The Eight Virtues are the Foundation to Being Human

by Venerable Master Hsuan Hua

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Kids! Do you know what the fundamentals to being people are? They are the eight virtues: filiality, brotherhood, loyalty, trustworthiness, propriety, justness, incorruptibility, and a sense of shame. Today let me give you a simple explanation of the meaning of the eight virtues. Pay attention and listen up!

Filiality: Respecting one's parents is the duty of kids. Filialty means to repay the kindness of our parents for raising us.
Brotherhood: To respect our elder siblings is the duty of younger siblings. Brotherhood means to repay the kindness of our elder siblings. Loyalty: It is the responsibility of a national citizen to be loyal to one's country. Being loyal is to repay the kindness of our country. Trustworthiness: Trustworthiness means being trustworthy friends. Being accountable for what we say to our friends. In our actions we must be earnest and respectful. Do what we promised. Do not lose our credibility.

Propriety: Be polite and greet others when we see them. It is barbaric to have no manners. Kids! When we see our teachers and elders we should pay our respects. Greet our parents with a half bow when we see them. Justness: Be bold and act when we see that we need to right a certain justice. Regardless of who has the problems, try our best to help and resolve their problems. Stand up for our friends; lend a hand unconditionally and without any wish for gain.

Incorruptibility: People who are incorruptible are not greedy or seeking no matter what they see. They have no wish to take advantage of others so they develop a selfless attitude of working for the greater good. A sense of shame: We never do anything that is unprincipled or goes against our conscience. If people were shameless, they would be like beasts.

These eight words are the basics to being human beings. Do not forget them. When we serve our society in the future, our words must be based on loyalty and trustworthy. Our actions must be earnest and respectful. Take things seriously and never try to just them go by.


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