Buddhist teachings are profound and intricate, with layers of profound meaning that are difficult to fully grasp. To express our educational philosophy, our institute has chosen the four principles of Compassion, Wisdom, Diligence, and Generosity as our motto. These principles serve to encourage our students to understand and adhere to these guidelines.

Compassion is the foundation of Buddhism: When the Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, he founded Buddhism out of compassion for those lost in delusion. All actions in Buddhism stem from this one thought of compassion. Without compassion, it is not Buddhism. The serene face of the Bodhisattva and the wrathful expression of Vajra both stem from compassion. Although the methods may differ, the intention to save others remains unchanged.

The Avatamsaka Sutra states: 'Forgetting the Bodhi mind and practicing virtuous deeds leads to demonic deeds.' This Bodhi mind is great compassion. Therefore, those who practice Buddhism must maintain compassion, or they lose their essence. Though Buddhism involves discerning right from wrong and does not shy away from debates and criticisms, these are all done out of compassion, not anger. Unlike worldly laws driven by anger and conflict, Buddhist debates do not lead to violence. Throughout Buddhist history, there have been no bloody battles, as compassion underpins peace.

Buddhism advocates for compassion, equality, and universal love for all beings, without distinguishing between friend or foe. This principle surpasses even Confucianism's teachings of benevolence and love for people and things. It stems from boundless compassion and great empathy, upheld by the precept of non-killing. Even the benevolence of Confucianism cannot compare. In today's world, plagued by constant wars and widespread suffering, the only way to achieve true peace and happiness is by promoting the Buddhist precepts of non-killing, compassion, and peace.

As practitioners of Buddhism, we must pay close attention to and understand these principles. Therefore, we take them as our guiding motto. The interpretation of compassion is 'compassion brings joy, and empathy alleviates suffering.' By viewing all beings with compassion, we naturally possess great empathy. The essence of compassion is harmonious and joyful, while empathy can sometimes be mistaken for sorrow or passivity. Therefore, we adopt compassion as our guiding principle, encompassing the meaning of empathy.

Wisdom is the essence of Buddhist teachings: The Buddha's enlightenment is rooted in wisdom, and the entire Tripitaka and twelve divisions of the Buddhist teachings are expressions of wisdom. Just as there is no Buddhism without compassion, there is also no Buddhism without wisdom, which is like a body without a soul. The Buddha is revered as the 'Great Enlightened Wise One,' and Buddhism is truly a crystallization of great wisdom. No other teaching can illuminate the confusion of life or dispel superstition as effectively as Buddhism. Buddhist wisdom arises from the internal cultivation of precepts and concentration, leading to limitless knowledge, unlike secular knowledge, which is externally acquired and limited.

Secular knowledge, being a mix of good and bad, can benefit or harm people depending on its use. In contrast, Buddhist wisdom, cultivated through spiritual practice, transforms deluded consciousness into true wisdom, pure and undefiled, and leads one to the right path with countless benefits and no harm.

The terms 'intelligence' (智) and 'wisdom' (慧) seem similar yet differ. Together, they are the same, but separately, they differ. Intelligence has the function of discerning principles, while wisdom has the ability to understand them. Intelligence decides matters, while wisdom selects the right methods. Knowing worldly truths is the work of intelligence, while realizing ultimate truth is the insight of wisdom. Clarity in understanding phenomena is intelligence; realization of true emptiness is wisdom. Thus, the Vimalakirti Sutra says: 'Understanding the thoughts of sentient beings and speaking appropriately arises from intelligence; not grasping or rejecting, entering the door of non-duality, arises from wisdom.' Entering the door of non-duality is the supreme wisdom of prajna, the highest realization in Buddhism.

The goal of Buddhist practice is to attain this wisdom, and hence wisdom is taken as our guiding principle, which also encompasses intelligence. Additionally, wisdom's function is to discern right from wrong and differentiate between good and evil. Clear discernment of right and wrong leads to the distinction between true and false, and knowing good from evil leads to true understanding. The Surangama Sutra says: 'If the ground of practice is not true, the results will be distorted.' Therefore, wisdom is the key to understanding life's path and the foundation of learning, incorporating ordinary school mottos like 'clarity' and 'discernment'.

Diligence is key to success in Buddhist practice: Diligence, also known as perseverance, includes bravery and fearlessness. To be diligent means to focus without distraction, to progress without retreating, and to be single-minded. According to the Teachings of the Buddha, 'Focusing the mind in one place, there is nothing that cannot be accomplished.' This is achieved through diligence. In practicing the Bodhisattva path, such as giving, maintaining precepts, and enduring patience, the six perfections are realized through diligent study and hard work.

Confucianism emphasizes 'achieving excellence through diligence,' but Buddhism takes it even further. During the learning period, especially the six perfections, young people must pay special attention to diligence. Only through diligence can one endure hardships, strive for self-improvement, and succeed in learning. Otherwise, laziness and procrastination will result in wasted time and no achievements.

In the past, the Buddha observed lazy students at Jetavana and told Ananda: 'Laziness is the burden of all practices. At home, laziness leads to a lack of food and clothing; for monks, laziness hinders progress in spiritual practice and makes it difficult to overcome the suffering of birth and death.' The Bodhisattvas practice the six perfections and purify the land through diligence (as seen in the Sutra on the Bodhisattva's Practices). Thus, our institute encourages students to take diligence as their motto.

Moreover, diligence can compensate for lack of talent. There is an ancient saying, 'Diligence can make up for inadequacy.' Many seemingly untalented Buddhist disciples have achieved success through diligence. Examples include Aniruddha's laziness, Rahula's negligence, and Chudapanthaka's foolishness. The Buddha encouraged them to be diligent, and they all succeeded. Diligence fosters determination, which is essential for establishing a career. Developing determination during the learning period and cultivating a spirit of actively saving the world aligns with the essence of the diligence motto.

Selflessness is the key to Buddhism’s mission of benefiting the world: Buddhism is founded on compassion and driven by convenience. Based on the core principle of compassion, it undertakes various endeavors to awaken people and promote social welfare. Selflessness, or giving, is central to the six perfections of giving, morality, patience, vigor, meditation, and wisdom. Giving is the first and most important of these, highlighting the spirit of Buddhism, which values active involvement over passive acceptance. As the Surangama Sutra states, 'Before one liberates oneself, one first liberates others. This is the Bodhisattva's vow.

Giving is categorized into three types: providing material aid to the poor is called financial giving; imparting the wisdom of Buddhism is called Dharma giving; and helping others overcome fear through strength is called fearless giving. Bodhisattvas practice giving with a heart free from attachment, without seeking personal gain or reward, but simply fulfilling their duty. They give equally to friends and foes, striving to universally help all beings, thus embodying the spirit of great selflessness and establishing a vast enterprise of giving.

Human nature tends to be selfish, so Buddhism emphasizes the perfection of giving to counteract greed. It involves not only letting go of material possessions but also detaching from mental attachments. This is encapsulated in the concepts of 'seeing through' and 'letting go.' Seeing through leads to not being attached to material wealth, and letting go means releasing mental attachments. In the past, a Brahmin offered flowers to the Buddha, who instructed him to 'let go.' The Brahmin let go of the flowers in his left hand, then the right, but when told to let go a third time, he was confused since his hands were empty. He didn't realize that while he had let go of the physical flowers, he still clung to mental attachments, a significant obstacle in life.

Therefore, selflessness is taken as a guiding principle. Students should not only give up material possessions but also abandon mental attachments and egoism. This fosters a learning environment where they can collaborate and improve together without barriers.

The Mahavairocana Sutra says that Buddhism is based on the Bodhi mind, rooted in great compassion, and ultimately manifests in convenience. Bodhi corresponds to wisdom, compassion to love, convenience to giving, and diligence permeates both the foundational and convenient aspects. The foundational self-cultivation and the altruistic endeavors rely on diligence to be completed. Hence, our institute adopts compassion, wisdom, diligence, and selflessness as our guiding principles, which is most appropriate.