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我有兩個願力：第一個是翻譯經典。自我出家以後，面對這個世界的問題，我就研究各種宗教，為什麼天主教、耶穌教，就能那麼普及？怎麼有那麼多人信他？我就覺得佛教的道理，這麼高深，這麼微妙，高不可測，微妙不可思議，為什麼它不普及呢？我發覺到就因為佛經翻譯的外國語言沒有。英文本子是少之又少的，因為這個，所以我雖然不懂中文，不懂外國的語言，但是在我有生之年，我願意把這件事情做好了！提到翻譯經典，這個經典能夠翻譯多少國的文字就翻譯多少國的文字，能夠這樣，你就不求它普及，它也會普及了。法界佛教總會翻譯經典的工作，是在一九六八年開始的，那時翻譯經典的人都是一知半解，有一些人對中文也不太了解，所以翻譯出來的經文有一些錯誤。
以前翻譯經典，都是國王、皇帝，用國家的力量來翻譯。我們現在就是民間的力量，我們要做出一點成績來，我相信將來國家元首，也都會從事這個工作。不過現在我們要把基礎先打下來，在民間先做一股力量，這是有關於我翻譯經典的一種意願。
還有第二個意願是什麼呢？教育。我看見現在的教有面臨破產的邊緣了。人類都近禽獸了，所以我現在在萬佛聖城先提倡教育。提倡教育從小學開始。現在的小學、中學、大學，我們一步一步地埋頭苦幹，默默耕耘，在這方面來把它做好。那麼，為什麼說教育面臨破產的邊緣呢？你看看，現在小孩子在小學裡頭，就懂得怎樣吸毒、販毒，在中學裡那更不用提，大學更肆無忌憚地那麼隨隨便便。在小學所教的方針，就教他爭第一。一個國家，不能人人都第一，你要個個都做第一，誰做第二呢？這種教育方法是錯誤的。
又有一種教有，就是教小孩子好好讀書，將來賺多一點錢。這是以圖利令這學生去讀書，不是教育原來的本。教育原來的本，是要教小孩子怎麼樣地孝順父母，怎麼樣地恭敬師長，怎麼樣地先打好做人的基礎。所以我們在小學裡頭提倡孝道，儘量地把孝道發揚光大，令人人知道愛惜自己的生命，愛惜自己的家庭。
中學生因為他思想廣大一點，要教他怎麼樣真正愛護自己的國家。真正愛護自己的國家，就不要去侵略他人的國家，那其他國家要是侵略我們，我們怎麼辦呢？我們要把做人基礎都打好了，知道怎樣做人，知道怎樣愛國，我們自然就有神聖軍隊，來抵抗外敵，這是教中學的要義。
那麼大學呢？我們這萬佛聖城所教授的是仁義道德。他懂得了仁義道德後，人格一定會好，一定就會優良了。這才是基本的教育，是真正的國防，這是第二點我所注重的教有。
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I have two vows. The first vow is to translate the Sutras. Since I left the home-life, in confronting the problems of the world, I studied all the different religions, and wondered, why have Catholicism and Christianity have become so widespread? How is it that so many people put their faith in them? I think the principles of the Buddha-dharma are so lofty and profound, so wonderful and inconceivable.
Why haven't they become widespread? I discovered that it was because the sutras (Buddhist scriptures) have not been translated into foreign languages. English translations are scarce as can be. For this reason, although I understand neither Chinese nor other languages, as long as I am still alive I want to undertake this enterprise. Our goal is to translate the sutras into as many languages as possible. If we can do that, then even if you didn't want the Dharma to spread, it would spread anyway.
The Dharma Realm Buddhist Association began translating Sutras in 1968. The translators at that time only had a partial understanding, and their Chinese was not that proficient either, so the Sutra translations they did had some errors.
If we do a good job, then I believe the leaders of the countries will all support our work. But we must first lay a firm foundation using the strength of the people. This is my vow regarding Sutra translation.
What is my second vow? Education. I see that education is now on the verge of bankruptcy now. Human beings are getting closer and closer to the state of animals. That's why I am promoting education at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas as being foremost. The promotion of education begins with the elementary school. Right now we are working diligently but silently in the elementary school, secondary school, and university, getting the job done right. Why do I say that education is close to being bankrupt? Take a look -- in today's elementary schools, many of the children are using and selling drugs. In high school, of course, it's much worse. And in the university, people take hedonism and pleasure-seeking as their principle.The education in the elementary school is aimed at teaching children to compete for first place. Now, in a whole country of people, not everyone can be number one. If everyone is number one, who will be second? This way of teaching is a mistake.
There's another variety of education which teaches children to study hard, so that they can make more money in the future. This is using profit to motivate students to study, and it's not the original purpose of education. The original purpose of education is to teach children to be filial to parents, to respect teachers and elders, and to set a good foundation for being a person. And for that reason in our elementary school we teach filial respect, first of all, so that children will know how to love themselves, and how to love their families.
Because secondary school students have a broader conception, they should be taught to cherish their own country. To truly love your own country means to not attack the country of another. What if another country were to attack us? What do we do? We should strengthen our foundation as human beings, and understand how to act as people and love our country. Then, we will naturally be protected from external enemies by an army of the spirit. This is the essence of secondary education.
What about the university? At the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, we teach the principles of humaneness, righteousness, the Way and virtue. If people can really learn this well, their personalities will definitely be wholesome. This is the basic education, and it is the true defense of the country. This is my second point of emphasis -- education.
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