Global Buddhist Congregation 2011, New Delhi

Organized by the Asoka Mission

Remarks by Dr. Tsong-Ming Lin,

Political Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education

Taiwan, R. O. C.

       2011/11/27

It is a great pleasure and honor for me to be here in this (beautiful and) historic setting—the birthplace of Buddhism—and to be here at this historic time—the anniversary of the Buddha’s enlightenment twenty-six centuries ago.

Buddhism has had a strong influence on Chinese culture since it was first brought to China from India, where it joined Confucianism and Taoism as the three traditional (spiritual) ways of life in China. 

Nearly four hundred years ago, settlers from China brought Buddhism to Taiwan, where it has developed until today it has become a powerful source of inspiration and spiritual and ethical guidance to the Taiwanese people.  Now there are over five million Buddhists in Taiwan, over 4,000 Buddhist temples, three Buddhist hospitals, 28 Buddhist publishing houses, as well as Buddhist TV and radio programs.

Historically, the greatest influence on Chinese education has been the teachings of Confucius, who lived in the same period as the Buddha and like the Buddha was concerned with the importance of moral values and living an ethical life.  In Taiwan, the thoughts of Confucius are still taught in elective classes in senior high schools.  However, Buddhism has also had a strong influence on education in Taiwan. There are now 36 Educational Institutes run by Buddhist organizations in Taiwan, and there are eight centers devoted to Buddhist studies in Taiwan universities. In addition, there are student clubs or study groups devoted to Buddhism at nearly all of Taiwan’s colleges and universities.

In an era in which the equality of all men and women has gained greater emphasis throughout the world, one remarkable feature of Taiwanese Buddhism has been the prominence of women at all levels. Since 1953, a greater proportion of women have been ordained as nuns in Taiwan than in any other country, and today there are more nuns than monks in Taiwan. Women have also assumed leadership roles in Taiwan’s Buddhist organizations. Dharma Master Cheng Yen is the founder of the Tsu Chi Foundation, whose humanitarian activities and charitable work both in Taiwan and abroad has exemplified the Buddhist teaching of compassion. Venerable Master Hid Wan is the founder of Hue Fan University; and Venerable Master Wu Yin is the founder of the Luminary International Buddhist Society.

A striking example of the impact that Buddhist ideas have had on the daily lives of Taiwanese people at a grassroots level has been the proliferation of vegetarian restaurants and cafeterias throughout Taiwan. Forty years ago there were only a few vegetarian restaurants in Taiwan, including some vegetarian cafeterias operated by Buddhist families who sincerely believed in both the physical and spiritual benefits of vegetarianism.  As people desiring healthy but inexpensive meals flocked to these cafeterias, more and more were opened all over the island. Today Taiwan has hundreds of vegetarian cafeterias with Buddhist scrolls hanging on the walls, statues of Buddha and Guanine on small altars, DVDs of Buddhist chanting as background music, and shelves of free Buddhist literature for the customers, who are concerned not only about their own health and nutrition, but also about animal rights, developing sustainable food resources, and living in harmony with the world of nature—truly a remarkable testament to the influence of the Buddha on the daily lives of Taiwanese people living 2,600 years after his enlightenment.

I personally believe that education and religion have the same goals which are to purify people’s mind and to enhance the spiritual and moral values of human being.  On behalf of the Ministry of Education, Taiwan, R. O. C., I would like to take this opportunity to share with you how this Ministry to promote ethics and moral education in schools.  In Taiwan, many programs reflect the importance of teaching ethics and social morality. We believe that moral and intellectual development should not stop at the end of one’s formal education but continue as a lifelong learning process. Therefore Taiwan has introduced the “3-3-1 Activity” to encourage citizens to spend at least thirty minutes reading every day, thirty minutes doing physical exercise, and perhaps most important, to do at least one good deed every day.

To emphasize the importance of family ethics, last year Taiwan also introduced “Grandparents Festival”.  On August 23, 2010, to celebrate the First Annual Grandparents Day, the Ministry of Education in Taiwan arranged for families, students and seniors to attend a summer camp for a week of activities and events.  The purpose is to encourage respect for grandparents and the elderly.  Now the 4^th Sunday in August is officially “Grandparents Day” in Taiwan.

 In addition, this Ministry has also defined “May” as “The Filial Piety Month” because the second Sunday in May is “Mother’s Day.”  To extend its meaning and significance, May can be the month to remind family members of showing filial obedience or devotion to their parents.

You probably know that September 28^th is so called Teacher’s Day, for the sake of Confucius’ birthday.  Furthermore, to extend its influence, we named, “September” as “The Respect Teacher Month.” Parents and students should respect and show gratitude towards teachers, while teachers should treat parents and students with respect, talk with parents, show care and understanding towards their students, teaching in accordance with each student's ability, to develop their potential. 

The main concern of environmental ethics is the natural ecology, including living creatures and non-biological resources and environments.

Our schools educate students being friendly to others as well as to the nature creature. So we encourage schools implement “One Day No Meat per Week”.  Nowadays, 86% schools have joined this policy.  Some schools and institutes further this policy to “Two Days No Meat per Week” or “Three Days No Meat per Week”.  I am optimistic that its influence has been gradually increasing.

On November 22^nd, this Ministry gave awards to 99 schools including 14 universities, 11 senior and vocational high schools and special education schools, 24 junior high schools and 50 primary schools.  They are recommended by local education authorities for their successful moral education promotion.  These role model schools can share their own experiences with the others.

We all know that education not only establishes the foundation for a country’s development and competitive advantages, but also gives its citizens the power to change lives, transform the world and promise a better life for its citizens.  The Ministry of Education has out lined the visions designed to create a better education setting for future generations.  In conclusion, education is a pivot which human beings base on moving toward a sublime or a collapsing life.  It means that education is the key point to influence people’s life which could be either lifted up or fallen off.

At last, I would like to offer our sincere hope that the Buddha’s teachings will continue to serve as a source of inspiration and guidance to all the people of the world, and that his message can help to bridge the political, economic, ethnic, and religious differences that divide the people of the earth so that together we can sustain the beauty and harmony of our planet in this new century and in the centuries to come.