【本刊訊】來自臺灣的教育界人士，於八月十日下午抵美，其中包括姜吉甫、李傳喜、曾俊隆和陳哲文等四位老師。他們預計將在萬佛聖城內的培德中學及育良小學，擔任義務教師，響應宣化上人的理念。
在機場，受到萬佛聖城的四眾弟子，以及培德中學學生代表熱烈地歡迎。隨後一行人前往國際譯經院。宣公上人的電話這時遠從夏威夷打進來，並由擴音器中，一一慰問四位真誠奉獻、熱心教育、不求名利的老師們，並告之將儘快抽空與大家在萬佛聖城會面。上人關懷愛護之情，經過這通電話，頓時充沛蕩漾在貴賓室內。每位在座的人，都感覺溫馨無比。
恆實法師接著代表致詞，他說：「宣公上人自十八歲起，即辦義務教育。來美國 後，有一個道場，就有一所學校。一方面講經，一方面教做人道理，明白孝順父母，忠於國家，立功立德。這幾十年來，上人種下的根，今天正在發芽。希望中國歷史悠久的道德教肓，能由各位老師繼續在萬佛聖城發揚光大。」姜校長首先詳細地一一介紹老師們的家庭背景與工作成就：接著表示，其理念著重在教人以佛法與孔孟思想，育人以倫理道德精神，配合生活輔導，期望得以孕育出品學兼優的學生。
何伯超校長強調教肓階段中，學習如何做人的重要性；否則，不能知做人，如何成佛？今日欣聞所有貴賓涵蓋各種學科的專精，在如此良好的基礎上，加上老師們發心義務教學，必能有好的成績，並祝福所有老師，身體健康，法喜充滿。人道盡，佛道成！
抵達萬佛聖城後於八月十四日，法師們及法界佛教大學校董祖炳民教授，與這批義務教師聚會。恆實法師指出，美國缺乏倫理道德教育，所以目前教育面臨破產。祖教授認為義務教師跟和平工作團散布全球的義工一樣，具有偉大的奉獻精神。當年和平工作團，到世界各角落，從事義務服務工作，績效卓著。在美國，教育屬於地方政府的權限，但是一般公立中、小學多半辦得不理想。學校放學後，學生回家常常沒人管教，很容易走入幫派，造成社會問題；而萬佛聖城的育良小學、培德中學，放學後還有法師、居士輔導學生，加上校園遠離市區，所以校風很淳樸。幾位義務教師都感到這份教學工作深具意義，任重道遠。
宣公上人曾經表示義務教師制度要長期徵求有抱負、熱誠、淡泊名利的優秀教師。讓更多人獻身於教育工作，致力培養品德高尚、有正確人生觀的下一代，共同挽救這日益腐化的社會。
真認自己錯 莫論他人非
他非即我非 同體名大悲
宣公上人作
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(Dateline: Burlingame) On August 10, 1993, a delegation of four teachers from Taiwan arrived in the United States. They are Jyang Ji-fu, Lee Chywan-syi, Tseng Jyun-lung and Chen Je-wen. They have come in response to the Venerable Abbot's call for volunteer teachers, to work at Developing Virtue Junior School and Instilling Goodness Elementary School.
When they arrived at the San Francisco Airport, these honorable guests received a warm welcome from the Four-fold disciples and a group of student representatives from the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. Later, the delegation attended a reception party at the International Translation Institute. Simultaneously, a call came from the Venerable Abbot Hsuan Hua, who was in Hawaii. Through a conference phone hook-up, the Venerable Abbot extended his greetings and spoke to each of them. He congratulated them for being truly devoted, for their enthusiasm for education, and for not seeking after fame and profits. He arranged to meet them upon his return to the Sagely City. Through this phone call, the concern and kind care of the Venerable Master suddenly penetrated and pervaded in the Reception Room. Everyone in the room felt an incomparable warmth.
A speech by Dharma Master Heng Sure followed. He said, "The Venerable Abbot first began his life-long commitment to education by starting his own free-school at the age of eighteen. After he came to the United States, wherever he opened a Way-place, at the same time he established a school. On the one hand he spoke the Dharma; on the other hand he taught us all how to learn to be proper people. The lessons included how to be filial to parents, loyal to the country and bow to create merit and virtue. Now we see that the roots planted over these several decades have begun to put forth sprouts. I hope that because of the dedication of volunteer teachers, the tradition of Chinese ethical and moral education that has enjoyed such a long history will continue and will flourish at the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas."
Mr. Jyang first introduced in detail the family, background and work achievements of each of the teachers. He then expressed his concepts of education, stressing three points: to teach Buddhism and principles of Confucianism, to nurture students with the spirit of ethics and morality, and to guide them with life counseling. He anticipated that the schools will train many excellent students in both academics and morality.
Chancellor Ho Bo-chau pointed out the importance of learning to be a person in one's years of study. Otherwise, he stated, if we fail to learn how to be a proper person, how will we become Buddhas? Chancellor Ho was also pleased to know that all the distinguished guests have their specialties in different fields. Based on such a broad foundation, with a great resolve to engage in volunteer teaching, in the future we can look forward to wonderful achievements. He extended his best wishes for their health and that they might be full of the bliss of Dharma.
On August 14, several Dharma Masters joined with Prof. John Tsufor a lunch with the teachers after they arrived at the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. Dharma Master Heng Sure indicated that the lack of ethics and morality in teaching has brought education in this country to the verge of bankruptcy. Prof. Tsu expressed the idea that the volunteer teachers are beginning a career similar to the members of Peace Corps who spread all over the world and were greatly dedicated to their work. The Peace Corps in years past went everywhere as volunteers with wonderful results. In some cases in America, education is supervised by local governments. Most public elementary and high schools, however, are taught for profits, not for principles. Because of a lack of supervision after school, students join gangs and create problems in society. To avoid this situation, after school Instilling Goodness Elementary and Developing Virtue High School provide supervision and counseling by the Dharma Masters and lay people, and thus the campus remains tranquil and the students are able to preserve their innocence. The teachers' introductory remarks were positive about the work, although each of them acknowledged that their duty was serious and their responsibility weighty.
The Venerable Master Hsuan Hua once said that inviting volunteering teachers should be a long-term project. Thus we welcome more outstanding teachers who are ready to dedicate themselves, who are progressive, earnest and also, indifferent to fame and benefits. These volunteers are sustained by their vocation of training the future generation of citizens with lofty characters and correct view-points. This volunteer spirit of dedicating one's life to education is exactly the attitude that can rescue a world that is daily becoming more and more corrupt.
Truly recognize your own faults,
Don't discuss the faults of others;
Others' faults are just my own,
Being one with everyone is called Great Compassion.
By Venerable Master Hua |
