小朋友！你們知道什麼是做人的根本嗎？就是八德：孝、悌、忠、信、禮、義、廉、恥。我今天將八德的意義簡單地解釋，你們要注意聽！

Young friends, do you know what the foundation for being a person is? It is comprised of the eight virtues: filiality, fraternal respect, loyalty, trustworthiness, propriety, righteousness, incorruptibility, and a sense of shame. Today I will briefly explain these eight virtues. Listen well!

（一）孝：就是孝順。孝順父母，這是為人子女的本份，孝順就是報答父母養育之恩。

1. Filiality: As a son or daughter, it is your duty to be filial and compliant to your parents. By being filial and compliant, you are repaying your parents' kindness for raising you.

（二）悌：就是悌敬。悌敬兄長，這是做弟弟的本份，悌敬是報兄長的恩。

2. Fraternal respect: As a younger sibling, you should be respectful to your elder siblings and to your elders, in order to repay their kindness.

（三）忠：就是盡忠。盡忠國家，這是做國民的責任，盡忠是報國家的恩。

3. Loyalty: As a citizen, it 's your duty to loyally serve the country, in order to repay the country's kindness.

（四）信：就是信用。信用朋友，對朋友言戌茼釩H，行必篤敬，不可以失信用。

4. Trustworthiness: When you are with friends, you should be trustworthy and live up to your words. Your actions should be sincere and respectful, and you should not cause others to lose faith in you.

（五）禮：就是禮節。見到人要有禮貌，應該鞠躬，不行禮就是野蠻的行為。小朋友！見到師長要敬禮，見到父母也要敬禮。

5. Propriety: This refers to etiquette. You should treat people courteously. If you are discourteous, then you are no better than a savage. Young friends, you should greet your teachers, elders, and parents with proper respect.

（六）義：就是義氣。要有見義勇為的精神，無論誰有困難，要盡力去幫助他解決問題。對朋友要有道義，無條件來援助，絕無任何企圖的心。

6. Righteousness: Be righteous in spirit and coura-geously do what should be done. When people are in difficulty, do your best to help them resolve their problems. Treat your friends with a sense of right and honor. Help them unconditionally, without ulterior motives.

（七）廉：就是廉潔。有廉潔的人，無論見到什麼，都不起貪求之心，沒有想佔便宜的心， 而養成大公無私的精神。

7. Incorruptibility: This refers to being pure and honest. No matter what they see, incorruptible people are never greedy or opportunistic. Rather, they are public-spirited and unselfish.

（八）恥：就是羞恥。凡是不合道理，違背良心的事情，絕對不做。人若無恥，等於禽 獸一樣。

8. A sense of shame: Never do anything that goes against reason and conscience. People who have no sense of shame are no better than beasts.

這八個字是做人的基礎，你們不要把它忘記。將來到社會服務時，要「言必忠信，行必篤敬」，說出來的話，一定要有忠有信，不打妄語；所做的事，必須以恭恭敬敬的態度，認真去做，絕對不敷衍了事。

These eight virtues are the foundation of being a person. Don't forget them. In the future, when you go out to work in society, “your words must be trustworthy, and your actions respectful.” Speak sincerely and don't lie. Work with a reverent and diligent attitude. Don't be negligent.

一九八三年十月十二日開示