All Good and Wise Advisors: Today we have gathered together in this great hall to discuss the matter of education. Education is everyone's roots. If we ignore this basic matter, then we are renouncing the roots to chase the branchtips, overlooking what is near to seek afar.

Education includes all the influences we have received through sight and hearing since the time of birth, molding our life behavior patterns. As it is said, "Those who draw near rouge turn red, and those who draw near ink turn black. Those who are dyed green become green, and those who are dyed yellow become yellow." It can even be said that not only do we receive education after we are born, we are already being educated while in the womb. When the baby is in the womb, if the mother is very learned, then she will influence her baby to be intelligent and knowledgeable, too. If the mother often loses her temper during the pregnancy, then she will give birth to a baby with a big temper. If the mother is very stubborn and doesn't listen to others' advice, her baby will also be extremely obstinate, not listening to anyone's instructions. He has his own will, and people will hardly be able to influence him. Therefore, prenatal education is extremely important.

Women are mothers of the citizens, and the source of the country. All women should know how to teach children, and should also understand the influence of prenatal education during their pregnancy. During this period, one should not contend, be greedy, seek, be selfish, pursue personal benefit, or tell lies. If you tell lies, contend, are greedy, seek outside, are selfish, or pursue personal benefit, then you will influence the baby to have that kind of mental state, and he will not grow up to be a good citizen in society. Therefore, parents should pay special attention to educating the baby during the pregnancy.

After a child is born, the parents should act as his role models. Don't contend or quarrel. Don't be selfish, don't pursue personal gain, don't be greedy, don't seek, and don't tell lies. Otherwise, the children will see and learn those kinds of behavior from you. For instance, children gradually learn how to talk by imitating grownups. The children are seriously influenced by those around them. Therefore, it should not be the case that parents only give birth to their children, but do not know how to educate them. By giving birth to a child, you have given the country one more citizen. However, if you don't educate him, then you haven't shown any concern for the well-being of the country and society. If you don't educate the child you gave birth to, then he may become a problem child who opposes and harms the society and country. In this case, the parents must take the responsiblity.

Therefore, the top priority of parents should be to educate their children, rather than make money or pursue fame and profit. They should see teaching their children as the most important matter. If you teach your children well, then you have done something more worthwhile than making any amount of money, because your children will know how to be good people and how to cherish their bodies. Before the children start going to school, the responsibility of educating them lies with the parents.

Once children enter school, the teachers must set a good example with their own actions, and influence them so that they know to be trustworthy and virtuous, filial to their parents and respectful to elders. Start by teaching them the way of filial piety. The elementary school at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas encourages the younger students to be filial to their parents: to work for their parents at home and obey their parents' wishes. Therefore, when the students go home, their parents are all very pleased with them.

Since the mission of teachers is to "educate the talented ones of the world," they should take the responsibility of teaching children not to smoke, drink, take drugs, or behave improperly with those of the opposite sex. These are the points they should work on.

There are Eight Articles which apply to education. The Great Learning of Confucius talks about the Three Principles and Eight Articles. The Three Principles are "to illustrate the illustrious virtue, to renew the people, and to rest in the highest excellence." The Eight Articles are "to get rid of desires, to extend knowledge to the utmost, to make the thoughts proper, to rectify the mind, to cultivate oneself, to regulate the family, to govern the country, and to bring peace to the world." This is a complete set of methods for being a person, managing a family and ruling a country. If we can teach all students to learn and practice the Three Principles and the Eight Articles, educating the next generation of the world in this way, then they won't forget what's vital and chase after unimportant things.

The typical education which students receive nowadays only teaches them how to get a high position and make a lot of money after they graduate, how to become a famous person, and how to become the world's number one person. Instead of teaching them the basic requirements for being a person, we are teaching them to contend for fame and profit. This is known as renouncing the root to chase after the branches, and going in opposition to the Way. To do things in opposition to the Way is a great mistake. Therefore, teachers should serve as good role models, and pay attention to students' moral integrity and wisdom. You have to open up the source of wisdom for them, and enable them to dig out their inherent wisdom. Be patient in educating them, for this is an extremely important responsibility. If you can teach every student to understand that he should cherish his body, his family, and his country, then even if you aren't seeking for world peace, the world will become peaceful. Why? Because people will not make trouble for themselves or for others. They won't do irrational things at home and they will be good law-abiding citizens in the community. Consequently, in the society they will influence people to have mutual respect and love, and not cheat or lie to one another.

I believe that this is extremely crucial. However, most people have ignored this fundamental issue, and run off to pursue superficial matters. Running here and there, they get farther and farther from the basic human obligations. Today, I have spoken these inexperienced and unknowledgeable words to tell everyone a very simple principle. You may say it is as tasteless as cabbage boiled in water. Although there's not much flavor, if you eat the cabbage and drink the soup, it can neutralize a lot of toxic energy.