Proposal of the Chinese Buddhist Association on "compassionate care and reasonable release"

中国佛教协会“慈悲护生、合理放生”倡议书

amitabha. Continue to release animals, protect animals, harmonize nature, accumulate blessings and achieve results.

----Zhuge Changqing

amitabha.

Blessed life is limitless.

Releasing can not only save lives, harmonize nature and benefit society, but also change fate, accumulate blessings and achieve results.

Recently, the Chinese Buddhist Association released a release proposal of "compassionate and reasonable release".

Zhuge Changqing shared the release proposal of the Chinese Buddhist Association with the predestined:

Proposal of the Chinese Buddhist Association on "compassionate care and reasonable release"----

Release, as the name implies, is to rescue animals that may be slaughtered and face the pain of life and death, and release them into a natural environment suitable for them. According to records, as early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, there was a saying in the Han area of China that animals were released on special days.

After Buddhism was introduced into China, especially under the initiative of the Sage Master of the Tiantai Sect in the Sui Dynasty, the release activities became popular. When releasing the animals, Buddhists should pray for the three blessings according to the Buddhist rituals to help the released animals escape the suffering of reincarnation as soon as possible.

Free reincarnation embodies the Buddhist compassion of equality and respect for life, the dialectical wisdom of self-relevance and causal feedback, and the pursuit of the purpose of treating life well and saving all living beings.

Buddhism believes that all living beings have Buddha nature, and animals are as valuable as human life. It requires Buddhist disciples to love all life in the spirit of gratitude and compassion. "If people kill animals, they should be convenient to rescue and relieve their suffering". Therefore, Buddhism regards killing as its greatest evil karma, non-killing as its primary discipline, and caring for life with compassion as its great merit. It advocates Buddhist disciples to abstain from killing with compassion, not to annoy all living beings, and actively protect and release life.

According to the records of Buddhist scriptures, release is an act of self-interest and a way for Buddhists to practice the spirit of compassion and accumulate blessings and food. It has been praised and advocated by eminent monks and great virtues of the past dynasties, and has also been actively implemented by the majority of Buddhist believers. In today's society, the significance of releasing life is to cultivate the spirit of benevolence and tolerance and practice the path of compassion. If everyone can take care of life and protect life, it can fundamentally reduce indiscriminate hunting and killing, which is of positive significance for promoting ecological civilization and building a harmonious society.

However, today's social environment and ecological environment are very different from ancient times. If the release method is improper, it may deviate from the original intention of Buddhist compassion, and even cause more animal damage and damage to the ecological environment. It is mainly reflected in the following aspects: First, animals that endanger human life safety and affect people's normal life, such as snakes and pythons, are released around the living quarters. The second is to release animals into an unsuitable growth environment, which makes it difficult for them to survive. Third, the release of exotic species or animals carrying the pathogen of epidemic disease will cause the destruction of the original biological chain structure of the release site, the rapid reduction or even extinction of the original species population, and the spread of animal epidemics, resulting in ecological disasters. Fourth, in the current era of commercialization, regular, regular and large-scale release activities have created a market and industry for catching and selling free animals, and many wild animals have been caught and even killed. If these problems are not given enough attention and solved, it will be difficult for release to achieve the purpose of saving lives, but it will inevitably harm lives, cause public criticism and disgust, and damage the image of Buddhism.

In view of the new situations and problems encountered in the modern society, the Buddhist community advocates the concepts of "intelligent release", "rational release", "scientific release", and "random release", and puts them into practice, and has achieved good results. According to the new ideas and new experiences put forward by the Buddhist community in various places during the release activities, the Chinese Buddhist Association issued the following proposals to the four Buddhist disciples in China:

1、 Be merciful and let go. We advocate that the four Buddhist disciples throughout the country should be merciful in their daily life and abstain from killing and caring for the students. Abide by wildlife protection laws and regulations, do not participate in wildlife hunting and trading activities, refuse to buy and use ivory, rhinoceros horn and other wildlife products, and take the initiative to report to the public security department or animal protection organizations the activities of indiscriminate hunting, killing and trafficking of wildlife, to help rescue the illegally captured wildlife. Encourage believers with conditions to participate in activities of animal protection organizations or fund animal protection projects. Advocate the concept of abstaining from killing and caring for students and healthy vegetarianism in various forms, and persuade the world to be merciful and caring for students. The monasteries or groups that organize the release activities should carefully explain the purpose, significance, relevant knowledge and precautions of the release, cultivate the believers' awareness of caring for the students, and advocate the release of the animals as much as possible, compassionate and reasonable as possible, without deliberately pursuing the quantity and form.

2、 Scientific and reasonable planning. Before releasing, it is necessary to understand the habits and quarantine of the released animals, the ecological environment and biological chain structure of the released place, and if necessary, seek advice and help from relevant experts or institutions to ensure that the habits, quantity and health of the released animals are coordinated with the released environment. Reasonably plan the scale, frequency and species of releasing animals, and strive to avoid the threat of releasing animals to human life, life or ecological security of the releasing place.

3、 Carefully organized and carried out as required. The release of animals is related to the life safety of animals, and those who participate in the release should have a high sense of responsibility. The purchase, transportation, care, release and related Buddhist activities of the released animals shall be carefully organized and arranged to minimize the accidental death of the released animals during the release process. In the process of transporting and releasing animals, the basic conditions necessary for their survival should be provided. Simple and rough methods should be avoided when releasing animals. The release ceremony should be conducted in accordance with the Buddhist rituals, reflecting the Buddhist purpose of relieving suffering and happiness, and saving all living beings.

Buddhism cultivates the world, benefits all living beings, and advocates both compassion and wisdom. To protect and release life, we should not only be compassionate, but also be guided by wisdom. We encourage the four Buddhist disciples to be compassionate in their daily life, abstain from killing and caring for animals, and support participation in animal protection activities. We call on local monasteries to guide believers to care for the students and release them reasonably. We call on the Buddhist community throughout the country to carry out the release activities in the spirit of Buddhist compassion, abide by relevant laws and regulations, and adopt scientific and reasonable ways to make the release activities bear good results and good intentions, so as to better play the positive role of compassion in saving lives, promoting ecological civilization, and purifying the public's heart.

China Buddhist Association

July 30, 2014

阿弥陀佛。持续放生，保护动物，和谐自然，积累福报，成就果报。

---- 诸葛长青

   阿弥陀佛。

   福生无量天尊。

   放生，福报巨大功德巨大，放生不仅可以挽救生命、和谐自然、造福社会，而且可以改变命运、积累福报、成就果报。

   最近，中国佛教协会发布了“慈悲护生、合理放生”放生倡议书。

   诸葛长青把中国佛教协会的放生倡议书分享有缘者：
    中国佛教协会“慈悲护生、合理放生”倡议书----

   放生，顾名思义，就是把可能被宰杀、面临生死痛苦的动物解救出来，放归到适合它们的自然环境中。据记载，早在春秋战国时代，中国汉地就有在特殊日子放生的说法。

   佛教传入中国之后，特别是在隋代天台宗智者大师的倡导下，放生活动蔚然成风。佛教徒在放生之时，要按照佛教仪轨祈求三宝加持，帮助被放生的动物早日解脱轮回之苦。
   放生蕴含着佛教众生平等、尊重生命的慈悲情怀，自他相关、因果回馈的辩证智慧，善待生命、普度众生的宗旨追求。

  佛教认为，一切众生皆有佛性，动物与人类的生命同样宝贵，要求佛弟子本着报恩心、慈悲心，爱护一切生命,“若见世人杀畜生时，应方便救护，解其苦难”。因此，佛教以杀生为最大的恶业，以不杀生为首要的戒律，以慈悲护生为极大的功德，倡导佛弟子慈心戒杀，不恼害一切众生，并积极地护生放生。
   根据佛教经典的记载，放生是自利利他的行动，是佛教徒践行慈悲精神，积累福德资粮的方式，得到历代高僧大德的推崇和倡导，也得到广大佛教信众的积极实行。当今社会，放生的意义在于涵养仁恕精神、践行慈悲之道。如果人人都能够爱护生命、保护生命，就能从根本上消减滥捕滥杀，对于促进生态文明、构建和谐社会具有积极意义。
   然而,现今的社会环境、生态环境与古代有很大不同。如果放生方法不当，有可能背离佛教慈悲初衷，甚至造成更多的动物伤害和生态环境的破坏。主要体现在以下几个方面：一是在生活居住区周边放生危害人类生命安全、影响人们正常生活的动物，如蛇、蟒等。二是将动物放生到不适宜的生长环境中，致使其难以存活。三是放生外来物种或携带疫病病原体的动物，造成放生地原有生物链结构破坏，原有的物种种群急速减少甚至灭绝，动物疫病蔓延，造成生态灾难。四是在当今商业化的时代,经常性、定期性、大规模的放生活动,催生出抓捕、贩卖放生动物的市场和行业，很多野生动物反而因此被抓捕乃至丧生。这些问题如不给予足够重视和解决，放生就难以达到救护生命的目的，反而难免伤害生命，引起社会公众的非议和反感，有损佛教的形象。
   针对现代社会放生遇到的新情况、新问题，佛教界倡导“智慧放生”、“理性放生”、“科学放生”、“随缘放生”等理念，并付诸实践，取得了良好效果。根据各地佛教界在放生活动中提出的新理念、获得的新经验，中国佛教协会向全国佛教四众弟子发出以下倡议：
   一、慈悲为怀，随缘放生。我们倡导全国佛教四众弟子在日常生活中，慈悲为怀，戒杀护生。遵守野生动物保护法律法规，不参与野生动物的捕杀和交易活动，拒绝购买和使用象牙、犀角等野生动物制品，并主动向公安部门或动物保护组织报告滥捕滥杀和贩卖野生动物的活动，帮助解救被非法捕捉的野生动物。鼓励信众有条件者参与动物保护组织的活动或资助动物保护项目。提倡多种形式宣传戒杀护生、健康素食的理念，劝化世人慈悲护生。组织放生活动的寺院或团体，应认真讲解放生的目的、意义及相关知识、注意事项，培养信众的慈悲护生意识，提倡随缘尽力、慈悲合理地放生，不刻意追求数量和形式。
   二、讲究科学，合理规划。放生之前，应对被放生动物的习性、检疫情况，放生地的生态环境、生物链结构等进行必要的了解，必要时可向有关专家或机构寻求咨询和帮助，确保被放生动物的习性、数量、健康状况与放生环境相协调。合理规划放生的规模、次数和物种，努力避免放生动物对人类生命、生活或放生地生态安全造成威胁。
   三、精心组织，如法进行。放生事关动物生命安全，参与放生者应以高度的责任感进行。对放生动物的购买、运输、看护、释放及有关佛事活动，精心组织，周密安排，尽量减少放生动物在放生过程中的意外死亡。运送放生动物过程中，要为其提供生存必需的基本条件。释放动物，应避免采用简单粗暴的方式。放生法会，应按照佛教仪轨如法进行，体现拔苦与乐、普度众生的佛教宗旨。
   佛教度化世间、利益众生，主张悲智双运。护生放生，既要本慈悲心怀，也要以智慧引导。我们提倡佛教四众弟子在日常生活中慈悲为怀，戒杀护生，支持参与动物保护活动。我们号召各地寺院引导信众慈悲护生、合理放生。我们呼吁全国佛教界开展放生活动时，本着佛教慈悲精神，遵守有关法律法规，采取科学合理方式，使放生活动善愿结善果、好心成好事，更好发挥慈悲救护生命、促进生态文明、净化社会人心的积极作用。

中国佛教协会
二〇一四年七月三十日

 (This article is an original article by Zhuge Changqing, and the pictures are selected from the Internet. Welcome to forward it, and please indicate the source for forwarding)

Introduction to Zhuge Changqing: Zhuge Changqing, the inheritor and promoter of traditional Chinese culture, is willing to "learn from sages, promote virtue, revitalize China and benefit the world" together with people with the same ideals in the world.

(Zhuge Changqing: zhuge8031@163.com ）

Zhuge Changqing mailbox：

zhuge8031@163.com

Zhuge Changqing's Chinese Dream

Learn from sages and carry forward virtue

Revitalizing China for the benefit of the world

 （本文是诸葛长青原创文章，图片选自网络。欢迎转发，转发引用请注明出处）

诸葛长青简介：诸葛长青，中国国学传统文化传承弘扬者，愿与天下志同道合者一起“学习圣贤、弘扬善德、振兴中华、造福世界”。

（诸葛长青：zhuge8031@163.com）

Zhuge Changqing mailbox：

zhuge8031@163.com

  诸葛长青中国梦  

学习圣贤 弘扬善德

振兴中华 造福世界

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