緣起

1. 推展原始佛教，建立原始佛教僧團傳承

公元67年，正統佛教傳入中國；公元250年，比丘戒傳入中國；公元434年，斯里蘭卡比丘尼僧團入中國，中國佛教開始兩部僧團傳授比丘尼戒傳承。公元四世紀末，印度大乘學派編集出「菩薩戒」；公元421年，「菩薩戒」傳入中國。

公元519年，中國梁武帝受「菩薩戒」，自稱「菩薩皇帝」，全力支持大乘學派，排斥正統佛教。自此，印度正統佛教的教法及比丘、比丘尼僧團逐漸退出中國社會。

中道僧團（Sambodhi Saṅgha）由隨佛長老（Ven. Vūpasama Thero）創辦於1995年，是奉行 釋迦佛陀教導的十二緣起、四聖諦，遵奉比丘、比丘尼僧律的僧團。中道僧團的僧人，皆遵守不接受、不積蓄、不使用金錢，無有私人的護法，傾力維護僧團的團結與統一。

中道僧團以復興原始佛教為目標，信仰「第一次經典結集」的原始佛法，堅定守護佛教分裂以前的經典傳誦，守護原始佛教的僧律傳承。中道僧團以華人為主，傾力在華人社會推展原始佛教與僧團傳承，目前發展於臺灣、中國大陸、馬來西亞、新加坡、美國的華人社會。

2. 恢復原始佛教比丘尼傳承

人類有兩種性別，佛教徒也有男、女二眾，這是事實，無法否認與拒絕。拒絕女性參與佛教的僧團，不是佛教僧團拒絕了女性，是僧團失去女性的品德、能力與智慧的功德。

當世界主要宗教皆有男、女神職僚員時，上座部佛教拒絕比丘尼必定受到現代社會的質疑與拒絕。特別是，華人的大乘學派具有尼僧的傳承，華人上座部佛教具有比丘尼傳承，必定有利於上座部佛教發展於華人社會。

中道僧團堅持五項原則下，恢復華人社會的原始佛教比丘尼傳承：
1. 在華人社會恢復原始佛教比丘尼僧團。
2. 尊崇斯里蘭卡的比丘、比丘尼僧團，建立誠信、緊密的合作關係。
3. 尊重上座部各國比丘僧團的決定，不涉入其他國家的佛教事務。
4. 避免大乘學派、男性主義、女性主義、基督文化的涉入。
5. 團結各方的上座部佛教比丘尼，促進彼此的交流與發展。

由於華人社會以大乘佛教為主，大多數的上座部比丘僧不支持恢復上座部比丘尼傳承，加上中道僧團不支持「年歲老邁、身心失衡、學習紊雜、貢高難調」的女性出家或受比丘尼戒，使得中道僧團受到眾多的惡意汙衊、毀謗、攻訐。雖然如此，中道比丘僧團依然堅定的推展原始佛教，支持恢復華人上座部比丘尼傳承。

 

1. Promote Original Buddhism and Establish the Inheritance of Original Buddhism Saṅgha

In 67 A.D., the traditional Buddhism was introduced into China. In 250 A.D., the Bhikkhu Precepts were firstly translated into Chinese. In 434 A.D., Sri Lankan Bhikkhunī Saṅgha came into China, and from then on, the Bhikkhunī precepts were conferred by two Saṅghas in Chinese Buddhism. At the end of the 4th century, the Bodhisattva precepts were compiled by Indian Mahayana Buddhism. In 421 A.D., the Bodhisattva precepts were introduced into China.

In 519 A.D., Emperor Liang Wu accepted the Bodhisattva precepts, and claimed himself to be a “Bodhisattva emperor”. He fully supported the Mahayana Buddhism, and repelled the traditional Buddhism. Since then, the Dharma and Saṅgha of Indian traditional Buddhism were exiting China gradually.

The principle of Sambodhi Saṅgha is to revive the Original Buddhism, believe and practice the Original Dharma collected in the first Buddhist council, protect the scriptures prior to the division of Buddhism, and preserve the Vinaya lineage of Original Buddhism. Sambodhi Saṅgha mainly consist of Chinese, and are committed to promoting the Original Buddhism and the inheritance of Saṅgha in the Chinese community. Currently, Sambodhi Saṅgha have spread throughout the Chinese communities in Taiwan, mainland China, Malaysia, Singapore and the United States.

 

2. Reestablish the Inheritance of the Original Buddhism Bhikkhunīs

The human beings have two genders, and the Buddhists consist of males and females. This is an undeniable fact. Refusing females to participate in the Saṅgha, does not mean that the Saṅgha reject the females, but it is the Sangha that lose the virtues, competence and wisdom of females.

When the major religions in the world have both male and female clergies, rejecting Bhikkhunīs will definitely put the Theravada Buddhism to be questioned and rejected by the modern society, especially the Chinese Mahayana Buddhism has the inheritance of Bhikkhunīs. Thus, it will certainly help the development of the Theravada Buddhism in the Chinese community, if the Chinese Theravada Buddhism equips with Bhikkhunī inheritance. 

For reestablishing the Bhikkhunī inheritance of the Original Buddhism in the Chinese community, Sambodhi Saṅgha insist on the following five principles:
1.Reestablish the Original Buddhism Bhikkhunī Saṅgha in the Chinese community.
2.Respect the Bhikkhu and Bhikkhunī Saṅghas of Sri Lanka, and establish a close and faithful collaboration relationship.
3.Respect the decisions made by the Theravada Saṅghas in different countries, and never involve the Buddhism affairs of any other countries.   
4. Avoid the interference of Mahayana Buddhism, Masculism, Feminism and Christian culture.
5. Unite all the Theravada Bhikkhunī Saṅghas, and encourage their communication and development.

Because most Chinese Buddhists believe Mahayana Buddhism, and most Theravada Buddhism Saṅghas do not support to reestablish the inheritance of Bhikkhunīs, and also because Sambodhi Saṅgha do not support or agree with the inappropriate females, (who are over the age, or Buddhists with mess understanding about Buddha's teaching, or unteachably arrogant, or have physical and mental imbalance and illness) to get ordained or receive Bhikkhunī high ordination, Sambodhi Saṅgha often get defamed and slander. Although in this situation, Sambodhi Saṅgha still insist on promoting the Original Buddhism and support to reestablish the inheritance of the Theravada Bhikkhunīs in the Chinese world.