“Education is the foundation for being a person. It is the foundation for the world; and it is the true national defense. If you do not do a good job in education, national defense will fail as well.”
– Venerable Master Hsuan Hua

The Venerable Master Hsuan Hua, Founder of the Instilling Goodness and Developing Virtue Schools, came to America to spread Buddhism in the West. He made a vow to save the world through education. As he once said, “Let me tell you, although I am a left-home person, education has been my lifelong ambition. If any of you have faith in me, you should also devote yourself to education.” His passion for teaching began at the age of eighteen when he set up volunteer schools and personally taught over thirty students. Before entering monastic life, he had already established a school in his home to teach impoverished children in his community at no cost.

Continuing to fulfill this vow, the Master founded Instilling Goodness Elementary School in 1976, followed by Developing Virtue Secondary School in 1981, the first Buddhist high school in the nation. His goal was to inspire children to cultivate goodness and to encourage transformation and virtue in young people.