各位同学！今天与你们见面，我心里很高兴。你们都是有为的青年人，可是，有为的学生要做“有为”的事，若是颓靡不振，不能尊师重道，敦品立德，发愤读书，那么，就算“有为”也变成“无为”了！反过来说，大家若能尊师重道，力求上进，则前途无可限量，来日可作每个家庭的好榜样，每个国家的领袖，全世界的主人翁。
Fellow students, I am very glad to meet all of you today. You are all young people of achievement. However, in order to be a person of achievement you must have some achievement. If you are indolent, disrespectful to your teachers and the Way, and fail to create virtue and study hard, then your achievement is no achievement at all. On the other hand, if you can respect your teachers and the Way, and strive to progress in your studies, you will have a promising future. Then you can set a good example for all families and become leaders of nations and influential people in the world.
你们想成为家庭的好榜样、国家的领袖、世界的主人翁吗？现在教你们一个好办法：第一，在家必要孝顺父母，父母叫你，你要赶快回答，不可慢条斯理。父母叫你做事，你不可存不满心，苟且懒惰。父母教训你，叫你好好读书，你就应该先把功课做好，才出去玩耍。不要蹦蹦跳跳，终日只看电视而忽略功课。你有什么不对，父母惩罚你，你也应该顺从接受。身为子女，身为学生，这种行为最低限度能做到。做人的基础，是在每个家庭里建立起来的。
Do you want to set a good example for all families and become leaders of nations and of the world? Now let me tell you how to do it: First of all you must be filial to your parents at home. When they call you, you should respond immediately and not take your time answering. When they ask you to do something, you shouldn't be upset or lazy. When they admonish you and tell you to study hard, you should finish doing your homework before you go out to play. Don't just goof off or spend the whole day watching television, neglecting your school work. When you do something wrong, you should accept their punishment obediently. As a child and a student, that is the very least that you should do. A person's moral foundation is developed within the family.
第二，要将以上孝顺父母之精神，转到学校里来，恭敬老师。不要面从心违、阳奉阴违。考试时更不可作弊来欺骗老师。要作忠实的学生，长大后忠于国家。切不可生轻慢师长的心！老师们费尽心血来栽培你们这些小苗，令你们茁壮长大，本固枝荣，前途无量。切不可斗争老师、欺负师长。
Next, you should bring this spirit of filiality to school and be respectful to your teachers. Do not feign compliance. Do not cheat on tests. Be an honest student now and a loyal citizen when you grow up. Never look down on your teachers. They use all their energy to cultivate you young shoots, to make you thrive and grow, to make your trunk strong and branches thick so that your future will be promising. You should never fight with or bully your teacher.
现在社会的风气坏到极点，甚至有些小学、中学及大学生，斗争老师。这种狂妄之行为，欺师灭祖，不如禽兽。你们既然到了金轮圣寺，在这儿念书，必定是有大善根，才得到这么好的老师来教导你们。你们要珍惜这个机会，不要浪费宝贵光阴。
The demoralization of society is now very extreme. Some elementary, secondary, and college students are already fighting their teachers. Such unscrupulous conduct is worse than that of animals. You all must have wholesome roots that enable you to come to this monastery and have such good teachers instruct you. You should cherish this opportunity and not waste precious time.
切记！将来的目标，是要帮助社会，不是为自己发财做大官。首先要把道德的基础打好。古时的人读书为了“明理”，现在的人读书多为“名利”。明理，就是研究如何治理国家，如何影响世界，移风易俗，做一些真实而有价值的事业。不是只顾自己生活能有多少享受。或想：“我将来作个医生，赚更多的钱！”这种为名为利的思想太狭窄、太没出息！
Remember that your future goal is to help society, not to make money or get a high position. First of all, you should build a good foundation of virtue. The ancients studied for the purpose of understanding principles. Nowadays people study for the purpose of obtaining fame and benefit. Understanding principles involves studying how to govern a country, how to influence the world to change its unwholesome customs and habits, and how to carry out genuine and worthwhile endeavors. In life, you shouldn't be concerned with just your own enjoyment. You shouldn't think: "I want to be a physician, because they make a lot of money!" Such thoughts of fame and profit are petty and useless.
你若把道德基础打好了，名利是小问题。将来堪为世界的主人翁，能做一番伟大的事业。现在是你们的黄金时代，不要错过，否则将来后悔莫及。我这一番话是苦口婆心对你们说，所谓：
If you establish a good foundation of virtue, then fame and benefit are hardly an issue. You'll be influential people who will achieve great things in the world. Now is your golden age. Don't let it pass by in vain, or you will regret it later. It is said,
忠言逆耳利于行，
良药苦口利于病。
Truthful words jar the ear,
But help one to act wisely.
Good medicine is bitter to the taste,
But cures the sickness.
不管你爱不爱听，我是尽了我一番心意！
Whether or not you care to listen, I have tried my best.
一九八三年十一月开示于美国加州洛杉矶金轮圣寺
A talk given on November 1983, at Gold Wheel Sagely Monastery, Los Angeles
