對育良、培德學生開示

　　A Talk Given to the Students of Instilling Goodness and Developing Virtue Schools

　　學生在學校裏要學知識、學技能、學做好人。

　　就是學沒有脾氣，不和同學吵架、不爭論、不貪求，這就是好學生。

　　In school, you should not only acquire know-ledge and skills, but also learn how to be good people.

　　You must learn not to have a temper, not to argue with your classmates, and not to be greedy.

　　Then you will be good students.

　　今天學生們到臺上來說自己讀書的心得、處事的感想，雖然說得很短，但是很有意義。他們年齡很小，就知道說謊話是欺騙的行爲，自己欺騙人，人會欺騙自己，這是因果循環報應的道理。

　　Today the students came to the podium and spoke about their impressions and feelings regarding their studies and other activities. Their speeches, though brief, were quite interesting. At such a young age, they already know that telling lies is a form of dishonesty. If they cheat others, others will cheat them in turn: This is the law of cause and effect.

　　有的學生能將〈禮運大同篇〉背出來，我很高興。希望所有的學生，不管是中國學生、美國學生、越南學生、柬埔塞學生、寮國學生，都要能背出〈禮運大同篇〉。不但英文能背得出，中文也能背得出。各位老師，請注意！要教他們認識中國字，能說中國話。

　　I”m very happy that some of the students can recite from memory the “Chapter on the Great Commonwealth of Peace and Prosperity” from the Book of Rites. I hope that every student, whether he or she is Chinese, American, Vietnamese, Cambodian, or Laotian, will memorize the “Chapter on Great Unity.” You should be able to recite it in Chinese as well as English. And teachers, remember, you should teach them to read and speak Chinese.

　　我今天發表一件消息，凡是難民的子弟，若願意留在萬佛聖城讀書，一律歡迎，一切免費，但以學生自己能獨立生活爲原則。父母可以到外邊去做事，子女留在萬佛聖城受教育，這是最難得的機會。

　　Today I want to announce that any of the refugee children who wish to stay at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas and attend school here may do so free of charge, as long as they are mature enough to live independently. Parents can work outside the City while their children attend school at the City. This is a very rare opportunity.

　　學生時期是一生中的黃金時代，記憶力最強，所讀的書，應該要背誦，這樣才能記得堅固，永遠不會忘掉。求學時要發憤讀書，不可以貪玩，把寶貴的光陰都空過了。古人說：

　　Your school years are a “golden age,” because you have a very strong memory at this time. If you memorize your lessons, you will never forget them. You should seek knowledge with great zeal. Don”t fool around and waste precious time. The ancients said,

　　一寸光陰一寸金，

　　寸金難買寸光陰。

　　An instant of time is worth an ounce of gold,

　　But an ounce of gold can”t buy an instant of time.

　　你們要記住這句話，你們如果不用功讀書，將來前途就沒有希望。學生在學校裏要學知識、學技能、學做個好人。怎樣做好人？就是學沒有脾氣，不和同學吵架、不爭論、不貪求，這就是好學生。你們看世界上的人，都有貪心，都有所求，所有的煩惱，都是由貪心引起的。雖然求，也要合理，不可妄求，不可貪意外之財，不可求非分之福，也不要有自私心、自利心。要以萬佛聖城六大宗旨爲目標，將來到社會上服務，不但不會擾亂社會，反而能幫助社會的安定。

　　Keep these words in mind. If you don”t study hard, you won”t have a bright future. In school, you should not only acquire knowledge and skills, but also learn how to be good people. How can you be good

　　 You must learn not to have a temper, not to argue with your classmates, and not to be greedy. Then you will be good students. People in the world are greedy and seek after things. Affliction arises from greed. Don”t seek unreasonable things. Don”t be greedy to hit the jackpot; don”t crave blessings that aren”t meant to be yours. Don”t be selfish and seek personal gain. Take the Six Principles of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas as your guidelines. Then you will help the society be peaceful, instead of causing disorder.

　　我希望你們學做正人君子，光明磊落，將來成爲出乎其類、拔乎其萃的人才。不要學流氓無賴的作風，好吃懶做，到處惹事生非，令社會不安甯。更希望你們不要學嬉皮的行爲，不要吸毒，不要喝酒。要充實自己的學問，成爲品學兼優的學生。在萬佛聖城受教育，能學英文，能學中文，能學各國語文，這是得天獨厚的機會，不要錯過，應把握時機，努力學習。

　　I hope you will all learn to be righteous and virtuous people. You should be bright and true in all you do. Be outstanding people. Don”t learn the ways of tramps and bums, lazy gluttons who stir up trouble and disturb the peace wherever they go. Even less should you act like hippies. Don”t take drugs or drink alcohol. Instead, you should acquire broad knowledge and excel in virtue as well as scholarship. In the schools of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, you have the opportunity to learn English, Chinese, and many other languages. You should take advantage of this special opportunity. Study hard and use your time well.

　　以後規定每周五的下午，學生們到臺上來練習演講。大家不要害怕，把聲音放大，理直氣壯地說，說出的話要有道理。所謂「熟能生巧」，練習時間久了，自然就能滔滔不絕地說出一番大道理，成爲演說家，一定受人歡迎。現在是給你們練習的機會，日後能夠口若懸河，頭頭是道，宣揚真理，就能成爲弘法人才。這個大好時機是不容易遇到的，不要辜負我一番苦心。古人說：

　　Every Friday afternoon, students can come up to the podium to practice speaking in public. Don”t be nervous. Let your voice carry, and speak as if you mean what you say. Your speech should make sense. After some practice, you will naturally become an articulate and well-respected speaker. You have the chance to practice speaking now, so that in the future, you will be able to explain the principles so eloquently that your listeners become spellbound. Then you will be able to propagate the Dharma. This is a very special opportunity, and I hope you won”t disappoint me. The ancients said,

　　書山有路勤爲徑，

　　學海無涯苦做舟。

　　Only through diligent study can one find a path through the mountains of books.

　　Only with strenuous effort can one sail the shoreless ocean of learning.

　　如果能用這種精神去用功學習，將來對國家定能有所貢獻。

　　If you can study hard with that kind of spirit, you will surely make great contributions to the country in the future.

　　一九八叁年九月廿叁日開示

　　A talk given on September 23, 1983

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