불교의 자비행에 내포된 행복 메커니즘 -진화심리학과 공리주의적 윤리학의 관점을 중심으로-

Abstract

All the people know that the altruistic action makes them happy. It seems that the relation of altruism and happiness is of human nature. Buddhism, which pursues the Supreme Enlightenment(Bodhi) for both oneself and others simultaneously, emphasizes the mercy(kindness and compassion) for others. Is the mercy for others only of Buddhism or of all the religious cultures? If it shows up in all the religious cultures, what are the features peculiar to Buddhism?This paper takes aim at explaining the relationship of the Buddhist mercy and happiness by utilizing the view of evolutional psychology and utilitarian ethics, not just declaring it as natural. The Buddhist concepts like suffering(dukha) to happiness(sukha), the Four Noble Truths(ārya-satya), the Four Immeasurable Minds(brahma-vihārās), six means of transcendence(pāramitā, especially dāna pāramitā), the Buddhist vow(pranidhāna), the Buddhist merit(punya) and the Buddhist dedication of merit should be relighted up in the process of explaining the definition and the condition of happiness, the altruistic feature and effect of the Buddhist mercy, the utilitarian character of the Buddhist mercy ethics, and so on. In the end, we will find the mechanism of happiness connoted in the mind and practice of the Buddhist mercy. The mechanism has become generally inborn to human through the long process of evolution. But Buddhism keeps up its peculiar logic around self-effacement, uncertainty and emptiness(sunyata) even when it explains the nature inborn to human. It shows the original religious value of Buddhism.