Chapter 7 – After All the Above are Accomplished, Further Study And Learn Literature and Art to Improve Your Cultural and Spiritual Life

If you do not actively make use of what you have learned, 

But continue to study on the surface, 

Your knowledge is increasing but it is only superficial.

What kind of person will you be?

If you do apply your knowledge diligently, 

But stop studying, 

You will only do things based on your own opinion, thinking it is correct. 

In fact what you know is not the truth.

There are ways to study. 

They involve concentration in three areas: 

Your mind, your eyes, and your mouth. 

To believe in what you read is equally important.

When you begin to read a book, 

Do not think about another. 

If you have not completed the book, 

Do not start another.

Give yourself lots of time to study, 

And study hard. 

Given time and effort,(25)

You will thoroughly understand.

If you have a question, 

Make a note of it. 

Ask the person who has the knowledge

For the right answer.

Keep your room neat, 

Walls uncluttered and clean, 

Your desk tidy and 

Your brush(26) and inkstone(27) properly placed.

If your ink block(28) is ground tilted to one side,

It shows you have a poor state of mind.

When words are written carelessly, showing no respect, 

It shows your state of mind has not been well.

The books(29) should be classified, placed on the book shelves, 

And in their proper place.

After you finish reading a book, 

Put it back in its right place.

Even though you are in a hurry, 

Neatly roll up and bind the open bamboo scroll(30) you are reading. 

Any missing or damaged pages

Are to be repaired.

If it is not a book on the teachings of the saints and sages, 

It should be discarded and not even be looked at. 

These books can block your intelligence and wisdom, and 

Will undermine your aspirations and sense of direction.

Neither be harsh on yourself, 

Nor give up on yourself.

To be a person of high ideals, moral standards and virtue 

Is something we can all become in time.
___________________________________

(25) If you do not understand part of book you are reading, read it again and again, even for a thousand times. Its meaning will come to you naturally.

(26) "Brush" here means Chinese writing brush. 

(27) "Inkstone" is a stone stand used for the preparing and holding the ink used in Chinese brush calligraphy.

(28) "Ink block" is a solid ink piece. A person grinds it with water against the inkstone to make ink for writing Chinese brush calligraphy.

(29) Here "books" refer to books on laws, constitutions and the structural systems of a nation.

(30 Scroll, or juan “卷” means a bamboo scroll. It is an ancient book in the form of a scroll made of bamboo slips with knife-carved or painted Chinese characters. It was used before paper was invented.

Source Of Information:
《Standards for Being a Good Student and Child》, translated by Pure Land Learning College Translation Association, printed in August 2012, distributed by Amitabha Buddhist Society Malaysia (92, Jalan Pahang, 53300 Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
*** The information provided above does not contain personal opinion of this blog.

Chapter 6 – Be Close to and Learn from People of Virtue and Compassion

We are all human, 

But we are not the same. 

Most of us are ordinary,

Only a very few have great virtues and high moral principles.

A truly virtuous person 

Is greatly respected by others. 

He will not be afraid to speak the truth and 

He will not fawn on others.

If you are close to and learn from people of great virtue and compassion, 

You will benefit immensely. 

Your virtues will grow daily and 

Your wrongdoings will lessen day by day.

If you are not close to and learn from people of great virtue, 

You will suffer a great loss. 

People without virtue will get close to you and 

Nothing you do will succeed.

related post:  Chapter 7 – After All the Above are Accomplished, Further Study And Learn Literature and Art to Improve Your Cultural and Spiritual Life

Source Of Information:
《Standards for Being a Good Student and Child》, translated by Pure Land Learning College Translation Association, printed in August 2012, distributed by Amitabha Buddhist Society Malaysia (92, Jalan Pahang, 53300 Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
*** The information provided above does not contain personal opinion of this blog.

Chapter 5 – Love All Equally

Human beings regardless of nationality, race, or religion – 

Everyone – should be loved equally.

We are all sheltered by the same sky and

We all live on the same planet Earth.

A person of high ideals and morals 

Is highly respected. 

What people value 

Is not based on outside appearance.

A person’s outstanding ability

Will naturally honor him with a good reputation. 

Admiration from others does not come from 

Taking big or praising oneself.

If you are a very capable person, 

Use your capabilities for the benefit of others.

Other people’s competence 

Should not be slandered.

Do not flatter the rich,

Or despise the poor. 

Do not ignore old friends and

Take delight in new ones.

When a person is busy, 

Do not bother him with matters. 

When a person’s mind is not at peace, 

Do not bother him with words.

If a person has a shortcoming, 

Do not expose it. 

If a person has a secret, 

Do not tell others.

Praising the goodness of others

Is a good deed in itself.

When people approve and praise you,

You should feel encouraged and try even harder.

Spreading rumors about the wrongdoings of others,

Is a wrongdoing in itself. 

When the harm done has reached the extreme, 

Misfortunes will surely follow.

When encouraging each other to do good, 

The virtues of both are built up. 

If you do not tell others of their faults, 

You will both be wrong.

Whether you take or give, 

You need to know the difference between the two. 

It is better to give more 

And take less.

What you ask others to do, 

Ask yourself first if you will do it.

If it is not something you will do, 

Do not ask others to do it.

You must repay the kindness of others and 

Let go of your resentments. 

Spend less time holding grudges and 

More time paying back the kindness of others.

When you are directing maids and servants, 

You should be respectable and dignified.

Even though you are respectable and dignified,

Treat them kindly and generously.

If you use your influence to make them submissive, 

Their hearts will not be with you. 

If you can convince them with sound reasoning, 

They will then have nothing more to say.

related post:  Chapter 6 – Be Close to and Learn from People of Virtue and Compassion

Source Of Information:
《Standards for Being a Good Student and Child》, translated by Pure Land Learning College Translation Association, printed in August 2012, distributed by Amitabha Buddhist Society Malaysia (92, Jalan Pahang, 53300 Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
*** The information provided above does not contain personal opinion of this blog.