【本刊訊】七月二十七日上午十時左右，有臺灣國立中山大學經濟學教授魏萼先生、在美任教四十餘年的翟文伯教授及周棟先生，三人特至柏林根市國際譯經學院造訪宣公上人。會談中，談到當前的教育問題。
宣公上人首先以隋朝步虛大師的〈百年預言詩〉，來略略分析中國近百年的風雲人物。爾後，上人特別指出「國家必須要培養人才，方能有希望。」也提到萬佛聖城的中、小學，是以忠、孝為根本，養成人格，造就真才。
上人指出「清高者才能治國」，為政者必須清廉，不可同流合污，要能夠禮賢下士，納諫如流。否則在當前所謂「賺錢第一，槍械自由，墮胎及同性戀合法化」的政策之下，教育破產了，國家沒有人才，世界必定會完了。
之後，上人解釋自作詩偈一首：
中華混亂數十年，
傷時感事淚成泉；
此身愧具回天手，
往昔難彈落日弦。
世途崎嶇人鬼詐，
宦海浮沉彼此煎；
出家未忘忠貞志，
不改國籍溯本源。
有很多人曾勸上人入美國籍，但上人說：「中國正當艱困，我不能捨棄它。」 最後，教授們請上人將這寶貴的理論著書立說。魏教授並表示希望來日有機會，也能為萬佛聖城的教育做奉獻。 |
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(Dateline: CTTB) On July 27, 1993, three guests visited the Ven. Abbot Hua at the International Translation Institute in Burlingame. Prof. Wei Wou of the Economics Department of National Chung Shan University in Taiwan, Prof. Jai Wen-bwo, who has taught school for over forty years in the United States, and Mr. Chou Dung conversed with the Ven. Abbot about the topic of current education.
First the Ven. Abbot analyzed the Chinese political figures of the past hundred years, according to the verse of prediction composed by Great Master Bu Syu in the Swei Dynasty. The Ven. Master later commented, "In order to have a bright future a country must train and nurture its talented citizens." In this regard, service and filial respect comprise the basis for education at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, in order to mold proper character and bring genuine talents to accomplishment.
"Only pure and noble individuals are capable of ruling a country," the Ven. Master pointed out. Government leaders must be clean and ethical, they may not follow the rabble and make unethical compromises. A leader should show deference to worthy people and honor the scholarly; he should be willing to receive reprimands, and accept censure as his lot. If a leader fails to observe these conditions, then the current trends of this nation, such as seeing financial gain as the over-riding priority, unrestricted use of weapons, legal of abortion and widespread homosexuality, bankrupt education, and no means of generating talented political leadership, will surely lead the country to its doom.
The Ven. Master explained these ideas to his guests in a poetic verse,
'China has been in a state of chaos for decades; With injuries and wrongs piling up,
Until our tears flowed like a river.
Unable to personally turn the tide of events. In the past, how hard it was
To play the 'setting sun lute.'
The worlds' roads twist and turn,
People and ghosts deceive.
The ocean of bureaucrats bobs and rolls, Friends and foes contend.
After leaving the home-life,
I did not forget my first heart's allegiance: So I prefer to stay a Chinese,
And trace my roots back to their source.'
Many people had urged the Ven. Master to be naturalized as an American. He refused, saying, "China is in a time of difficulty; I must not abandon her."
As they left, the professors urged the Ven. Abbot to publish his unique and memorable theories in a book. Prof. Wei also expressed a wish in the future to dedicate himself in service to education at the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. |
