本文主要討論下列兩個問題：1.人間淨土思想的定性與定位。2.人間淨土思想的施設架構特色與價值。主要結論有：1.人間淨土思想是中國佛教百年來現代化的繼續發展，此現代化的主軸是人間化。而與前代大德不同的是，問題意識從「為何要人間化」、「人間化如何可能」轉移到「如何將佛法人間化」。從而由對人世間的社會參與中取得社會認同與信賴，形成對社會大眾普化教育的社會啟蒙運動。2.由於問題意識為「如何將佛法人間化」、「如何建設人間」，於是從信仰的佛教引發到學術的佛教，從儀式化的佛教引發到實踐的佛教，從菁英專修的佛教引發到大眾普遍的佛教。並且因為著眼於社會推廣教化，於是以生活致用為主要教學，講求淺顯易懂而且實際有效。3.對社會大眾的普化教育為人間淨土思想成果展現，其根本為佛教學的學術研究與禪修。社會大眾教育的推動，其最前緣的普化教育施設係以心靈環保為核心，開展四環及心五四。特色則依修學起點與歷程的指點，有注重心靈層面品德教育、肯定自我為行為主體、鼓勵發心從凡夫菩薩做起、立足本土融攝各系佛法建立宗派等項。

This paper examines mainly two issues concerning Building a Pure Land on earth: 1. The nature and status of the thought 2. Framework, characteristics, and value of the thought With a vision to “Uplifting the individual character of humanity and building a Pure Land on earth”, Master Sheng Yen founded Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM) in 1989. Since then, Building a Pure Land on earth has become the spiritual guidance of DDM, and also the hallmark of Master Sheng Yen’s teaching. The thought of Building a Pure Land on earth was proposed by Master Sheng Yen at his 60’s—quite a later stage in his life, but the budding of the thought took root much earlier. As early as when he was 28 (1957), Master Sheng Yen suggested that followers of Buddha should “work on this earth; turn it into a pure land, a Buddha hometown on earth,” which expressed explicitly his working toward the Earthly Pure Land. From that time on till he was 35, he had articulated this same idea in many of his works. However, this thought was not getting focused or widely spread until 1978, when he came back from abroad to carry on the spiritual work left behind by Venerable Master Dongchu. After the establishment of DDM in 1989, the teaching of Building a Pure Land on earth  nally came into highlight. Building a Pure Land on earth is an effort that progresses along the line of modern Chinese Buddhism started by Venerable Master Taixu. In addition to looking further into the question of “why on earth,” and addressing the ontological question of “how possible,” a step taken forward at this stage is to turn the issue to “how to build.” This paper examines the Pure Land on Earth Program directed by Master Sheng Yen, and outlines its three resolutions as: connecting Dharma Studies with international academic disciplinaries; incorporating Dharma Chan Meditation with Buddhism; promoting Buddhist ideals through public outreach. Promoting Buddhist ideals is particularly important, because it is the bedrock on which the main idea Protecting the Spiritual Environment is built. The Four Kinds of Environmentalism, the Fivefold Spiritual Renaissance Campaign, and The Six Ethics (心 六倫) have all sprung from this. Master Sheng Yen’s guidance on the setting out of and the process of Buddhadharma learning can be summarized as comprising the following characteristics: Stressing spiritual and character education; Crediting the self as the subject of action; Encouraging everyone to see himself/herself as a layman Buddha; Incorporating different branches of Buddhist thoughts and establishing a new sect.