具有二千五百以上歷史的佛教，其思想內容德廣且深，不是輕易在短時間內講得清楚的；但是若要釐基本主要者，諸如有三法印(無常、苦、無我，或加上涅槃構成四法印)、四諦八正道、緣起(因緣)、五蘊說、中道、法、因果、空性、般若、如來藏(佛性)、唯識、密教等等。 大抵全人類的思想、宗性、哲學等都離不開對人類生命的困惑與好奇，人從何處來，又將何處去？等等的問題，各宗教或許有各自的看法與解答。佛教的生命觀只不過是佛教一宗派的看法，由於它有普遍的、共同的生命觀，故對生命教育而言，或許有傾聽的價值。 本文擬從初期佛教(原始佛教)、部派佛教(小乘佛教)經大乘佛教到密教的流程，鳥瞰佛教各階段對生命的看法。內容計分為：一、前言；二、入胎時的生命；三、生命的原動力；四、完整統一的生命體；五、華嚴的「相即」、「相入」關係；六、密教的生命；七、解說的生命觀；八、結論。

Since Buddhism has a history of over 2500 years, it is not easy to speak clearly about the width and depth of Buddhist thought. But if we want to present its principal viewpoints clearly, we should highlight the Three Dharmamudrās (anity, duhkha, nirātma; if nirvāna is included, there ar four Dharmamudrās), the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Noble Path, Pratītyasamutpāda (Dependent Origination), Panca-skandha (the five aggregates), the Middle Way, Dharma, Causal Relation, śūnyatā (Voidness), Prajnā (Wisdom), Tathāgata-garbha (Buddha-nature), Vijnapti-mātratā, and Esoteric Buddhism (Vajrayāna). Generally speaking, all huyman thought, religion and philosophy finds life a puzzle and a curiosity. Where do we come from? And where will we return to? Regarding these questions, there are many different views and answers given by religions. The Buddhist Concept of Life is only the viewpoint of one sect of Buddhism. This paper draws out a scheme form Original Buddhism, Early Buddhism to Mahāyāna Buddhism and Esoteric Buddhism (Vajrayāna). We may see the concept of life following every stage of Buddhism. The contents include eight sections-1. foreword; 2. life of pregnancy-cell in the womb; 3. motivation of vitality; 4. the vital phenomena of the whole unity; 5. Dependent Origination of the Hua-yen Sect of China; 6. the Esoteric concept of life; 7. the deliverance (moksa) concept of life; 8. conclusion.