The University of California is a very well-known educational institute. The talented people who have graduated from this university are to be found all over the world. The evolution of science and the universality of literature are found here. The educational opportunities are far-reaching at this university.

However, much of current education stresses superficialities and fails to emphasize fundamentals. What does that mean? In order to have excellent education, there must be excellent educators who can act as exemplars for young people. But since I've come to this country, whenever I meet promising young people I ask them, "After you finish your [high school] education, what do you plan to study? What do you plan to do?" No matter where they are, not matter what the circumstances, when I encounter young students, they [mostly] answer me by saying, "I plan to be a doctor." Then I ask them, "Why do you want to be a doctor?" They answer, "I can make a lot of money." Some students tell me they want to be scientists for the same reason--high income and an opportunity to become well-known. That's their reasons for wanting to become scientists.

None of them said to me, "I want to be someone who genuinely benefits the entire populace." Or "I want to help govern our country well. I intend to enter government and personally act as a model. I want to volunteer my services and not accept a salary, serving as an example for others. I want to take all benefits that I might be due to receive and divert them to others." I've been looking for young people like that for more than a decade but to date I haven't found even one. There may be such promising young people around, but I am yet to meet up with one. Maybe my opportunities for meeting students have been too few. I sincerely believe that at this university there must be many such students who will make self-sacrifices for the sake of the populace; who will enter government and refuse any compensation for their services; who will be free of any greedy or selfish motives. If such people come forth to lead the country and society, then it will be as the saying goes: "With good and virtuous leaders, sages will certainly come forth. The winds of virtue of outstanding people will blow the grass of virtue of ordinary people." If people of this caliber come forth in each nation, then it will certainly be that: "One person with blessings can be a reliance for the populace." Anyone who can be like that has grasped the fundamental principle.

When people in government are not greedy or selfish or seeking personal benefit, then things will go well in that nation. Why do some nations have difficulty? The cause lies in people being selfish and seeking personal benefit. Everyone is out for himself and cares not at all about helping others. They grasp at superficialities and ignore what is fundamental. Intelligent, bright people may do that. We, who do not possess such wisdom, can, however, use a "dumber" approach and act as models for others. That may turn out to be the very best method for rectifying our country. I've been in this country for several decades and have never been involved in a presidential campaign. Then last year out of the blue I had the opportunity to join participate in a campaign gathering for Bush. At that time I said, "The leader of a nation must be of impeccable character. (liang xiu ching feng) and must love the people as he would his own children. He must not fight, not be greedy, no seek, not be selfish, not pursue personal benefits, and not lie to the people. We will recognize someone who does not fight, who is not greedy, who does not seek, who does not pursue personal benefit, and who does not lie as the person who should be elected president. In this campaign everything should be handled fairly, not through buying advertising but through receiving the genuine whole-hearted admiration of the people. It shouldn't be that you get elected because you used the most money in your campaign, or I get elected because I used the most money in mine. That is no way to select a truly virtuous and worthy individual. That is only a matter of who is the richest and those who are poor have no chance of being elected. If no one was allowed to advertise for themselves and instead people were elected on the basis of their virtue, then such an election would be the fairest for all. However, I am a monk and although this is my opinion, I think most people, regardless of their nationality, would regard my method as being a dumb one and not very practical. Regardless of its practicality, I'm still taking this opportunity to present it to all of you today.

Then again, someone who is poor may be supported by those who are rich with the understanding that when he's elected president, he will be a puppet, catering to the wishes of those who helped him. Giving in to their demands. Being controlled by those with money. If such a person is not willing to do as he's told, then he has no chance of becoming president. That is unfair.

National leaders should not consider money to be important. They should be concerned about the lives and welfare of the people. National leaders should place education first on their list. If young people can be educated so that they understand how to be people of good character who are well educated, then such people can become future leaders of our nations. Students should be taught how to serve their country, how to take care of their households, how to have self respect and protect their own lives. In that way they can obtain genuine peace and happiness. They should not be madly racing about being uptight and concerned only for their own personal advancement. They should be taught how to help their nation. Providing funds for education should be a primary consideration, so that promising young students can be educated and become pillars of society. I think that is the best way to run the country. If people are only concerned with national defense and do not do enough to keep our youth from getting into trouble, then no matter how well the country is defended, there will be no one to institute the defense, no one who is qualified to carry out nation defense. What a pity that will be! And so today I have chosen to first speak about these principles