The Avatamsaka Sutra said, “If people wish to understand all  Buddhas of the Three Periods, they should contemplate the nature  of the Dharma realm and know that all are created by the mind.” In the Buddha’s time, people did not have much knowledge, so how did they create things? Today, creative advances are more plausible,  given the technology of our age. Education brings hope, and with a sincere mind, we can seize our karmic conditions. When everyone makes vows, these vows give rise to strength. 

Why does Tzu Chi have the Four Missions and Eight Dharma Footprints?  Within the vast universe and Dharma realms, there are countless worlds.  Looking at a map of Earth, we can see Tzu Chi’s presence and logo distributed across many places. This shows that everyone possesses an inherently compassionate nature and the capacity for kindness in their hearts. 

“Loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity” is the motto of  Tzu Chi Schools, visible to all who enter and exit. “Great unconditional loving-kindness” means helping anyone in need, not only those with whom we share karmic affinities. Wherever there is need or hardship,  wherever we can hear or see suffering, wherever karmic conditions allow us to connect, we aspire to relieve suffering and bring joy. 

I often talk about how “the heart encompasses the universe and the  boundless worlds within it.” I truly feel that everything—whether audible or silent, tangible or intangible—contains rich worlds within.  Even our spirits and consciousnesses have their own worlds. 

Years ago, someone brought an intelligent robot named A Xin to  Taichung. When I simply said, “A Xin, come!” it came by itself from a distant corner. When I said, “Recite a Jing Si Aphorism,” it would recite one that had been programmed into it. However, when I asked for an aphorism that had not been added to its system, it would stare at me,  blink, and say, “Let me think about it,” before returning to its original position without further response. The robot was obedient and would answer questions, but it required data to be installed—it needed to be educated. 

In this era, while many advocate for children’s welfare, few care for elderly people who are lonely and without support. I had the thought of bringing A Xin to the homes of lonely elderly people, giving them someone to converse with. When they say “A Xin, I want tea,” it would serve them. In this age of advanced technology, this is not impossible— all things are created by the mind. 

The Buddha Dharma also includes a consciousness-only theory, teaching that human consciousness can create all things and determination can accomplish all things. The Buddha Dharma is rich, encompassing science, psychology, physiology, and physics—covering a broad spectrum. Today’s education and technology should guide people back  to the understanding that “all things are created by the mind.” 

I examine myself daily to assess the value of my life. Recently, I  have often said, “I give myself a thumbs up.” In this lifetime, I have established Tzu Chi in the world. Tzu Chi volunteers go into the world to serve people. At one time, across many schools throughout Taiwan,  we had teachers from the Tzu Chi Teachers’ Association who were exemplars in education, gathering educators’ passion across Taiwan,  from universities and graduate schools to kindergartens. 

If Tzu Chi’s education mission continues, it will be not for recognition but to perpetuate our spirit and ideals of contributing to humanity. True blessings come from bringing peace to the world. How do we create blessings for humanity? It all begins with a single thought—seeking to attain Buddhahood. 

Recently during my talks, I have been displaying two characters on  the screen—“learning” and “awakening.” The path between the two is called the Bodhisattva Path. Bodhisattvas are awakened sentient beings, and we must teach people to cultivate sincere compassion through personal practice. With each step, we create blessings for the world while advancing in wisdom. 

How can we use education to guide everyone from “learning” to  “awakening”? The essence of this journey is wisdom. Tzu Chi’s education teaches students to develop true wisdom to benefit humanity. The sea of learning is vast, but with shared vows, we sail together on this course, moving in the same direction. 

As we pursue the spirit of education, a small deviation can lead us far astray. If everyone moves in different directions, that is just like a carriage being pulled apart by horses going in different directions.  That would be very dangerous! Intellectuals must become wise people;  wisdom is ultimate sincerity without discursive thoughts, pure and undefiled. Once tainted by discursive thoughts, what we learn will be mere knowledge, and knowing and understanding something does not equate to wisdom. 

Education safeguards our wisdom life; it is the Project Hope of life. The growth of wisdom life needs to be reinforced through education, and eastern Taiwan cannot do without Tzu Chi’s educational system. From elementary through middle school to university, including master’s and doctoral programs, we strive to maintain educational quality.  Many people have moved to eastern Taiwan for education, adding talented individuals to our missions. It is only through people that we can accomplish tangible work and bring blessings to humanity. 

The Buddha Dharma often speaks of crossing from this shore to the other shore—guiding sentient beings from the shore of delusion to the shore of awakening and wisdom. This is education. Like a great ship ferrying those who are lost to a place of “learning and awakening,” this is my goal in supporting education and the spirit of Tzu Chi’s education programs.