Author Affiliation: Graduate Theological Union, USA.
摘要
In this work I present the definition of the Four Noble Truths, explained by the Buddha. Then I argue that Thich Nhat Hanh critically inherits this teaching while reinterpreting the Four Noble Truths in a positive, balanced, updated, and extensive way. Also, when describing the four characteristics interpreted by him, I include some similar and different opinions from Rupert Gethin, Kate Crosby, and Ajahn Brahm. I also write about how Thich Nhat Hanh, then Dalai Lama, describes Dharma Seals whose suffering is debatable. Further research showed that in 2013 Thich Nhat Hanh states that a teaching is not Buddhism, even though it includes the name of the Four Noble Truths, if it is not relevant to the circumstance (the context that human lives). It is very necessary, according Thich Nhat Hanh, that the tradition must be relevant to the abilities of learners. Even though they are the Four Noble Truths or the Eightfold Path, they are not Buddhism because the learners do not understand to put them into practice. Researchers could use this interpretation from him as a reference to analyze when does a teaching of the Four Noble Truths belong to Buddhism, when does not? Other promising future research topics include how Thich Nhat Hanh reinterprets the Dependent Origination, how Thich Nhat Hanh reinterprets Nirvana, or how Thich Nhat Hanh reinterprets Christianity.
目次
Thich Nhat Hanh critically inherits the traditional explanation of the Four Noble Truths. 198 Thich Nhat Hanh’s Reinterpretation of the Four Noble Truths: Positivity, Balance, Update, and Extension. 199 Positivity 199 Balance 203 Extension 205 Conclusion 206 Bibliography 208
