宗教的實踐與認同─慈濟功德會新竹分會的女性參與

Abstract

宗教信仰一直以來對人類的影響都很大，心靈的支持、信念的穩固，許許多多靈性的探究也告訴我們宗教對人的幫助有多大。但宗教的一切影響，其實是在幫助人類最根本的，生命意義的創造與延續。 本研究以「慈濟功德會」這個在台灣近年來可說是發展最快，也最具有影響力的佛教團體，作為宗教的代表，探討女性參與慈濟，接受慈濟的許多概念與想法後，如何實踐與認同慈濟，並對自身的生活產生何種影響。 本研究以質性研究形式書寫，尋找新竹地區六位參與慈濟功德會的委員做為報導人，以深度訪談的方式取得研究資料。 研究結果發現女性參與慈濟的原因是由一念善心所致，並致力於圓滿生命，而參與慈濟眾多行善助人活動，其實也是經驗學習的反覆建構過程，並讓女性自覺有增能培力，不論外在或是內在；另外，在這些過程中，女性也察覺自身的變化，自我的建構和角色認同於焉產生；最後，女性認為參與慈濟對核心組織─家庭的關係轉化產生了莫大的幫助，也讓自己與周遭人群有著良好的互動。 本文最後提出可能的研究限制，以及對於後續研究的建議。

Religion has a great impact on human condition, Spiritual support, and provides Firm belief. Many explorations have proved that the religion plays an essential role in human’s life. The religion is not only helpful but also provides the meaning of life for human being. As a Buddhist association, the Tzu Chi Foundation has experienced a rapid growing in recent thirty years in Taiwan. The woman’s participation in it is so eminent that it represents the exuberance of the volunteer group in Taiwan. In this study we will explore the women’s practice, identification, and transformation of mental state in this group. Following the trajectories of these women’s lives, we have explored multiple facets of their daily lives and have a observation in their learning and transformation by practicing the principles taught by Cheng Yen Master, the central figure of Tzu Chi Foundation. In this research, we have discovered some aspects about the theory of identification and experiential learning. These women construct their identity in Tzu Chi by “doing”. “Doing” plays an essential part in construction of this community. By “doing”, the members of the group experience the teaching of Cheng Yen Master, and obtain a transformation in their realization for life. This process enforces and maintains their identification for the community and gives a push in the expansion of this foundation.