What does education mean?VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=THICH CHAN TANH.AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.

In the past, his father used the word Nho, which itself contained the deep philosophy of words. The word "Giao" 教 includes the word Hieu 孝 placed next to Phở 攴 (slight impact), implying that: the nature of education is to start from the Hieu religion, then continue to influence and lead to becoming a person full of good qualities.

Therefore, Confucius once said:  "Children at home are filial to their parents, go out to honor their elders, take care of their words and keep their faith and love all people but close to the virtues; If you have done so, you will have to study literature (ie cultural subjects) ”.

Thus, filial piety is the basis of morality, also the first goal of education. How to educate filial piety for young children?

Mr. Hua Than of Dong Han wrote the book "Theory of self-explanatory writing", bringing the meaning of each word presented very openly, and using only one sentence to clear. He interpreted the word "Teacher" as:  "On the job, under the following"  (Upper examination, lowering the field). Then teach children the Hieu religion, the best way is to model parents themselves to practice the virtue of practicing the Hieu religion.

Hieu pros is the basis of morality, also the first goal of education. 

King Le Thanh Tong acted as a filial example for the Crown Prince

In the history of Vietnam, there are many filial piety that touched people's hearts, including King Le Thanh Tong. The book "Dai Viet history of the whole script" wrote:

Previously, in February, the Queen Mother came back to the tomb, unfortunately suffered from severe illness, until now Pig, February 26, the bandage in Thua Hoa's main temple, was 76 years old.

When the unbelievable Queen Mother, winter, the King and Prince Prince take care of him every day, never leave the side. When offering medicine or food, the king definitely tastes for himself first; In the call to the ancestors, in addition to pleading plead, no God is not urgent. When dying, they screamed themselves, the Queen Mother smirked a little, wanting to say goodbye. All wearing clothes and shrouds, putting rice in the mouth of the dead, the king made all himself to show his pain.

King Le Thanh Tong made a preaching in the "Disciple of Discipline", the famous children's education book of the past, that is:

"Parents are sick, taste the medicine first.

Day and night, do not leave the bed ”.

He took his body as an example for the Crown Prince, so the Prince was also extremely filial to his father. The book "Dai Viet history of the whole book" is written, when King Le Thanh Tong died, the Crown Prince enticed the courtiers that:

“I was born 3 years from my parents to hold me in my lap. Therefore, in the past, mourning parents, there was a rule of 3 years. On the word Thien Tu, below, the people follow. Han Van De did not follow the ancient spell, had a short-term mourning, took days instead of months. From then on, people follow. So, throw away the typical ceremony, look down on morality, it is not worth following. The saints of our country, although there are ceremonies, do, but the ceremonies in them are not yet restored. Now that the Holy King has left hundreds of them to adore God, I am in great pain and mercy, not being able to give it to me. The people should have a three-year funeral table to calm down and remember. "       

The great god and the mandarins all bowed and said: "Hieu is the great root of the natural rule. Now the highness is following the filial piety, the moral connection, although Emperor Thuan Thuan is a great fondness, Vu Vuong is no more than a great master, the gods do not dare to obey the execution order.

At that time, it was only 3 years.

What makes people feel touched! The Crown Prince has made the next 4 sentences in "Disciple Rules", that is:

"Funeral for three years, often miss.

Residential change, no alcohol.

Funeral ceremony, full heart.

Worship of the dead, as alive.

King Le Thanh Tong (Illustrations by artist Duc Hoa in the "Vietnam History by painting")

Hieu is the root of virtue, the source of all good

For decades, along with the elimination of Confucianism, the teachings of his father have been broken for several generations. Today, some people have not been able to explain the importance of filial piety education, especially in the context of society of money, diplomas and competition as today.

Thinking for a while, we will see that a child from a young age who has filial piety is absolutely not going to make things hurt by his parents. They may be lazy to learn to play, are you bad? Is not. Can they speak nonsense? Is not. Can they steal, alcohol, drugs ...? Is not. All the bad things are so far away, their virtue will grow every day, things that they must be able to absorb. At that time, just need parents and teachers to pay attention to fostering a little, they will be successful. Therefore, the ancients have the saying:  "In the hundred good things, the fondness is at the top"  (Bach is good, the first is a lover).

The word Hieu 孝 denotes an elderly person above, the young person below (the senior lord), is to respect the elders, starting with the parents in the family. This filial mind extends to the parents of the other people, to all the elders in the world, will become the immense mind of the saint. For example, Thuan admired his father and mother who often hated him, harmed him, touched everyone in the world, eventually gave him the throne.

"Humanity, good character", need to have faith in children

Someone said: Children are now difficult to teach. In fact, it is difficult for us to teach or not because of our adults, while children are born with a good mind.

Why did King Le Thanh Tong do  "The parents are sick, taste the medicine first; Day and night, do not leave the bed ” ? Why did King Le Hien Tong (the prince of Thanh Tong) do  "Funeral for three years, often remember", "Funeral ceremony, full heart" ? Is it because the two of you were especially filial when you were born? Not. It is because the two men received the education of the Holy Sage, including the things taught in "Disciples of Rules".

"Disciple Rules" (Child's Rule) is known as one of the three best education scriptures in Asian history (along with "Tam Tu Kinh" and "Thien tu van"). Only in 1,080 words, easy-to-understand content, fluent and easy-to-memorize rhymes, "Disciple attributed" helped them to form pure and good character, starting with the word Hieu. Believing that, if the children are now learning and practicing "Discipleship", their filial piety will become more and more progressive, family and society will thus harmonize happiness. END=NAM MO SAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THICH CHAN TANH.GOLDEN AMITABHA MONASTERY=AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.12/3/2019.