The Value of Studying Chinese
PricipalTalk at Spring Semester Ceremony, June 22nd, 2013
Chuang Yen Chinese School
By Ven. Dr.Bhikkhu Bodhi (President of Buddhist Association of United States)
I am delighted to be here today, and I extend my congratulations to Principal Lu Liu for introducing this program and to all the students who have completed the spring semester. I hope that you who have enrolled in this program won’t stop with an elementary knowledge of Chinese but will continue to study Chinese year after year until you can speak and read it fluently.
Chuang Yen Monastery opened in the late 1980s. Its primary supporters through all these years have been Chinese people, yet this is the first time that the monastery has introduced a program in the Chinese language. This is due to the enthusiasm and commitment of Ms. Liu. She was not content simply to announce the class to the devotees of the monastery but she even went to the Putnam County School Board to make sure that students in schools throughout the area were informed that a Chinese class would be given at Chuang Yen Monastery. She knows that a knowledge of the Chinese language is not only for people of Chinese ancestry. For this reason we see here children of different racial and ethnic origins who have come to learn Chinese, and I was pleased to hear them speaking it so well. I hope that the Chinese language program here will become an ongoing project and that we will have more teachers, more students, and different levels of progress. It can become a center for disseminating a knowledge of Chinese throughout the greater Hudson Valley.
It is very important for us to learn to speak and read other languages. The lack of emphasis on language study in the United States should be a reason for national shame. When I went to junior high school and high school, we all had to learn another language—at that time, mainly French or Spanish were taught—but I’ve heard that nowadays language study has fallen into neglect. This is a pity. We Americans think everyone should speak English, but this only encourages a narrow way of thinking. In Europe almost everyone can speak several languages. My friend, the Czech monk Ven. Thomas Dhammadipa, who teaches here from time to time, knows twelve languages, including Hebrew, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese. Another monk friend, Ven. Analayo, knows about eight languages. When I went to Germany, I found that, in addition to German, almost everyone knows at least English and French, and some can speak five or six languages.
In today’s world, probably the most important language for everyone in America to learn is Chinese. China is now a major economic and political power, and I expect that in the future the relations between our two countries will grow ever closer. The Chinese cultural sphere extends still further, to Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and elsewhere. Because every language is built upon a different way of thinking, when you learn a new language you learn to think in a different way. You expand the working of your mind. You learn to see the world in a different way, through another pair of eyes. And this enables you to relate to people from different cultural backgrounds.
Chinese is especially important not only because contact with China will serve our business and economic interests, not only because it will be helpful for diplomacy and international relations, but because the Chinese language reflects the great spiritual traditions that have shaped the cultural heritage of China. This is why we are promoting Chinese language at our monastery. As you may know, Chinese culture has been formed by three great spiritual traditions: Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. The former two are indigenous to China. Buddhism arose in India in the 5th century BC and came to China beginning in the 2nd century of the Common Era, but it was assimilated to the Chinese mind and assimilated into the stream of Chinese culture. Just as Buddhism took on a Chinese face, so Confucianism and Taoism were transformed by contact with Buddhism.
By studying the Chinese language, we can absorb the values promoted by these three spiritual traditions. These values are extremely necessary in today’s world. You need not adopt any of these religions to appreciate their values, which are universal and relevant to us all. Taoism emphasizes humility and awe for the wonder and mystery of nature. Such wonder is so necessary if we are to preserve the natural world, and not destroy it for the sake of material good and profit. The vast mountains, the great rivers, the forests, the earth and the depths of space, all breathe with a spiritual force, and Taoism teaches us to revere and trust in the goodness of that force. When we leave the commotion of the cities, and enjoy a hike or picnic in the quietude of the countryside, admiring the splendor of woods and streams, the vast diversity of life forms, we are partaking of the mental orientation of Taoism.
Confucians extol a virtue called仁 (rén). The character 仁consists of the radical 人 (rén) meaning a person, combined with the character 二 (èr) meaning two. Thus 仁is the ideal way for two human beings to relate to one another, in other words, it means humaneness, kindness, good will, or benevolence. The Confucians also teach the importance of respect: respect of children for their parents and of youngsters for their elders, and loyalty between siblings and friends. These virtues tell us that we must subdue our egos and behave in ways that show reverence and concern for others.
Buddhism advocates the great values of loving-kindness and compassion, which we call慈悲 (cí-bēi), two characters that are built on the radical心 (xīn), which means heart. According to Buddhism, love and compassion must be accompanied by wisdom ( 智慧, zhì hùi), so that we base our concern for others on correct insight into the nature of reality. Thus if we are to become good human beings, we have to nurture a mind of wisdom and a heart of loving-kindness and compassion. These are the marks of a bodhisattva, one evolving toward the spiritual perfection of buddhahood.
From this, we can see that to learn Chinese is to learn more than how to speak another language. It is to learn to trust in the goodness of nature. It is to learn how to be humble and sincere. It is to learn to act with good will and humanity in our relations with other people. And it is to make wisdom the ideal quality of the mind and loving-kindness and compassion the ideal qualities of the heart.
May you all continue in your study of Chinese. May you become fluent speakers of this wonderful language and may you also be shaped by the great values taught by Chinese culture! Thank you.
菩提比丘 (美国佛教会会长)
-刘璐译 Translator by Lu Liu
学习中文的价值
2013年纽约庄严中文学校春季学期联欢会
今天同学们顺利的完成了本学期的学业。在这个充满喜悦的日子，我向刘璐校长表示最热烈的祝贺，希望你们一直坚持下去直到能够讲出一口漂亮的中文。我也向培育你们的刘璐老师致以衷心的感谢。
庄严寺是在八十年代由华裔建立的，中文课在这里还是首创。刘璐女士不仅在寺院里宣布这项活动，还到本地的学区进行大量的宣传工作，因为中文这个凝聚中国五千年智慧和文化的文字符号不仅是华裔的财产也是全世界人民的财产就像中国的四大发明一样。今天，我们欣喜地看到不同种族和民族的学生们在这里学习，而且我很高兴听到你们把中文讲得这么好。我希望我们纽约庄严中文学校会有更多的老师更多的学生有多种程度的班级，我也希望它能够成为整个哈德逊山谷传播知识的中心。
学习外国语言是非常重要的。我们这个国家对学习外语不够重视，就这一点而言我们应该感到难以为颜，同时这也是一种遗憾。我在上初中和高中的时候。外语是必修课，那时以法语和西班牙语为主。我们美国人认为每个人都应该讲英文，其实这是一种狭隘的思维方式。在欧洲除了德国人几乎每个人都知道至少英文和法文有的可以讲五，六种语言。我的捷克朋友性空法师，他常在这里指导禅修，他会讲十二种语言包括希伯来文，俄文，中文和日文。另外一个朋友阿难拉尤（音译）会讲八种语言。
在当今社会，中文对美国人来说可能是最重要的一种语言。当代中国的经济和政治的实力非常的强大。我希望在未来，我们两国的关系将变得日益亲密。中国文化对亚洲的其它一些地区和国家的文化有着深远的影响比如新加坡，马来西亚等。每一种语言都建立在不同的思维方式上，当你学习一门新的语言，你会以不同的方式去思维，这样使你的头脑更灵活，你会以不同的方式，通过另一双眼睛去看世界，这使你容易了解不同文化背景的人。
中文的重要性不仅有利于我们从事商务，经济及外交活动而且因为中国语言反映了和塑造了中国的文化传统的伟大精神传统是中国的文化遗产的重要组成部分。这就是为什么我们庄严寺向当地居民提供学习中文的场所和机会。
正如你可能知道的。中国文化主要由三部分组成：儒家道教和佛教。前两者是在中国的本土所生。在公元前 5 世纪，佛教在印度产生。大约在公元前2世纪传到中国，它被同化到中国人的头脑中并融入中国文化的主流。正如许多佛教徒都是中国人。儒家和道教也潜移默化的受到佛教的影响。
通过学习中文，我们可以吸收这三个传统精神的价值观。在今天的世界，这些是十分必要的。你不需要采取任何宗教观去欣赏他们的价值观，因为这是社会普遍的现象，她和我们的生活息息相关。道教强调大自然的神奇和神秘让我们对自然产生一种谦卑和敬畏并要我们保护这个奇迹般的自然世界，而不是为了利润去摧毁它。茫茫大山，大江大河的奔腾之势，参天巨树的森林，地球空间的深处，所有的呼吸，都是一种精神力量的存在。道教教导我们敬仰和信任，善良和力量。当我们离开的骚动的城市，享受在宁静的乡下野餐时，我们欣赏着枝叶茂密，绿树成荫的树林，悦耳的鸟鸣，深谷下潺潺的溪流。欣赏着众多的生命形式，这时我们是在体会道教的精神。
儒家赞美的是一种美德叫仁（仁）。这个字“仁”由左边的人和右边的二（仁）组成，这意味着一个人，结合二的含义。因此，仁是理想的方式，两个人彼此之间的关系及推广到人与人的关系，换句话说，这意味着人道，善良，良好的意愿，或称仁。儒家教的重要性，尊重：孩子对父母和长辈的尊重，青少年和兄弟姐妹和朋友之间的忠诚度。这些优点告诉我们，“存天理，灭人欲”，克服己欲并积极主动地为他人着想。 。
佛教主张的伟大的价值观是慈爱和怜悯，我们称之为慈悲，两个文字，都建立在激进的心上，这意味着心脏。根据佛教，爱和同情心必须伴随着智慧。使我们立足于现实正确地洞察我们对他人的关心。因此，如果我们要成为好的人类，我们就要培育有智慧的头脑和慈爱怜悯的心。这是菩萨：大乘佛教的修行者，社会实践者。当其实践圆满最终达到佛境。
由此以来，我们可以看到，要了解中国是为了学习更多。而不只是学习如何讲另一种语言。是学会信任和性善。它是学习如何谦虚诚恳。这有助于提高人际交往的效能，提升人际关系融洽度，对构建一个和乐的社会有着积极的促进作用。
愿我们的头脑充满智慧愿我们的心充满慈爱与怜悯。愿你继续学习中文。愿你把这个奇妙的语言说得更流利，愿你在中国文化的的熏陶下使你的人格更加得到提升。谢谢
About the Author
Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi is an American Buddhist monk from New York City. He obtained a BA in philosophy from Brooklyn College (1996) and a PhD in philosophy from Claremont Graduate School (1972). After completing his university studies he traveled to Sri Lanka, where he received novice ordination in 1972 and full ordination in 1973. For many years he was the president and editor of the Buddhist Publication Society in Sri Lanka. He has been living at Chuang Yen Monastery since 2006. Ven. Bodhi has many important publications to his credit either as author, translator, or editor, most recently a translation of the entire Anguttara Nikaya, The numerical Discourses of the Buddha (Wisdom Publications 2012)/ In 2008, together with several of his students, Ven. Bodhi founded Buddhist Global Relief, a non profit supporting hunger relief, sustainable agriculture, and education in countries suffering from chronic poverty and malnutrition, In May 2013 was elected president of BAUS.
Chuang Yen Chinese School
By Ven. Dr.Bhikkhu Bodhi (President of Buddhist Association of United States)
I am delighted to be here today, and I extend my congratulations to Principal Lu Liu for introducing this program and to all the students who have completed the spring semester. I hope that you who have enrolled in this program won’t stop with an elementary knowledge of Chinese but will continue to study Chinese year after year until you can speak and read it fluently.
Chuang Yen Monastery opened in the late 1980s. Its primary supporters through all these years have been Chinese people, yet this is the first time that the monastery has introduced a program in the Chinese language. This is due to the enthusiasm and commitment of Ms. Liu. She was not content simply to announce the class to the devotees of the monastery but she even went to the Putnam County School Board to make sure that students in schools throughout the area were informed that a Chinese class would be given at Chuang Yen Monastery. She knows that a knowledge of the Chinese language is not only for people of Chinese ancestry. For this reason we see here children of different racial and ethnic origins who have come to learn Chinese, and I was pleased to hear them speaking it so well. I hope that the Chinese language program here will become an ongoing project and that we will have more teachers, more students, and different levels of progress. It can become a center for disseminating a knowledge of Chinese throughout the greater Hudson Valley.
It is very important for us to learn to speak and read other languages. The lack of emphasis on language study in the United States should be a reason for national shame. When I went to junior high school and high school, we all had to learn another language—at that time, mainly French or Spanish were taught—but I’ve heard that nowadays language study has fallen into neglect. This is a pity. We Americans think everyone should speak English, but this only encourages a narrow way of thinking. In Europe almost everyone can speak several languages. My friend, the Czech monk Ven. Thomas Dhammadipa, who teaches here from time to time, knows twelve languages, including Hebrew, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese. Another monk friend, Ven. Analayo, knows about eight languages. When I went to Germany, I found that, in addition to German, almost everyone knows at least English and French, and some can speak five or six languages.
In today’s world, probably the most important language for everyone in America to learn is Chinese. China is now a major economic and political power, and I expect that in the future the relations between our two countries will grow ever closer. The Chinese cultural sphere extends still further, to Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and elsewhere. Because every language is built upon a different way of thinking, when you learn a new language you learn to think in a different way. You expand the working of your mind. You learn to see the world in a different way, through another pair of eyes. And this enables you to relate to people from different cultural backgrounds.
Chinese is especially important not only because contact with China will serve our business and economic interests, not only because it will be helpful for diplomacy and international relations, but because the Chinese language reflects the great spiritual traditions that have shaped the cultural heritage of China. This is why we are promoting Chinese language at our monastery. As you may know, Chinese culture has been formed by three great spiritual traditions: Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. The former two are indigenous to China. Buddhism arose in India in the 5th century BC and came to China beginning in the 2nd century of the Common Era, but it was assimilated to the Chinese mind and assimilated into the stream of Chinese culture. Just as Buddhism took on a Chinese face, so Confucianism and Taoism were transformed by contact with Buddhism.
By studying the Chinese language, we can absorb the values promoted by these three spiritual traditions. These values are extremely necessary in today’s world. You need not adopt any of these religions to appreciate their values, which are universal and relevant to us all. Taoism emphasizes humility and awe for the wonder and mystery of nature. Such wonder is so necessary if we are to preserve the natural world, and not destroy it for the sake of material good and profit. The vast mountains, the great rivers, the forests, the earth and the depths of space, all breathe with a spiritual force, and Taoism teaches us to revere and trust in the goodness of that force. When we leave the commotion of the cities, and enjoy a hike or picnic in the quietude of the countryside, admiring the splendor of woods and streams, the vast diversity of life forms, we are partaking of the mental orientation of Taoism.
Confucians extol a virtue called仁 (rén). The character 仁consists of the radical 人 (rén) meaning a person, combined with the character 二 (èr) meaning two. Thus 仁is the ideal way for two human beings to relate to one another, in other words, it means humaneness, kindness, good will, or benevolence. The Confucians also teach the importance of respect: respect of children for their parents and of youngsters for their elders, and loyalty between siblings and friends. These virtues tell us that we must subdue our egos and behave in ways that show reverence and concern for others.
Buddhism advocates the great values of loving-kindness and compassion, which we call慈悲 (cí-bēi), two characters that are built on the radical心 (xīn), which means heart. According to Buddhism, love and compassion must be accompanied by wisdom ( 智慧, zhì hùi), so that we base our concern for others on correct insight into the nature of reality. Thus if we are to become good human beings, we have to nurture a mind of wisdom and a heart of loving-kindness and compassion. These are the marks of a bodhisattva, one evolving toward the spiritual perfection of buddhahood.
From this, we can see that to learn Chinese is to learn more than how to speak another language. It is to learn to trust in the goodness of nature. It is to learn how to be humble and sincere. It is to learn to act with good will and humanity in our relations with other people. And it is to make wisdom the ideal quality of the mind and loving-kindness and compassion the ideal qualities of the heart.
May you all continue in your study of Chinese. May you become fluent speakers of this wonderful language and may you also be shaped by the great values taught by Chinese culture! Thank you.
菩提比丘 (美国佛教会会长)
-刘璐译 Translator by Lu Liu
学习中文的价值
2013年纽约庄严中文学校春季学期联欢会
今天同学们顺利的完成了本学期的学业。在这个充满喜悦的日子，我向刘璐校长表示最热烈的祝贺，希望你们一直坚持下去直到能够讲出一口漂亮的中文。我也向培育你们的刘璐老师致以衷心的感谢。
庄严寺是在八十年代由华裔建立的，中文课在这里还是首创。刘璐女士不仅在寺院里宣布这项活动，还到本地的学区进行大量的宣传工作，因为中文这个凝聚中国五千年智慧和文化的文字符号不仅是华裔的财产也是全世界人民的财产就像中国的四大发明一样。今天，我们欣喜地看到不同种族和民族的学生们在这里学习，而且我很高兴听到你们把中文讲得这么好。我希望我们纽约庄严中文学校会有更多的老师更多的学生有多种程度的班级，我也希望它能够成为整个哈德逊山谷传播知识的中心。
学习外国语言是非常重要的。我们这个国家对学习外语不够重视，就这一点而言我们应该感到难以为颜，同时这也是一种遗憾。我在上初中和高中的时候。外语是必修课，那时以法语和西班牙语为主。我们美国人认为每个人都应该讲英文，其实这是一种狭隘的思维方式。在欧洲除了德国人几乎每个人都知道至少英文和法文有的可以讲五，六种语言。我的捷克朋友性空法师，他常在这里指导禅修，他会讲十二种语言包括希伯来文，俄文，中文和日文。另外一个朋友阿难拉尤（音译）会讲八种语言。
在当今社会，中文对美国人来说可能是最重要的一种语言。当代中国的经济和政治的实力非常的强大。我希望在未来，我们两国的关系将变得日益亲密。中国文化对亚洲的其它一些地区和国家的文化有着深远的影响比如新加坡，马来西亚等。每一种语言都建立在不同的思维方式上，当你学习一门新的语言，你会以不同的方式去思维，这样使你的头脑更灵活，你会以不同的方式，通过另一双眼睛去看世界，这使你容易了解不同文化背景的人。
中文的重要性不仅有利于我们从事商务，经济及外交活动而且因为中国语言反映了和塑造了中国的文化传统的伟大精神传统是中国的文化遗产的重要组成部分。这就是为什么我们庄严寺向当地居民提供学习中文的场所和机会。
正如你可能知道的。中国文化主要由三部分组成：儒家道教和佛教。前两者是在中国的本土所生。在公元前 5 世纪，佛教在印度产生。大约在公元前2世纪传到中国，它被同化到中国人的头脑中并融入中国文化的主流。正如许多佛教徒都是中国人。儒家和道教也潜移默化的受到佛教的影响。
通过学习中文，我们可以吸收这三个传统精神的价值观。在今天的世界，这些是十分必要的。你不需要采取任何宗教观去欣赏他们的价值观，因为这是社会普遍的现象，她和我们的生活息息相关。道教强调大自然的神奇和神秘让我们对自然产生一种谦卑和敬畏并要我们保护这个奇迹般的自然世界，而不是为了利润去摧毁它。茫茫大山，大江大河的奔腾之势，参天巨树的森林，地球空间的深处，所有的呼吸，都是一种精神力量的存在。道教教导我们敬仰和信任，善良和力量。当我们离开的骚动的城市，享受在宁静的乡下野餐时，我们欣赏着枝叶茂密，绿树成荫的树林，悦耳的鸟鸣，深谷下潺潺的溪流。欣赏着众多的生命形式，这时我们是在体会道教的精神。
儒家赞美的是一种美德叫仁（仁）。这个字“仁”由左边的人和右边的二（仁）组成，这意味着一个人，结合二的含义。因此，仁是理想的方式，两个人彼此之间的关系及推广到人与人的关系，换句话说，这意味着人道，善良，良好的意愿，或称仁。儒家教的重要性，尊重：孩子对父母和长辈的尊重，青少年和兄弟姐妹和朋友之间的忠诚度。这些优点告诉我们，“存天理，灭人欲”，克服己欲并积极主动地为他人着想。 。
佛教主张的伟大的价值观是慈爱和怜悯，我们称之为慈悲，两个文字，都建立在激进的心上，这意味着心脏。根据佛教，爱和同情心必须伴随着智慧。使我们立足于现实正确地洞察我们对他人的关心。因此，如果我们要成为好的人类，我们就要培育有智慧的头脑和慈爱怜悯的心。这是菩萨：大乘佛教的修行者，社会实践者。当其实践圆满最终达到佛境。
由此以来，我们可以看到，要了解中国是为了学习更多。而不只是学习如何讲另一种语言。是学会信任和性善。它是学习如何谦虚诚恳。这有助于提高人际交往的效能，提升人际关系融洽度，对构建一个和乐的社会有着积极的促进作用。
愿我们的头脑充满智慧愿我们的心充满慈爱与怜悯。愿你继续学习中文。愿你把这个奇妙的语言说得更流利，愿你在中国文化的的熏陶下使你的人格更加得到提升。谢谢
About the Author
Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi is an American Buddhist monk from New York City. He obtained a BA in philosophy from Brooklyn College (1996) and a PhD in philosophy from Claremont Graduate School (1972). After completing his university studies he traveled to Sri Lanka, where he received novice ordination in 1972 and full ordination in 1973. For many years he was the president and editor of the Buddhist Publication Society in Sri Lanka. He has been living at Chuang Yen Monastery since 2006. Ven. Bodhi has many important publications to his credit either as author, translator, or editor, most recently a translation of the entire Anguttara Nikaya, The numerical Discourses of the Buddha (Wisdom Publications 2012)/ In 2008, together with several of his students, Ven. Bodhi founded Buddhist Global Relief, a non profit supporting hunger relief, sustainable agriculture, and education in countries suffering from chronic poverty and malnutrition, In May 2013 was elected president of BAUS.
