各位善知识，今天大家聚会到这一个大堂里边，共同谈一谈教育的问题。教育是人的根本，若把这根本问题忽略了，那就叫舍本逐末，舍近求远。

All good and wise friends, today we are together in this great hall to discuss education. Education is the foundation for everyone, if we neglect this basic issue, we will be “renouncing the essential while pursuing the trivia, ignoring what is near and seeking what is far away.” 　

教育是由有生以来，耳濡目染影响的，形成我们人一生的行为，所谓“近朱者赤，近墨者黑，染于苍则苍，染于黄则黄。”教育的问题，甚至于可以这么说，不单生出后做人受教育；就是没生出以前，在母亲的腹里，已经就接受教育了。当小孩子在母亲腹里的时候，这个母亲如果是有学识的，也会影响这个小孩子很聪明，很有学问的。母亲怀着子女的时候，如果是爱发脾气，出生的小孩子脾气一定很大的。母亲非常刚强，不接受任何人的劝告，这个小孩子生出来也一定非常刚强，不听任何人的劝告，自己有自己的主宰，不是一般人所能左右的。所以胎教非常重要。

Education starts when we are born; what we constantly see and hear after our birth shapes our behavior throughout our lives. It is said that “Those who draw near to vermilion will turn red, those who associate with ink will turn black; something stained with gray will turn gray, something stained with yellow will become yellow.” It can even be said that education not only affects a person after his birth, but also when he is still in the womb. For example, if a mother were knowledgeable, the baby in her womb will be positively influenced to also be very smart and learned. If a mother likes to lose her temper while pregnant, her baby certainly will have a big temper. If a mother were very obstinate and refuses to take advice from anyone, her child will definitely be very stubborn and does things his own way without heeding the advice of others. Therefore, educating the fetus is very important.

女人为国民之母，为国家的根本，所有的女人都应该会教育儿童。在怀孕的时候，就懂得胎教，这时候也不应该争，也不应该贪，也不应该妄求，也不应该那么自私，也不应该那么自利，也不应该打妄语。因为你打妄语，有争、贪、求、自私自利这些行为，就会影响胎儿也有这种心理，所以就不会在社会上做一个良好的国民。因为这个，所以父母于怀孕的期间，就应该特别注意教育。

Women are mothers of every citizen, and thus they are the foundation of a nation. Given this important role they play in society, all women should learn how to educate their children, and this responsibility starts when they become pregnant. During their pregnancy, women should not fight, be greedy, seek, be selfish, pursue personal advantage, or tell lies. Because if a mother engages in any of these behaviors, her baby will be influenced accordingly and develop similar mindset. Consequently, the child won’t become a good citizen. Therefore, parents should start paying attention to educating their child when their baby is still in the womb.

在小孩子生出来了，做父母的一定要给子女做个好榜样，不要那么争啊！吵啊！自私自利、贪、求、打妄语啊！如果你有这样的行为，那子女是见到什么，就会学什么。譬如大人会讲话，小孩子也一点一点就会讲话了。他受这种的影响力是很大的。所以做父母的不能说能养子女，不能教子女。你能养子女，那是帮助国家生一个国民了；可是你不能教养子女，这是没有负起对国家、对社会的关心。你没把你生出的子女教育好，令他做一个问题儿童，甚至于危害社会国家，这都是做父母的要负的责任。

Parents must set good examples for their children. They should not fight or quarrel so much, be selfish, seek self-advantage, be greedy, or lie! This is important because children will observe and imitate their parents’ behaviors. Indeed, children are highly susceptible to their environment. For example, by observing the way adults talk, children learn how to talk bit by bit. Therefore, parents should not say they are only capable of bearing their children, but incapable of educating them. By bringing a child into this world, you are adding a new citizen to your nation. However, if you don’t educate your children well, you won’t be fulfilling your responsibility to your nation and society. In other words, you will be held fully responsible if you fail to educate your children properly and they become problem youths, who may even harm the nation and society.

所以做父母的，要以教育子女为当务之急，不要把“去赚钱、去搞名搞利”，做为第一了。应该以教育子女，做为最要紧的一件事情。你若是把子女教育好了，比你为他赚多少钱都有价值；因为他知道怎么样做人，怎么样爱惜身体了。所以子女在家庭，还没有入学的这个阶段，教育的责任是父母的。

Therefore, as parents, you should make your children’s education as your first priority, instead of focusing mainly on earning money and pursuing fame. You should consider educating your children as your most important task. If you are able to educate your children well, it will be more valuable than earning a lot of money for them. This is because through proper education, your children will learn how to behave as upright individuals, and how to cherish their own bodies. Therefore, before children are old enough to attend school, their parents should be responsible for their education during this period of time.

那么等到他一踏入学校，学校做人师表的，应该要以身作则，影响得学生尽量知道怎么样敦品立德，怎么样能孝顺父母，尊敬长上。一开始的时候，要教他孝道。万佛圣城的小学，尽量灌输小学生孝顺父母；在家里要替父母工作，也要顺承父母的意思。所以万佛圣城的小学生回到家里，他的父母都非常满意的。

As soon as children start school, teachers should set good examples for their students. Under the teachers’ positive influence, the students should learn how to develop upright characters and virtues, and how to show filial reverence toward their parents and respect toward their elders. From the very beginning, teachers should teach their students filial reverence. In the elementary school at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, students are instilled with the concept of filial reverence. They are taught to be obedient to their parents, and to help their parents when they go home. Therefore, their parents are very pleased with their behavior at home.

老师以“得天下英才而教育之”做自己真正的天职义务，就应该负起教育一般人的子女这种的责任，令他不抽烟、不喝酒、不吸毒，不男女不守规矩，应该在这个地方着手。

For teachers who have taken “obtaining outstanding people in the world to educate” as their true vocation and duty, they should shoulder the responsibility for educating other people's children. They should start with instructing the students not to smoke, not to take intoxicants or drugs, and not to get involved in improper relationships with members of the opposite sex.