html On the morning of July 5, Fujian Buddhist College the 2022 graduation ceremony for monks was held at Chongfu Temple, Xiangfeng, Fuzhou, the Women’s Department of the Buddhist College. Nearly 200 monks graduated.
Graduation Ceremony Scene (Photo Source: Phoenix.com Buddhist Photography: Wang Fengtao)
Graduation Ceremony Scene (Photo Source: Phoenix.com Buddhist Photography: Wang Fengtao)
At the graduation ceremony, the great monk Ben Xing represented Fujian Buddhist Association and Fujian Buddhist College. A graduate monk gave a lecture on "Accepting the Past, Living in the Present, and Creating the Future." The great monk Benxing gave the following teachings:
The executive vice president of the Fujian Buddhist Association, the president of Fujian Buddhist College, and the abbot of Guanghua Temple in Putian. The great monk Benxing gave a teaching to the graduating monks of 2022.
Dear all present, including the graduating class classmates Everyone:
It is the graduation season of another year. There are so many outstanding monks graduating from Fujian Buddhist University. As the dean, I am very happy and reluctant to leave. This also reminded me of my previous study experience in a Buddhist academy. Just like the monks graduating today, I have also graduated three times. The first time was at Qixiashan Buddhist College in Nanjing, the second time at China Buddhist College in Beijing, and the third time at the Graduate School of Kelaniya University in Colombo. No matter which time I graduate, I have mixed feelings. I feel that it is the pain of growing up; the confusion of choice; the joy of dreaming. I believe that most of you will be like me back then.
Just now, I listened to the report of the academic deans of the male and female departments of the college on the study and graduation status of the monks, and listened to the speeches of the representatives of the graduating monks of the male and female departments. I felt that our student monks - through several years of study and training, you The body, mind, and spirit have all been tempered; improved; and grown. During this period, I believe that you have also experienced difficulties, setbacks, disappointments, and even sadness. But under the blessing of the Three Treasures, you will feel more joy, gratitude, harvest, and happiness. I remember that there was a Bodhi tree in Guanghua Temple, Putian. On one side was a house and on the other side was an open space. On the other side of the open space, there were lush branches and leaves. It can be seen that life and vitality are always directed towards the sun, rain, dew, and air.
Therefore, no matter what feelings and emotions you had in the past, they are all growing pains, your precious experiences, and they have passed. Today, we must accept him calmly, let go of him, travel lightly, and move towards a new journey.
There is no banquet that never ends, and there is no course that never graduates. Today, you graduate, which means you have to make a choice. Continuing further studies? Or go to another position? No matter what, it is a challenge and there is an unfamiliar road ahead. So, what to do? Most monks are a little confused, and I was there too. But it doesn't matter, there must be a road before the car reaches the mountain; the water will naturally flow straight to the bridge; all roads lead to Rome.
I believe that with the quality of monks studying at Fujian Buddhist College and the beauty of this era, everyone will have many good choices. Of course, we are still in the midst of an epidemic and the situation is special. Hidden dragons are in the fields and flying dragons are in the sky. As the dean, I certainly hope that most of our student monks can stay in school, continue their studies, or serve in the school, or in the monastery where the school is located. As we all know, before the Minjiang enters the sea, it branches into the Minjiang River, Wulongjiang, and Majiang . However, no matter how they branch, they will eventually end up in the sea. In other words, as long as we are committed to the great cause of Buddhism, whatever choice you make is the best choice. So, now, although you are faced with a choice, I think you still have to live in the present and live in the present. You can absolutely live in the present and live in the present.
People have to have dreams, and so do monks. Dreams mean passion, and having dreams means perseverance. Master Faxian is over 60 years old and still traveling south. Master Xuanzang Even if he crosses the border illegally, he still wants to go west. Although Master Jianzhen was blind, he still insisted on traveling eastward because they all had dreams. Just now, I saw our apprentice monks. You are so young and energetic, with transcendent qualities, full of the sense of the times, and full of sunshine.Therefore, it is full of hope and future. As we all know, this era is inherently a great stage. Just like the cause of Sinicizing Buddhism, it is enough for everyone to flex their muscles and make great achievements. You should not miss the extraordinary opportunities of this era. As the dean, I hope you will forge ahead bravely and create the future.
Of course, I want to emphasize that this future does not necessarily mean that you will be the president, the abbot, the eminent monk, or the patriarch. But I want you to be in the valley, among the mountain flowers, free from prosperity and decline, indifferent and clear-minded; or on the top of the mountain, among the flowing clouds, like eagles striking the sky, through wind and rain, but you can still maintain your monastic integrity and devote yourself to Buddhism. Representation of the Dharma.
Just now, what I said above, in summary, is that we must accept the past, live in the present, and create the future, especially the newly graduated monks.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, today, as many fates have gathered together, I would also like to take this opportunity to represent the Fujian Buddhist Association, the Fujian Buddhist College, and myself to express my deepest congratulations to the graduating monks; to the college authorities and sponsors I am deeply grateful for the strong support of the party and government leaders in the area where the college is located; I am deeply grateful for the hard work of the college’s masters and teachers; I am deeply grateful for the generous contributions of the permanent residents of Guanghua Temple and Chongfu Temple; and to the vast number of disciples of the four groups. Thank you very much for your selfless support.
Representatives of the graduating monk class took a group photo with Monk Benxing, the dean of Fujian Buddhist College (Photo source: Phoenix Buddhism Photography: Wang Fengtao)
