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今年六月十二日舉行育良小學與培德中學男校的畢業典禮，方丈律法師首先致辭。他以他在閉關時，如何阻止響尾蛇溜進房子為例，說明做事或工作時須小心謹慎的道理。
男校校長路易斯．巴斯帝克表達了他以這屆畢業生為榮。他說這幾位畢業生在校表現，體現出本校立校的精神。典禮司儀是傑克．安德遜，他剛從育良小學（幼稚園--八年級）畢業（與他同年畢業的還有戚塔尼亞．米思里、西蒙．黃、黃忠、艾伯特．謝，以及謝阜庭。）他利用貴賓演講之間的空檔時段，朗讀了學弟們對畢業學長們的印象隨筆。最有趣的一則是一個四年級的學生寫的：「我很喜歡顏聃定。他對我們很好，不像某某同學那樣刻薄。」
曾任校長，且教德育課經驗豐富的顏亞日老師，他代表學生家長做了一番鼓舞人心的講話：「上人教導我們，體認教育是我們每個人的天職。他創辦的這所學校是一所義務學校，所以每個人都有機會為教育奉獻一份力量，共同把我們的學校辦得更好。」誠如顏老師所言，今年有幾位校友--那庫拉．賀茲和胡明宇，大學畢業後回來與鄭偉德老師一起在本校幫忙擔任舍監的工作。對於他們上學年為母校所做的無私奉獻，我們都十分感激。
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The graduation for the Instilling Goodness Boys Elementary School and the Developing Virtue Boys High Schools took place on Thursday, June 12. In the opening talk, Dharma Master Heng Lyu, the Abbot at the City of 10,000 Buddhas, illustrated the principle of being careful in the work you do via a story of how he once tried to prevent a rattlesnake from entering his hermitage when he was doing a retreat.
Mr. Lewis Bostick, the principal of the Boys Schools, expressed how proud he was of the high school graduates who in his words, “exemplified the virtuous qualities that the school was founded upon.” During the breaks between speeches Jake Anderson, master of ceremonies and elementary school (K-8) graduate (other elementary school graduates included Chaitanya Misri, Simon Huynh, Hung Huynh, Albert Shay, and Michael Hsieh), read various impressions of the high school graduates from a wide range of students at the school. A favorite was from a 4th grade student who said, “I like Derrick Gan, he’s very nice and kind to us. He’s not mean like so and so.”
Former principal Mr. Agis Gan gave an inspiring talk as the parent representative of the high school graduates. In his words: “The Venerable Master taught that education is the natural duty for everyone. He has made this a volunteer school, as an opportunity open to all people to contribute and improve the education provided here.” Indeed, this year Developing Virtue alumni, Nakula Hertz and Justin Hu came back to help teach and assist the school in the dormitories. We are very grateful for the selfless service that they, as well their fellow UC Berkeley alumnus, Victor Cheng, gave to our school during this last year.”
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史迪分．詹金斯教授目前任教於漢堡州立大學宗教研究系；他是佛學梵文與藏文學者。詹金斯教授事先看了今年的畢業紀念冊。他很讚賞學生們有活潑的思考力與創造力。打破了一般人以為宗教學校的學生都是「頭腦簡單的乖乖學生」的錯誤印象。
詹金斯教授演講時鼓勵學生上大學後，繼續深造時要「自私」、要「反抗」。他解釋說，在聖城裡，每天是聽佛的教導，過著守規矩又健康的生活；但是，一旦踏入大學之後，就會發現大學生活與他們所熟悉的成長生活截然不同。為了要守住自己好的人品，不被污染，就必須要「反抗」大學裡的這些影響力。
至於他所說的「自私」，他說：「在大學裡，不要為了做別人的好朋友，而去犧牲你的人品；不要為了聽從你所喜歡的人，而毀棄你的尊嚴。有些事情看來很迷人的，卻是真正的吃虧；有一些事情看來是吃虧，卻能堅守自己的人品。」
最後是四位畢業生簡短致辭。他們分別是錢大維（上加大聖地亞哥），巴比．安特雷克（上加大戴維斯），張慈生（上加大聖特克魯資），以及顏聃定（上曼都仙諾大學）。致辭感人、充滿內涵。總而言之，今年畢業典禮充滿了期許與祝福。
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The keynote speech was delivered by Professor Stephen Jenkins, scholar of Buddhist Sanskrit and Tibetan literature, who presently serves as a professor in the Religious Studies Department at Humboldt State University. Professor Jenkins lauded the students for being free-thinking and creative human beings, as opposed to the stereotypical simple-minded conformists, which students of religious schools are sometimes perceived to be.
Professor Jenkins encouraged the students to be “rebellious” and “selfish” as they pursue their studies at their universities. He explained that here at the City of 10,000 Buddhas, living a life of moral integrity in accordance with Buddhist teachings is very simple. However, once they arrive on their respective university campuses they will find that this way of life often goes against the status quo. In order to maintain their moral standards they are going to have to “rebel” against these forces.
With respect to being “selfish” he said, “In college you will be asked to give up other things. Don’t give up your integrity to be a good friend. Don’t give up your dignity to comply with those you love. The game is turned on its head. Be selfish! Some things that look so attractive are really sacrifices and some things that look like sacrifices are really selfish.”
The evening was capped off by small talks by each of the four graduates, David Chien (UC San Diego), Truman Chang (UC Santa Cruz), Bobby Antalek (UC Davis), and Derrick Gan (UC Mendocino--in the future?). The talks were moving and insightful. All in all it was an auspicious graduation.
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