Wu Zhennan: Master Xingyuns Symatic Symbol of Society

Wu Zhennan

The important figure in Taiwan's Buddhist circles was silent on February 5.This is not only in Taiwan, but also a major event in the Mahayana Buddhism of the Chinese World.

Master Xingyun advocates the concept of "Buddhism on earth", so he is never afraid of expressing his political attitude, such as repeatedly that he has supported China to support the unification of China.This also allowed him to be nicknamed "political monk" by his opponents in social media.

In fact, if you leave such the topic of relative and unable to dialogue, Master Nebula and his belonging to Foguangshan, the general social services, can better reflect the political significance of religious organizations in Taiwan society.

Compared with Buddhist organizations in other countries or regions, the Buddhist organizations in Taiwan have done a wider, perfect and efficient service in promoting charity and social profitability.Essence

In the 1950s and 1960s, the era of the Chiang Kai -shek government, actively launched the process of industrialization, but disintegrated the family structure of the traditional agricultural society in Taiwan.The problem is that some of the projects that can be provided by the family to their loved ones have not become a project that has become a government governance priority in the process of industrialization.

This makes individuals who get out of the countryside to the city to discuss life. Once unfortunately encounter a change, if the industry welfare is too bad, it is easy to ask for help.As far as the public conditions at the time were concerned, they called on the media to donate money to help those in need, which is more effective than seeking government help.

On the other hand, the development of the insurance industry was still mature at the time and was still in the process of establishing social trust.Under such circumstances, the charity activities of religious groups just make up for the holes of this social security and flourish.Among them, the mainstream Buddhism in Taiwan is the most active promoting charity, including Tzu Chi, which is also well -known in New Malaysia today, is an example.

Master Xingyun wrote in his complete episode that when he initiated Foguang Mountain, he applied the "four major purpose" of Buddhist Buddhist concepts in the world.Meeting to handle social welfare work such as children's welfare, elderly welfare, free consultation, urgent rescue, poor medical care, funeral subsidies, etc.

However, religious groups do charity to make up for social security loopholes, which are beneficial and disadvantaged.The profit is that, compared to civil groups driven by specific moral values (such as helping disadvantages) or social concepts (such as environmental protection), religious groups are often gathered in the pursuit of belief in believer's pursuit of belief value.It's easier.In other words, religious groups have the ability to help more people.The disadvantage is that no matter how capable religious groups are, people who can help are still limited and cannot cover everyone.Therefore, folk charity intervention can only be a supplement to social security loopholes, not a alternative to the government's social interest system.

The process of building the health insurance system in Taiwan can see the problem the most.

Before the health insurance was implemented in 1995, even if the insurance industry was already very developed at that time, there were also charity hospital donated by various civil society groups, such as Wang Yongqing's Chang Gung Hospital, Tzu Chi Hospital, Christian Hospital, etc.Lin Lin's medical resources such as the public (clerk) insurance system, but among the people's life pain index, "illness" and "cure" are definitely ranked in the top three. It is precisely because there was no one that could cover everyone at that time.Public medical system.

With this experience, the government has also begun to convert more folk charity needs into the government's social interest system, such as urgent assistance, children's welfare, and old people's benefits, etc.Essence

An interesting phenomenon is that after the emergence of health insurance, it is difficult for Taiwan to see another Foguang Mountain or Tzu Chi.The development of charity in Taiwan has since moved towards internationalization; that is, it is necessary to use religious groups to promote charity in Taiwan, and large -scale demand in the inside must be no longer seen.Therefore, the death of Master Nebula actually indicates that the Taiwanese society ’s profit system must be reforming and perfect.

The author is a columnist in Malaysia and Taiwan