Venerable Abbot Hua, Chancellor
of Dharma Realm Buddhist University and Chairperson of the Sino-American Buddhist Association:

Homage to the Eternally Dwelling
  Buddhas of the Ten Directions.

Homage to the Eternally Dwelling

  Dharma of the Ten Directions.

Homage to the Eternally Dwelling

  Sangha of the Ten Directions.

Homage to Our Original Teacher

  Shakyamuni Buddha.

Homage to the Greatly Compassionate

  Kuan Shih Yin Bodhisattva.

Homage to the Greatly Compassionate '

  Kuan Shih Yin Bodhisattva.

Homage to the Greatly Compassionate

  Kuan Shih Yin Bodhisattva.

      Today we are privileged to have the presence of the Venerable Masters from so many countries and the Elder Superior Ones from various temples, as well as the elected representatives in state and local government, and a11 of you good men and women of faith who have come from over a thousand and many from closer to ten thousand miles away attending the opening celebrations.  This is a great occasion, an event unique in history.  This historian Toynbee said that the coming of Buddhism to the West will prove to be the major event in the 20th Century, of far more consequence than the invention of the atomic and hydrogen bombs.  For such things as bombs and rockets are weapons that destroy human life, while Buddhism teaches people not to kill, not to steal, not to commit sexual misconduct, not to lie, not to drink, not to take drugs or halucinogens, and not to be upside-down and confused from morning to night.  It urges all of humankind not to pass one's lifetime in a muddled dream, but quickly to awaken from the dream, quickly to understand what one should be doing—not to harm oneself and not to harm others.

      Why is it that there are wars in the world? It is because all of us only know about our own existence, only know how to be selfish and benefit ourselves, and know nothing of benefitting others. Now the creed of Dharma Realm Buddhist University is to lead the ways of thinking of all people to be proper and correct, so they will not create of tenses in this world but-will be the most exemplary people in the world, and will join with a11 people in the world in union and harmony so there will be no wars. The invisible force that wilt put an end to all wars is first to instruct people not to kill, and so during today's opening celebration we are going to perform a great Liberation of Life. This should serve to make us all understand that we should not kill in this world, but should liberate life; that we should not be always selfish and out for self-benefit; that we should not have so much greed, so much anger, so much stupidity in this world. The principle upon which Dharma Realm Buddhist University is founded is to change alt the evil customs in the world:

        Not to do any evil
        But to offer up all good conduct,

and cause all humankind to reach their innermost resources of strength and join forces to change this world for the better so there will be no wars: no wars among people, no wars among families, no wars among countries, and no wars among worlds, planets, or stars. That is Buddhism's creed, and so if all people can come to believe in the Buddha and know the principle of not taking life, that will be of major importance for the world.

The ancients have a saying which goes:

From hundreds, of thousands,

of millions of years

the stew in the pot

Has brewed hatred and resentment

that is difficult to stop.

If you wish to know why
there are disasters of armies

and weapons in the world,

Listen to the piteous cries

from the slaughterhouse

at midnight.

So if you don't want any more disasters of armies and weapons in the world, then living beings should not kill.

      This is the most fundamental wish I have for all of you: that you won't kill, won't steal, won't lie, won't drink, but be good, dependable human beings. Time is short, so I won't waste more of your valuable time.