八德是做人的基础

The Eight Virtues Are the Foundation for Being a Person

凡是不合道理的事，违背良心的事情，绝对不做。

Never do anything that goes against reason and conscience.

小朋友！你们知道什么是做人的根本吗？就是八德：孝、悌、忠、信、礼、义、廉、耻。我今天将八德的意义简单地解释，你们要注意听！

Young friends, do you know what the foundation for being a person is? It is comprised of the eight virtues: filiality, fraternal respect, loyalty, trustworthiness, propriety, righteousness, incorruptibility, and a sense of shame. Today I will briefly explain these eight virtues. Listen well!

(一)孝：就是孝顺。孝顺父母，这是为人子女的本份，孝顺就是报答父母养育之恩。

1.Filiality: As a son or daughter, it is your duty to be filial and compliant to your parents. By being filial and compliant, you are repaying your parents' kindness for raising you.

(二)悌：就是悌敬。悌敬兄长，这是做弟弟的本份，悌敬是报兄长的恩。

2. Fraternal respect: As a younger sibling, you should be respectful to your elder siblings and to your elders, in order to repay their kindness.

(三)忠：就是尽忠。尽忠国家，这是做国民的责任，尽忠是报国家的恩。

3. Loyalty: As a citizen, it 's your duty to loyally serve the country, in order to repay the country's kindness.

(四)信：就是信用。信用朋友，对朋友言戌茼钒H，行必笃敬，不可以失信用。

4. Trustworthiness: When you are with friends, you should be trustworthy and live up to your words. Your actions should be sincere and respectful, and you should not cause others to lose faith in you.

(五)礼：就是礼节。见到人要有礼貌，应该鞠躬，不行礼就是野蛮的行为。小朋友！见到师长要敬礼，见到父母也要敬礼。

5. Propriety: This refers to etiquette. You should treat people courteously. If you are discourteous, then you are no better than a savage. Young friends, you should greet your teachers, elders, and parents with proper respect.

(六)义：就是义气。要有见义勇为的精神，无论谁有困难，要尽力去帮助他解决问题。对朋友要有道义，无条件来援助，绝无任何企图的心。

6. Righteousness: Be righteous in spirit and coura-geously do what should be done. When people are in difficulty, do your best to help them resolve their problems. Treat your friends with a sense of right and honor. Help them unconditionally, without ulterior motives.

(七)廉：就是廉洁。有廉洁的人，无论见到什么，都不起贪求之心，没有想占便宜的心，而养成大公无私的精神。

7. Incorruptibility: This refers to being pure and honest. No matter what they see, incorruptible people are never greedy or opportunistic. Rather, they are public-spirited and unselfish.

(八)耻：就是羞耻。凡是不合道理，违背良心的事情，绝对不做。人若无耻，等于禽兽一样。

8. A sense of shame: Never do anything that goes against reason and conscience. People who have no sense of shame are no better than beasts.

这八个字是做人的基础，你们不要把它忘记。将来到社会服务时，要「言必忠信，行必笃敬」，说出来的话，一定要有忠有信，不打妄语；所做的事，必须以恭恭敬敬的态度，认真去做，绝对不敷衍了事。

These eight virtues are the foundation of being a person. Don't forget them. In the future, when you go out to work in society, “your words must be trustworthy, and your actions respectful.” Speak sincerely and don't lie. Work with a reverent and diligent attitude. Don't be negligent.

一九八三年十月十二日开示

A talk given on October 12, 1983