教之所以異於群教者也。彼佛以其無上正遍覺覺乎宇宙萬有，談佛學者即從而導人將何以若是，將何以成佛？他教未有能令盡人為耶穌、為謨罕默德者，而佛學獨令盡人而佛之；以是成教。佛教者，教人以無上正遍覺，覺萬有真相者也。一部份之哲學、科學，據數理、論理，談宇宙之相，如天空無垠，地球造成無限億載，此固理可推斷而不可見聞。佛教於尋常萬有之內推論大理，自匹夫匹婦皆獲覺之。佛與人人同，與今世之人同，唯佛已得此覺悟，詳明其所以得覺之軌，令人循軌而皆得之，蓋可以驗諸行非徒載諸言而已也。故佛教有二部份：一、佛以無上正遍覺覺察萬有真相；一、佛更詳此所以察悟之法以教人：一則談理、一則實驗也。

> "Buddha," formerly translated as "Fotu," comes from the transliteration of the word \*Buddha\*, and its meaning is "the Awakened One." An awakened one is like a learned person, meaning someone who has attained awareness. However, this awareness is not a partial or ordinary awareness; it is a universal and correct awareness, called "Perfect Universal Awakening." This awakening is the most comprehensive, most correct, highest, and unsurpassed, so it is also called "Unsurpassed Awakening." Combined, it is "Unsurpassed Perfect Universal Awakening." The "true nature of all things" in Buddhist scriptures corresponds to what is commonly called "the ultimate truth of the universe and all existence." Buddhism differs from conventional science and philosophy: scientists use the five senses as tools, based on their accumulated experiences, and draw conclusions that form various fields of knowledge. Such knowledge is often accurate but incomplete—it is partial. Philosophers, on the other hand, rely on assumptions to discuss the universe and its phenomena; their conclusions are broad but often lack certainty. Only Buddhism achieves both certainty and comprehensiveness. Moreover, there is an extraordinary awakening—the "Unsurpassed Perfect Universal Awakening"—through which one can perceive the subtle truth of every phenomenon. Anyone who attains this awakening becomes an Unsurpassed Perfectly Awakened One, which is "Buddha." All things have their true nature, and that nature is always changing—changing everywhere and at all times. Yet within the vast awareness of a Buddha, whether things change or remain, exist or cease, are real or illusory, all are seen as the truth. This perception is called "Unsurpassed Perfect Universal Awakening." Every field of knowledge must have an object, and it must accept that object as real for its conclusions to hold. The universe and all beings have their truths, but only through subtle observation can they be recognized and universally awakened to. This is what Shakyamuni achieved. Thus, Buddhism is neither like science, which pins down a single thing or event without change, nor like other philosophies, which transcend life yet remain disconnected from reality. Buddhism holds that all truths are found within ordinary existence and daily life. Therefore, the Unsurpassed Perfect Universal Awakening is not exclusive to Buddhas—all people can attain it. And not only people, but all sentient beings can attain it. When a person awakens to the true nature of the universe and all existence, they reach the highest state and become a Buddha. This is what sets Buddhism apart from all other teachings. A Buddha, through his Unsurpassed Perfect Universal Awakening, perceives the truth of all things. Those who study Buddhism guide others on how to do the same—how to become a Buddha. Other religions do not claim that everyone can become Jesus or Muhammad, but Buddhism uniquely teaches that every person can become a Buddha. This is how it forms its path. Buddhism is the teaching that guides people toward Unsurpassed Perfect Universal Awakening, awakening to the truth of all existence. Some philosophy and science, relying on mathematics and logic, discuss the nature of the universe—such as the boundless sky or the earth formed over countless eons. These are ideas that can be reasoned but not directly seen or heard. Buddhism, however, draws profound principles from within ordinary life, so that even the simplest person can awaken to them. A Buddha is the same as any person, the same as people today—only a Buddha has already attained this awakening and clearly explained the path to it, allowing others to follow the same path and attain it too. This is something that can be verified through practice, not just stated in words. Thus, Buddhism has two parts: first, the Buddha's awakening to the truth of all things through Unsurpassed Perfect Universal Awakening; second, his detailed explanation of the method for achieving this awakening to teach others. One is the understanding of principles, the other is the practice of realization.