Bridging the Ages: Ancient Wisdom and Modern Education

Confucius, the ancient sage who resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, shares his profound insights on the intersection of tradition and modernity. In this fourth instalment of the interview series, recorded on April 8, 2025, by Venerable HaiZe, Confucius reflects on how the core values of ethics, filial piety, and education can be preserved and adapted to guide modern society toward spiritual clarity.

Confucius speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Today, through the guidance of Practitioner Su, I wish to continue our discussion. I have asked Namo Amituofo to provide a theme, and He has chosen 'The Ancient and the Modern.' How wonderful! This is truly an excellent topic. I represent the ancients, yet I am transmitting this message into a society driven by modern technology. This allows us to bridge the gap between the past and the present, helping everyone understand what is truly worth preserving.

The Balance Between Tradition and Innovation

When we speak of 'the ancient,' modern people often perceive it as rigid, outdated, or lacking in colour. Yet, there is profound meaning embedded within it. Modern society seeks innovation, technology, and constant novelty; if one merely maintains the status quo, it is often viewed as a lack of progress. The best approach is to find the middle ground. Good traditions must be preserved. If certain methods no longer fit the pace of modern life or are no longer widely accepted, we can consider how to innovate and adapt them—but we must never discard them entirely. The methods may be adjusted, but the spirit must remain.

Today, the discourse provided by Namo Amituofo is exceptional. I believe it should be included in this interview so that everyone may have the opportunity to encounter the Buddha’s words and realise their preciousness. It is not easy to come by! I am deeply honoured to have the Buddha’s words included in this interview. I humbly requested Namo Amituofo’s compassion to allow His discourse to be part of this record, and the Buddha said, 'You may.' Shall I recite it now for those present to hear? The Buddha said, 'You may.'"

The Discourse of Namo Amituofo

"Namo Amituofo’s discourse:

In the long river of history, through the changing of all things,
How many winds, frosts, and rains have passed—too many to count.
Visiting Confucius once more, we speak of the ancient and the modern.
To help those of today understand that though the times differ,
The rites must not be abandoned, for they are the foundation of mutual respect.
When the rites are preserved, the nation shall endure."

"I am deeply grateful for Namo Amituofo’s compassionate discourse; these words are incredibly precious. Those who can hear them will surely perceive the Wisdom of Namo Amituofo.

The Misconception of Ancient Rites

Many people believe that 'ancient rites' represent superstition or rigidity. In reality, the spirit can be preserved while the methods are adjusted. If people treat one another with courtesy, relationships can be maintained for a long time. For instance, Confucian temples still exist in the world today. They were built to commemorate me because I left behind a direction for the heart and a guide for conduct for future generations, which is why I am called the 'Supreme Sage and Foremost Teacher.' Even today, one can see statues of me in schools or in books, signifying that people identify with my philosophy of 'education without discrimination.' That my education still flows through the world and is utilised by the educational sector is a positive phenomenon—it must not be abandoned!

The Foundation of Filial Piety

Education 'without discrimination' means that regardless of one’s background, status, or wealth, everyone can receive the nourishment of education to cultivate a sound personality. This is my view on equality. In ancient times, not everyone could receive an education, yet why was the nation stable? Because it was passed down through generations. From a young age, most elders passed on the etiquette they knew to their descendants, especially through personal example and verbal instruction. 'Of all virtues, filial piety is the first.' Filial piety has always been the foundation of China’s nationhood; it must not be abandoned! Its decline is not just a matter of explicit policy, but a natural, creeping weakness in current society.

What is filial piety? The definition is vast. In the past, following the hearts of one’s parents and listening to their wishes was called filial piety. But in today’s society, if the parents’ own conduct and words are flawed or biased, then continuing to obey them blindly may lead to harm. In truth, the parents themselves are the greatest victims. In terms of the laws of karma and cause and effect, if one creates negative karma through one’s own speech and conduct, one must bear the consequences. If this behaviour affects others, the severity of the retribution depends on the extent of the influence. If it only affects oneself, one bears it alone; if it affects one’s children, one must also bear that, because the words and actions cause harm to the children’s learning.

The Responsibility of Educators

If those in positions of authority or teachers act with bias or selfishness, and students accept it all without question, not only is the students’ learning and character development affected, but the teacher also incurs verbal karma and must bear the karmic consequences. There are many teachers who silently perform good deeds and teach without needing external glory. Everything is mind-only; they teach earnestly because they believe in having a positive influence on their students. Some even set aside their own families and children to focus entirely on education, hoping their students will grow. Such teachers are truly respectable and admirable.

In ancient times, teachers were highly valued. Their conduct was respected and emulated by parents and the public alike. Students would perform the kneeling kowtow to thank the teacher for their guidance. Today, parents have their own opinions and feelings; respect for teachers has diminished, and they express it directly, believing that if a teacher’s conduct is biased, they should be punished. However, if a teacher’s conduct is upright and they can inspire the students’ goodness, compassion, wisdom, and mind-capacity, how precious that is! Such teachers should be respected, for they are teaching character and ethics, which are the core of education. Therefore, the spirit of education must remain, even if the methods are adjusted.

The Crisis of External Validation

The problem today is that children mostly focus on their own performance, believing that if they perform well, they should receive affirmation from their teachers to validate themselves. Such children are in a dangerous situation. Once that external affirmation is removed, the child seems to have nothing left. They cannot see their own merits or goodness, and they negate themselves, falling into the abyss. Lucky children might meet a wise teacher who can pull them back onto the right track. Others, lacking such blessings, fall into decline.

This is a crisis caused by seeking validation externally, a phenomenon common in the educational sector. It is because children lack self-identity and self-affirmation, relying instead on external recognition to validate their existence. One of the main reasons for this is that children have too few opportunities to interact with nature. The vitality of nature is everywhere—in the growth of plants, trees, and animals, or in witnessing the processes of aging, sickness, and death. These allow them to understand the laws of karma and cause and effect within nature, and to realise that although flowers and grass are fragile, they still stand tall in the wind and are not blown over. This is the building of an internal personality and spirit, accumulated bit by bit through life. This part can never be replaced by external technological products.

The Long Road of Education

Education is a long road. Technological products may provide immediate results, but without the life of human goodness, they cannot communicate with people on a spiritual level, nor can they lead to positive interactions that foster spiritual growth or elevation. Whether in childhood or later development, education is vital. In ancient times, the imperial examination system was used as a selection method. While examination systems still exist today, the direction has changed significantly. Regardless, the educational sector considers this a widely accepted method, yet it neglects the education of ethics and etiquette, lacking the inspiration of a kind heart and the growth that comes from contact with nature. Why do I mention this? Because I see that this problem prevents children from accessing deep insights into life.

Filial piety is the foundation of China’s nationhood since ancient times, but today’s children lack this cultivation. Most children only focus on their studies, growing up in competition with others, only to earn more money when they grow up, and when they reach the end of their lives through aging, sickness, and death, they continue to drift in the cycle of reincarnated life without a chance to escape. But the truth is that people can live a life free from aging, free from illness, and where the spirit does not die, eventually achieving rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Eternal Spirit

The physical body has a lifespan; although it dies, the spirit does not die. The spirit is without beginning or end. Whether one is filial while alive serves as a guide for where the spirit goes afterward. Those who are filial are not influenced by the negative aspects of modern society, and they can receive good fruit. Filial piety is a very important good cause that will yield good fruit.

Therefore, I first bring up the two words 'filial piety,' hoping that school education can be strengthened in this regard, teaching respect for parents. Modern parents are often too respectful of their children; while children have their own independent thoughts and personalities, if they are biased, they must be corrected in time. If parents are too busy to pay attention to this, and the children develop differences that are not adjusted, the karma the children create increases, and it is the children who suffer! If a child suffers, the parents are responsible; if a child does wrong, the parents are also responsible. This is even more true for younger children, as they are mostly dependent on their parents.

Learning independence is important. Independence means that one’s daily life—clothing, food, housing, and transportation—should not be entirely handed over to parents. Children must also take part of the responsibility, but this must be taught. If there is no education, and parents do everything for them, what kind of children will be raised? One can imagine: selfish, self-centred, and protective of only 'me.' Therefore, from a young age, teach children to be respectful and polite, to greet elders, to let elders go first, to smile when meeting others, and not to show a hostile face. These basic etiquettes need to be taught as they grow.

The Importance of Early Childhood Education

Children have simple hearts and minds; they easily absorb what parents or educators teach, and they are not easily changed by external influences. When they grow up, they have their own views and opinions, making it harder to teach them, and negative behaviours may arise, affecting the parent-child relationship. Therefore, early childhood education is crucial. Give children kind, positive guidance, rather than negative sounds and sights, which will affect their young minds and influence their future behaviour and mental notes. Character education is vital. Etiquette, in modern terms, is politeness—reciprocity, respecting others, and maintaining warmth in interactions. Even between husband and wife, parents and children, and elders and juniors, there should be mutual respect. These must be passed down from generation to generation, and given from a young age.

Today, technological products are almost within everyone’s reach. If the information on a mobile phone is positive, kind, and purifying, then one can use it with peace of mind. If it contains evil, uncontrollable, negative, or sensual information, it will indeed affect the body, mind, and spirit. Especially since children cannot distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong, the impact is profound. Although it may not be visible immediately, in the future, the tendency to think, act, see, and speak in negative ways will naturally occur. This is cultivated bit by bit from a young age. Therefore, education in goodness, purification, and etiquette must be given early. It is a great pity that ethics education seems to have been abolished in schools. In fact, the spirit of ethics and etiquette does not change; only the methods can change. Starting from school education is the fastest way, and the influence of the family is profound, even if parents’ methods differ. At the same time, the training of teachers is also crucial. Everything is interconnected.

The Inevitability of Cause and Effect

If anyone has the opportunity to hear my words, they can start adjusting and improving from this moment. It is never too late to start; the only fear is not starting at all. If one has never been guided by a teacher and continues to think, act, and speak in biased ways, the karmic retribution will be extremely painful. The laws of karma and cause and effect do not show favouritism. If the retribution for this lifetime does not manifest now, when the conditions mature in the next life, one will still have to suffer the evil consequences. Ancient education placed great importance on the education of cause and effect, so people would restrain themselves rather than doing whatever they pleased. This protected people from creating karma and suffering the evil consequences, preventing obstacles to the growth of their body, mind, and spirit.

From Buddhist education, we learn that the Dharma is the ultimate 'high technology,' and that every thought and intention will manifest karmic retribution. The pulling of karma often affects the whole body with the movement of a single hair.

A Long-Term Vision for Education

There are many differences between the ancient and the modern. After two thousand years of transformation, some things have been eliminated or changed, some have vanished, and some still show traces. However, some need to be revived and revitalised. Education must have a long-term vision; it is often not something that can show immediate results overnight, but it has a profound impact on the future. Therefore, education cannot be short-sighted, which is something teachers must understand. Once one looks only for immediate results, it often causes children to suffer pain and injury due to comparison, jealousy, and the obsession with gain and loss. If one can take a long-term view, teachers can distinguish a child’s aptitude, behaviour, and inner character and affirm them accordingly—that is correct. Compassionate and kind speech and conduct flow naturally from one’s words and actions, not from deliberate display; this is when positive guidance and affirmation from educators are needed. If they are negated instead, it is a pity, as the child’s kind nature is covered up. Thus, the teacher’s education is important.

Buddhist education places great importance on the laws of karma and cause and effect, and Confucianism is the same. Therefore, the two can be integrated. I believe this will be helpful for the educational sector and for the direction of the nation’s progress.

Today, this is all I have to say.

Namo Amituofo."