宣公上人吾師德鑒：
近月以來， 數次與吾公會談，獲益良深。 甚佩吾公除在美國宣揚佛法普渡眾生之外， 尚欲創辦學校、 改善教育、 挽救社會頹風， 用心良苦。 愚對佛法一竅不通， 須請我公時時教導， 以啟愚鈍。 然對美國高等教育設施， 稍有經驗，願將愚見所及，獻呈我公參考。
一、 美國高等教育機構， 名稱不同， 制度也不盡同
名稱有 「 大學 」、 「 學院 」 及「 研究院 」 等等， 制度則有四年制與兩年制之分。 四年制稱大學， 畢業生可獲得 「 學士 」 學位，二年制學生則只能獲得 「 文憑 」或 「執照 」， 不得學位。 「 研究院 」 的制度與方針又與一般 「 大學 」 或 「 學院 」不同， 因為研究院是專門性質的， 具有超然的 「品格 」 而能獨立存在。 美國四年制的大學要求極高， 依照美國教育法， 四年制的大學必須設立三個學院 （ 一般是文學院、 理學院，和法學院，也可以有教育學院、社會工作學院、商學院、醫學院等；不過後者多是研究院性質）；而且每個學院必須有三個以上的學系，如此方能立案、辦學、授予學位等。 愚意以為法界佛教大學不能仿效四年制的「大學」，而應先辦研究院，成為一個具有專門、獨立條件的學府。這樣辦起來，輕而易舉，沒有很多的困難了。
二、創立研究院的具體計劃 此項建議，如經我公同意，則請將具體計劃，述之於後，供我公參考。
（甲）既創設研究院，可以越過「大學」這一階段，省卻不少麻煩。研究院只招收大學畢業生（即已獲得「學士」學位）者或同等學力或有社會經驗之學生。
（乙）研究院可設立幾項專科：如佛學專科、中國文化專科，或其他專科。換言之，研究院中可設佛學研究專科、中國文化研究專科；而各專科中，亦可分設各項不同之研究班，佛學又分成佛經研究、佛教史研究、佛經翻譯專科等等。中國文化研究亦可以分成各項專科：如中國語文專修科、中國哲學專修科、中國藝術專修科。此外又可增設中文師資訓練班（訓練中、小學中文教師），其他如夜校，可教授書法、繪畫、烹飪（自然以素食為主）、太極拳、氣功、中國傳統醫學、藥學等等。
待續 |
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For the Venerable Master's Virtuous Reflection :
I benefited tremendously from the few meetings we had during the past few months. I admire deeply that in the United States you have not only propagated Buddha Dharma and vastly crossed over living beings, you have also founded schools, with a wish to reform education and rescue society from its decadent state. You have truly set yourself an arduous task. Since I do not understand Buddhism at all, I must request my master's frequent teaching so that a dull sort like me can be encouraged. I do, however, have some experience in the programs of higher education in the United States, and I would like to present my views for your reference.
A、The Organizations for Higher Education in the States have Different Names and Systems
The names include: university, college, and graduate school etc.; and there are four-year systems and two- year systems. The four-year system is called "university", and the students can get "bachelors" degrees upon graduation, while students under two-year system can only get "diplomas" or "certificates," but not degrees. The systems and guidelines for "graduate schools" are different from "universities" or "colleges" since graduate schools are specialized and have unique characteristics, thus they are separate and independent from the others. The requirements for a four-year university in the States are very high. According to the laws for education, a four-year university must have three colleges (they usually are: literature, science, and law colleges; they can also include education, social work, business, and medical colleges etc., however, most of the latter are graduate schools). Further, each school must have at least three departments. Only then can the school be established and degrees awarded.
In my opinion, Dharma Realm Buddhist University can not go for a four-year university. It should start with a graduate school and become a speicalized and independent institution. This way it can be easily established and will not meet too many difficulties.
B. Specific Plans for Establishing a Graduate School
If my master agrees with this suggestion, I will describe below the specific plans for your review.
(a) Establishing a graduate school can bypass the step of "university", thus saving a lot of trouble. Graduate schools only accept students with bachelor's degrees, or people who have equivalent education and/or working experience.
(b) The graduate school can offer a number of special courses such as: Buddhist studies, Chinese cultural studies, or other special studies. In other words, the graduate school can have special courses for the investigation of Buddhism, Chinese culture etc. Each special course can also be divided into difference classes. For example, the study of Buddhism can be further divided into the study of Buddhist sutras, Buddhist history, and the translation of Buddhist sutras etc. The study of Chinese culture can also be divided into several specialties such as: Chinese language and literature, Chinese philosophy, and Chinese art. On top of these, we can also offer training classes for Chinese teachers (to train teachers for elementary and high schools), and others such as evening school which can offer calligraphy, painting, cooking ( vegetarians only of course), Tai-Chi boxing, Chi-Kung, as well as traditional Chinese medicine and herbalism.
To be continued |
