品德是為人的品行與道德；學問是世上的知識。從這兩方面來考察一下，我們會發現，在世間，人有三種典型。
第一種人一心跟著名利跑。這種人為人卑鄙，只知追求世間的知識，為了私利，甚至不惜用知識來危害世人。
第二種人品德高超，但沒有讀過許多書。這種人可以說不用讀書就超過了許多讀書人。雖然他們世間的知識暫時還不充實，但品德的修養與善根的力量，一步步地在開啟著他們本有的大智慧。因緣俱備時，他們甚至可能達到開悟佛的知見，圓滿一切事理的境界。比如六祖大師，道德深厚；雖然沒讀過書，卻具足智慧。他講的高深道理，是書本所無法完整表達的。
第三種人品德與學問俱佳。他們的內心修養，與在世間利益人群這兩方面，能夠形成良好的互動關係，這是最好的。
談到品德，不禁使我想起我們學校對學生品德培養的重視；談到學問，也使我想起靈活應用學問的重要性。要培養學生的品德，需要講究技巧；要講技巧，就要有懂得學生心理的學問。
平常在學校常聽老師說，學生哪裡不好，哪裡需要改進。但是學生真的就是那麼不好嗎？不，絕對不是。因為我們學校的規矩很嚴，相對之下就顯示出學生「不好」。但是，我們這批「不好」的學生，到外面時，卻是佼佼者，別人都說我們有修養，氣質好呢！我們也知道在學校老師的心裡面，我們並不真是那麼的不好，只是老師們希望我們好上再好，所以才這樣要求我們。
要消除這種的距離，在老師良好的心願與學生的努力之間，就需要有技巧地善用世間的學問，架起一座既通情又合理的橋樑。這樣，我們作學生的會更愛護學校；學校自然也會越來越好。
在生活中，師長們若要正確地培養學生的品德、傳授學問，則不但需要學生自己內心的善願做動力，也需要師長外在的鼓勵來配合。畢竟我們還是孩子，尤其是住校生，遠離父母，學校中的老師，身兼著為我們嚴父與慈母的雙重責任。嚴父般的訓練，固然給了我們學習的方向，而慈母般的溫柔，卻可帶給我們勇氣，使我們願意邁步。
記得爸爸曾經告誡我：「學問固然重要；但培養良好的品德才是最究竟的。」隨著年齡的增長，我越來越能體會到這句話的涵意了。 |
|
Moral character refers to a person's moral conduct and virtue. Knowledge refers to worldly knowledge. If we investigate these two, we find that there are three types of people in the world.
People of the first type singlemindedly devote themselves to the pursuit of fame and profit. They are vulgar and seek only worldly knowledge. They may even use their knowledge to harm people for the sake of personal gain.
Those of the second type have lofty character, but have not had much education. Yet despite their lack of education, such people often surpass those who have studied. Although their knowledge is temporarily deficient, the strength of their cultivation of character will gradually bring forth their inherent great wisdom. When conditions are ripe, they may even reach the enlightened state of the Buddha, in which all matters and principles are perfectly understood. For example, the Great Master, the Sixth Patriarch, had profound virtue. Although he had never gone to school, he was full of wisdom. The deep doctrines he spoke are something that cannot be expressed in books.
People of the third type are endowed with both moral character and learning. Their inner cultivation and their work to benefit people in the world can influence each other in a positive way. This is the ideal way to be.
Speaking of moral character, I am reminded of our school's emphasis on the moral conduct of its students. Speaking of knowledge, I think of the importance of applying it in a dynamic and flexible way. In order to help students develop good character, we must have ingenuity and skill, and to have ingenuity and skill, we must have knowledge of student psychology.
We often hear our teachers criticize us and tell us where we need to improve. Are we students really that bad? Not at all. The rules of our school are very strict, so in comparison we appear "bad." However, when we "bad" students go outside, we become uncommonly good— everyone compliments our good manners and deportment. We know that our teachers don't really think we're that bad; they just demand so much of us because they hope we will be even better.
In order to bridge the gap between our teachers' good intentions and students' diligent efforts, we must apply knowledge with ingenuity to build a bridge that is both considerate and reasonable. Then, we students will love our school even more, and the school will become better and better.
If teachers are to help students develop good character and pass on knowledge to them, not only must the students themselves be willing, but teachers must also encourage them. We are only kids, after all—especially the boarding students who are far from their parents. Our teachers are taking on the heavy double-responsibility of being our stern father and kind mother. The sternness of a father can give us direction in learning, while the tenderness of a kind mother can give us the courage to go forward.
My father once said to me, "While acquiring knowledge is important, developing a good character is the highest goal." As I grow up, I have come to understand the meaning of his words more and more. |
