在中国春秋时代，有位圣人出世，就是孔子。他一生极力到处宣扬仁义道德、孝悌忠信的学说，可是不受欢迎，处处受排斥。他虽然置身横逆之境，仍不改变教育宗旨，贯彻始终地提倡大同之道。
During the Spring and Autumn period [722 – 484 b.c.] of Chinese history, in 551 b.c., a great sage was born. He was Confucius. Throughout his life, he tirelessly propagated the virtues of humaneness and righteousness, and the doctrines of filiality, fraternal respect, loyalty, and trustworthiness. But instead of being welcomed, he was rejected everywhere he went. Even though he constantly faced setbacks, he never altered his principles of education and continued promoting the way of peace and harmony.
孔子是位大教育家，提倡“有教无类”的平民教育，不遗余力。他有“教不厌，学不倦”的精神，是一位述而不作，信而好古的实行家。孔子晚年删诗经，制礼乐，着诗、书、易、礼、春秋，即现在的五经。
Confucius was a great educator. He spared no effort in promoting the idea of equal and universal education. He was "never weary of teaching and never tired of learning." Instead of composing new texts, he explained the ancient books in a faithful and devoted fashion. In his later years, he edited the Book of Odes, compiled the rites and music, and wrote the Spring and Autumn Annals. The Book of Odes, the Book of History, the Book of Changes, the Book of Rites, and the Spring and Autumn Annals are now known as the Five Classics.
他的学生有三千人，精通礼、乐、射、御、书、数六艺的，有七十二人。礼是婚丧祭祀的礼节；乐是音乐；射是射箭；御是驾车；书是写字；数是算术。必须样样精通，才能成为完人。
Confucius had three thousand students. Among these there were seventy-two who mastered the six skills of rites, music, archery, charioteering, writing, and mathematics. Rites refer to the proper ceremonial rituals for weddings, funerals, and sacrificial offerings. One has to master all six skills before one can be considered a perfect person.
孔子的教育方针，因人施教，以身作则。他的学生分为四大科── （一）德行：有颜回、闵子骞。 （二）言语：有子贡、宰我。 （三）政事：有子路、冉有。 （四）文学：有子夏、子游。
Confucius taught each person according to his or her individual potential, and he taught by example. His students can be divided into four main categories [according to their area of strength]: 1. Virtue, represented by Yan Hui and Min Ziqian 2. Speech, represented by Zi Gong and Zai Wo 3. Politics, represented by Zi Lu and Ran You 4. Literature, represented by Zi Xia and Zi You
孔子卒后，分为两派，曾子主张传道，以孟子为代表，后为正统。子夏主张传经，以荀子为代表。传经派兴于汉唐清三朝代；传道派兴于宋元明三朝代。
After Confucius' death, his students split into two sects. Zeng Zi advocated the propagation of the Way (Tao); Mencius represented this school, which was later recognized as the orthodoxy. Zi Xia advocated the propagation of classics, and that school was represented by Xun Zi. The school advocating the propagation of classics prevailed during the Han, Tang and Qing dynasties, while the school advocating the propagation of the Way prevailed during the Song, Yuan and Ming dynasties.
世界上的事理，都有相互的关系，好像中国的儒、道、佛三教，都是互相帮助。儒教如同启蒙的小学，道教如同中学，佛教就是大学。三教道理都有关连，可是小学生不知中学的教科书，但是大学生可知中小学的课程。
The noumena and phenomena in the world are all interrelated. In China, Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism have aided each other. Confucianism is like an elementary school for young children, Taoism is like a secondary school, and Buddhism is like a university. The principles of these three religions are related. Students in the elementary school don't understand the subjects taught at the secondary school, but university students know the curriculums of both the elementary and secondary schools.
儒教讲做人的道理，如何建立好人格。道教一半重于建立好人格，一半是修出世法，所以道士不剃头发，与在家人一样，但穿古时隐士所穿的衣服。佛教则剃发除须，穿坏色衣，不注重外表，可是袈裟不离身，现比丘、比丘尼相。佛教是修出世法的道理，那么是不是离开世间法，而另外有佛法？也不是的，只要将世间法认识清楚了，不被其所迷，就是佛法。
Confucianism teaches the principles of being a person and developing a wholesome character. Taoism places half its emphasis on establishing a good character and half on the cultivation of transcendental principles. For that reason Taoist priests are like laypeople in that they do not shave their heads; however, they do dress like the hermits of ancient times. Buddhist monks, on the other hand, shave their hair and beard, wear clothes of dark and somber colors, and don't care about their external appearance. They maintain the appearance of Bhikshus and Bhikshunis and always wear their sashes. Buddhism teaches people to cultivate the principles of world-transcending Dharma. Is there a Buddhadharma outside of worldly dharmas? No. As long as you truly recognize worldly dharmas and are not deluded by them, just that is the Buddhadharma.
有人主张三教合一，所谓“红花白藕青荷叶，三教原来是一家”，这就是表示儒、释、道三教。佛教之根本，发起信仰之肇基，乃是在儒教；必须读书、明理，先学如何做人，然后再依法修行，所谓“归元性无二，方便有多门”。学佛法的人，应该懂得这个道理。
Some people have suggested combining the three religions into one. It is said, Like the red blossom, the white root, and the green leaf of a lotus plant, The three religions originate from one family. This expresses how Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism are interrelated. The roots of Buddhism, the foundation upon which faith arises, lie within Confucianism. One has to study, understand the principles, and learn how to be a person first, and then one can cultivate in accord with the Dharma. It is said, "Even though there are many expedient doors, the nature at the source is nondual." Students of Buddhism should understand this principle.
一九八三年九月二十五日
A talk given on September 25, 1983
