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《教育專欄》

 

FOCUS ON EDUCATION


慈祥代天宣化  忠孝為國教民
On Behalf of Heaven, Proclaim and Transform with Kindness.
For the Country, Teach the People to Be Loyal and Filial.

教育就是最根本的國防
Education Is the Most Fundamental National Defense

【談宣公上人之教育思想】

The Venerable Master's Philosophy on Education

□  比丘尼恆是     文     By Bhikshuni Heng Shr


我來這個學校是因為我想受好的教育,因為受好的教育很重要!
I came to this school because I wanted to have a good education. Good education is very important.

個初冬的午後,上完打坐課和一名新轉學來的學生在校園內漫步。這個令人頭疼的頑皮學生,告訴筆者她以前的學校情形。似乎打架、搗亂、喝酒、吃迷幻藥、拿武器威脅同學或老師、結交男女朋友,已經變成了學校生活的一種方式,幾乎沒有可能安安靜靜地上一堂課。學生肆無忌憚地叫囂,公然敵對教師,而教師有時必須亮出隨身攜帶的手槍,警告學生不要搗蛋!而父母呢?不是坐視不管,就是無能為力,或以暴虐的心態,殘害子女的身心,父慈母愛的天性本能,蕩然無存,怎能不令人的心滴血呢?即使是有真想教書的老師,也無法長期固守崗位,若非被迫離開,就是天天全副武裝,如同上戰場。在瑜伽市這個純樸的小城上,學校的情形已經如此,那其餘大都會學校的狀況,就可想而知了。這位常常騷擾同學,來自被父母虐待的兒童之家的女孩,流露出誠懇的眼神說:「我來這個學校是因為我想受好的教育,因為受好的教育很重要!」如此赤子的心聲,多麼令我們百感交集!

「教育」這兩個字,在中國人的心目中,是無比神聖的,它代表了國家的百年大計,民族的依存!若借用宣公上人,一針見血,最淺白最完整的剖析,「教育就是最根本、最徹底的國防!」於今世此時,更顯見其意義之深遠了。數十年來,上人不惜血汗,為了人類的幸福,世界的和平,更為喚起人類眠睡已久的道德、良知,從而栽培品德高尚的卓越青年,而不捨教育事業,為畢生戮力之三大志願之一。誠如上人所說:「辦教育的目標,是要挑選人才,什麼樣的人才呢?聰明有智慧的人才……。愚癡的,我們也要想辦法,開啟他們本有的智慧。這是我們學校的一個目標。」因為「我辦教育,不單是續佛慧命,也是續眾生的慧命。我們把學校辦好了,將來學生出了校門,能懂得怎麼面對社會,就能影響全社會都改變風氣了。」又「以前的人讀書,是為了明理;現在的人讀書,是為了名利。」他老人家不忍見到人類的未來,斷送在五欲的無明之中,所以悲心切切,大聲疾呼:「人類將來要同歸於盡了!但不是地震或天災人禍,而是人類逐漸把道德給遺忘了。」這是智者的覺照,無限的悲懷!豈容我輩凡愚等閒視之?蓋人若不以道德自我規範,終必自甘下流,成為罪惡淵藪。是故,上人創辦學校,以「育良小學」「培德中學」為命名,即可略窺上人用心良苦之一斑了。

→待續

O ne afternoon in early winter, after meditation class, I strolled across the campus with a student who had recently transferred to our school. This naughty student, who had given people quite a few headaches, told me about the situation in her previous school. It seems that fighting, making trouble, drinking, getting stoned, threatening teachers and students with weapons, and dating have become part of daily life in the schools. It is almost impossible to hold a class quietly and peacefully. Students holler rudely in class and openly confront their teachers. The teachers must sometimes display the handguns they carry in order to warn students not to make trouble. And the parents either don’t care or are helpless to do anything. Or else, they harm their children’s bodies and minds with their own abusive and violent behavior. The innate qualities of paternal kindness and maternal tenderness have been completely forgetten. How can our hearts not bleed with sorrow? Even if there are teachers who seriously care about teaching, they cannot maintain their stance for long. They are either forced to leave, or else they have to be fully armed every day as if going to the battlefield. This is the situation of the schools in Ukiah, a small and simple town. Imagine the situation of schools in metropolitan areas. This girl, who often disturbs other classmates, came from a home for abused children. She said with a sincere look in her eyes, “I came to this school because I wanted to have a good education. Good education is very important.” A call from the heart of an innocent child: hearing it evokes a myriad feelings!

‘Education’ is the most sacred word in the hearts of Chinese people. It represents a nation’s long-term plans and is what the people depend on for their existence. Take the Venerable Master’s simple and complete observation which goes right to the point: Education is the most fundamental and the most thorough national defense! In this day and age, the significance of this statement is even more profound. For several decades, in order to bring happiness to mankind and peace to the world, and to awaken the long-dormant sense of morality and conscience in all people, the Venerable Master has spared neither blood nor sweat in his effort to nurture excellent character and scholarship in young people. Reforming education is one of the three great resolutions that the Master has made in his life. As the Master has said, “One goal of education is to select talented people. What kind of talented people? People who demonstrate intelligence and wisdom. For those who are stupid, we should also make an effort to inspire their inherent wisdom. This is one of the goals of our schools.” This is because, as the Master says, “I want to set up education not only to perpetuate the Buddha’s wisdom, but also to perpetuate the wisdom of living beings. Having received a wholesome education, students will know how to conduct themselves in society when they leave school in the future, and they will be able to influence the entire society to reform its customs.” The Master has also said, “In the past, people studied in order to understand the principles. Nowadays, people study in order to obtain fame and profit.” The Master cannot bear to see the future of mankind ruined by the ignorant indulging in the five desires. Thus he is making a earnest and compassionate outcry: “The human race is nearing extinction! This will not be caused by earthquakes, natural disasters, or accidents, but by the fact that people have gradually forgotten and lost their morality and virtue.” This is the enlightened awareness of one who is wise, and whose compassionate mind is boundless. How can we ordinary, foolish people take it for granted? If people do not discipline themselves with virtue, they will eventually fall into an abyss of evil. The schools founded by the Venerable Master are named “Instilling Goodness Elementary School” and “Developing Virtue Secondary School”—from this we can understand a little bit of the Master’s earnest intentions.

→To be continued

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