A Buddhist Interpretation of ＂Life of Pi＂

以佛法的角度解讀「少年Pi的奇幻漂流」

許惠芬(Hui-Fen Hsu)

佛法 ； 苦難 ； 智慧 ； 宗教 ； 信念 ； Buddhism ； suffering ； wisdom ； faith ； religion

育達科大學報

40期（2015 / 04 / 01）

19 - 36

英文

「少年Pi的奇幻漂流」是Yann Martel於2002年所寫的奇幻小說，十年後導演李安將故事拍成3D電影，一舉奪下奧斯卡四項大獎。內容敘述16歲的印度少年Pi，在舉家移民加拿大的途中遭遇沈船。他靠著信仰，在救生艇上漂流227天後奇蹟似的生還，唯一的同伴是原先動物園內飼養的老虎。本文目的是以佛法角度檢視「少年Pi的奇幻漂流」的涵義。大海意指生命之存在被繫縛，隨海漂流不能自主。船難不只是意外事故，而是意味生命的挫折考驗。Pi所受的磨難是人之共業。佛教不是Pi所信仰的三個宗教之一，但是他的經歷可以用佛法的觀點去檢視，進而印證佛法的智慧可以去除生命之苦。本文內容分兩部分，第一部分闡釋佛法所說的八苦如何在Pi的故事中展現。第二部分探討Pi面對苦難的態度和佛法的智慧相呼應。本研究將證明，此小說不只是一般引人入勝的劫後餘生故事而已。以佛法的觀點來看，它是生命存在的寓言故事，呈現出苦諦及智慧的真相。現代社會以科學的客觀性為主流論述，這部小說提供了另類的真實讓我們深思並引以為鏡。

＂Life of Pi＂ is a fantasy adventure novel written by Yann Martel in 2002. It depicted how an Indian boy survived a shipwreck by drifting on the lifeboat with a Bengal tiger for 227 days. The purpose of this paper is to explore the meaning of this book from the Buddhist perspective. The sea on which Pi drifted symbolizes the universal human condition of bondage and uncertainty. The shipwreck was not merely an accident; it signifies human life full of trials and torment. Pi's ordeals can be classified into eight different types of suffering common to humanity. Although Buddhism is not one of the three religions Pi embraced, its teachings find full expression in this novel. Pi's journey bears witness to the Buddhist philosophy on human existence, which is characterized by impermanence and suffering. The contents of this paper will be divided into two parts. The first part illustrates Pi's suffering as an inevitable experience of sentient beings. The second part analyzes his ways to relieve these afflictions. They fit the Buddhist doctrines on meditative stability, emptiness and karma. This research will prove that ＂Life of Pi＂ is not only an intriguing survival story; it is an allegory of human predicament and the wisdom to cease sufferings. While scientific objectivism has become the dominant discourse in today's world, this novel offers a different view about religious truth for us to ponder and follow.

1. “duhkha.” A Dictionary of Buddhsim. Ed. Damien Keown. Oxford Reference. Web. 31 Dec. 2014. .
2. English Standard Version. Bible Hub. Web. 28 July 2014.
3. “Dharma Data: Nirvana.” Buddhist Studies. Web. 23 July 2014. .
4. Adams, Tim. “A fishy tale.” The Observer. 26 May 2002. Web. 30 June 2014. .
5. Campbell, Joseph(1968).The Hero with a Thousand Faces.New Jersey:Princeton UP.
6. Chodorow, Nancy(1978).The Reproduction of Mothering.Berkeley:U of Calif. P..
7. Clements, Tony. “The Tiger Who Went to Sea.” The Telegraph. 1 June 2002. Web. 30 June 2014. .
8. Cole, Stewart(2004).Articles Believing in Tigers: Anthropomorphism and Incredulity in Yann Martel’s Life of Pi.Studies in Canadian Literature,29(2)
9. Conze, Edward(1951).Buddhism: Its Essence and Development.New York:Harper and Row.
10. The Heart Sutra. Trans. Edward Conze. Web. 22 July 2014. .
11. Coomaraswamy, Ananda(1964).Buddha and the Gospel of Buddhism.New York:Harper.
12. Humphreys, Christmas(1990).Buddhism: An Introduction and Guide.London:Penguin.
13. upādāna-skandha. A Dictionary of Buddhsim. Ed. Damien Keown. Oxford Reference. Web. 31 Dec. 2014. .
14. “akuśala-mūla.” A Dictionary of Buddhsim. Ed. Damien Keown. Oxford Reference. Web. 31 Dec. 2014. .
15. Martel, Yann(2002).Life of Pi.Toronto:Vintage.
16. Martel, Yann. “Yann Martel Interview.” 13 May 2010. YouTube. 30 July 2013.
17. Shahar, TalBen. “Harvard Positive Psychology 17.” 30 Oct. 2011. YouTube. 15 July 2014.
18. Suzuki, D. T.(1961).Essays in Zen Buddhism.New York:Grove P..
19. Trainor, Kevin(ed.)(2004).Buddhism: The Illustrated Guide.Oxford:Oxford UP.
20. Tsong-kha-pa,The Lamrim Chenmo Translation Committee(Trans.)(2002).The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment.New York:Lion.
21. Tsong-kha-pa,The Lamrim Chenmo Translation Committee(Trans.)(2002).The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment.New York:Lion.
22. Tsong-kha-pa,The Lamrim Chenmo Translation Committee(Trans.)(2002).The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment.New York:Lion.
23. Wood, James(2002).Credulity.London Review of Books,24(22),24-25.
24. Wright, Dale. “The Six Perfections: Buddhism and the Cultivation of Character.” Oxford Scholarship Online. Web. 30 May 2014.

1. 劉婉俐(2015)。西方佛教電影視域下的轉世議題表述：以藏傳佛教紀錄片《祖古》（2009）為例。輔仁宗教研究  ，31，29-74。