(Video) Selected Comments of Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet, at the inauguration of the Techo Santhepheap Dormitory and other achievements at Svay Pope Buddhist Pagoda [Unofficial Translations]

CMF: 09/05/2025

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(1) While wealth inherited can be spent away, knowledge – ability and good behavior – will stay

The development of highly capable human resources truly ensures that our country can compete successfully, in all circumstances […] This is a factor that determines the country’s ability to ensure competitiveness and economic development. Whether in the family or in society, people always pay attention to human resources in general […] People understand that only knowledge (can) be a sustainable resource. The wealth inherited from their parents can be spent away. But the wealth in themselves, which they create to build abilities and good behavior, will certainly not disappear. I saw an interview on Facebook, a boy who got first place in Prey Veng province in mathematics is from a poor family, whose parents worked so hard. His father is a tricycle driver, and his mother is a dishwasher and launderer […] This shows that the poor are not necessarily inferior to the rich, and this ability to learn also reflects the ability to compete when going out to work in the future […]

(2) Building not only human resources, but the entire human capital

Knowledge can be hard skills, such as engineering, but it must be combined with soft skills, namely ability, mindset, self-confidence, clear self-esteem […] If a person does not set a goal to study hard, s/he may not be successful. Education of behavior, morality, virtue, mindset and self-confidence are important. If parents lead all the time, it will not be possible (for the child to grow) […] After passing successfully the baccalaureate, you are considered mature and are to decide on your own about lives and destiny. You will decide whether to keep going to the university or go to learn some more skills or get to job […] A country that is very prosperous depends on the strength of each citizen. The Pentagonal Strategy – Phase-I aims to build not only human resources, but the entire human capital, referring to one with health, knowledge and skills, while knowledge refers to hard skills and soft skills. A person should have both knowledge, at least one skill and appropriate attitude […]

(3) Should the chariot of religious world and secular world not in sync, it may crash

The Buddhist world and the secular world, or the religious world and the secular world, go hand in hand in educating the people in each society. If a state, a country, is compared to a chariot, the religious or the Buddhist world and the secular world are the left and right wheels. If they do not turn in sync, the chariot will skid or not move forward or crash. Whereas Buddhism is the state religion, which is referred to as the Buddhist world, it has played active role in education, morality, behavior and virtue, plus various abilities (in the Buddhist way). The secular world can refer to state power, or various laws in society. If a country has both wheels turning together in sync, it can be successful […] A state which has a religion belong to the majority and does not guarantee the freedom of religious minorities, can be a problem, or it can impose a certain level or too much conditions on the practice (of religious minorities) […] Therefore, state laws are needed to ensure balance and equilibrium, including protecting the rights of religious minorities to ensure harmony […]

(4) Between religion and science, there is no conflict of understanding on the development of a country

In Cambodia, Buddhism is more than 90%, but the state law guarantees other religions the same right. If the religion disappears, the secular empire uses the law, which is like in the Pol Pot era. They eliminated all morality, virtue, as they use only the state power to conquer it all. The virtues and ethics of people in other religions are eliminated. This is why it is important to ensure that both wheels move together. After 1979, the Government opened up freedom and protected the rights of all religions. Some have expressed the view that “religion has a conservative nature, and it does not make the country progress” […] In this world, some countries have even Atheists […] who believe in themselves and science. That is their right. According to observations, between religion and science, there is no conflict of understanding on the development (of a country) […] Any religion, like any other religion, teaches about morality, virtue, living in harmony, serving emotional and mental needs […]

(5) Religious scriptures written thousands of years ago to govern human relationships are still valid

The training of both the Buddhist world and the secular world is intertwined and happening in three environments – first, at home, second, at school, and third, in society […] From childhood, I went to the temple with my parents, worshiped the Buddha, and then went out to play. If you ask me, where did I receive religious education on how to live this life, I would say I have learnt it from my grandmother, from my mother, from my father […] They practiced it since childhood about not lying to others, not stealing from others, and not using violence. All of this helps to direct and influence, whether directly or indirectly, in education […] No matter how much we have the scientific and technological advances […] human social problems will remain the same […] All the scriptures written thousands of years ago to govern human relationships are still valid today. This means that the problems of human relationships, psychology, emotions, and human behavior have not changed, but only science and technology have […]

(6) People and monks used social media to share good experiences, spread good news, and educate people

Some people, wanting to get more likes and views on Facebook, dare to do things that affect moral values, culture, and the value of being a Khmer woman […] Although some use social media to curse each other, do bad things, make jokes, and look down on each other in political matters, such actions do not represent the entire population. I am still optimistic. The fact that a small number of them use the method of creating hot topics to get likes and views, I am not sure if the “believe those things?” […] There are still positive points in society. Many people, including monks, have used Facebook to share good experiences, spread good news, and educate people […]

(7) Society accepts improvement means that millions of people uphold the social and family values ​on morals and virtues as Cambodians

Let’s work together to reduce negativity in society by – 1. sending out many positive messages to cover up negative things; 2. adopting moral and virtuous behavior so that those who are negative will become less so […] If our citizens take this stance, when someone does something wrong, people will send out messages to advise it and/or correct it […] It is good that most of our citizens/society help each other to improve those who go wrong. This is the value. The fact that our society (accept) improvement means that millions of other people (still) uphold the values ​​that (our society) has educated them, and their families educated them, about morals and virtues as the Cambodians. The Royal Government must pay attention to further promoting this factor […]

(8) Narrow down negative points and expand members to do good deeds regularly

A small number of young people have been forming gangster-like activities […] They must be responsible for their actions. However, there are many young people who work together to do social work, help each other learn to be good students/citizens. So, we narrow down the negative points, especially among young people, and expand the number of members who do good deeds and do them regularly […] We move forward together so that our country can move positively. If (there are) people who are discouraged, the country cannot move forward. It cannot succeed […]

(9) While science is advancing, faith in religion is becoming stronger, and psychological education is inseparable

Education and training in this university (Preah Sihamoniraja Buddhist University – PSBU), as well as in all educational institutions, from kindergarten to higher education, should pay attention to instilling, equipping, and constantly admonishing about moral education, virtue, and behavior […] While science is becoming more modern, faith in religion is also becoming stronger, and psychological education is becoming inseparable […] The more a country develops, the religion plays an important role in psychological (education) because when it is not yet developed, each person is less stressed. When a country develops faster, each person’s life becomes more stressful […]

(10) “Keep learning till graduation and to acquire knowledge or skill”

The effort to develop the people’s ability is important, both for the venerable as well as for student here (in the Preah Sihamoniraja Buddhist University). I have two words for you to remember by – “Learn till you graduate, and learn to acquire knowledge” […] Learning to till you graduate means you keep going and do not give up. Many people do not have the opportunity to sit (and learn like you are now) […] due to living conditions, etc. […] Second, by learning to acquire knowledge from, means if you spend 4 years of your life – or more than 1000 days […] you must know a hard skill, a true skill […] We cannot ask for time to come back […] The present education is to build an educational center in the Buddhist world, connected to the secular world. It is a great achievement […] The people educated here will grow even more […] If they have real knowledge, virtue, morality, and behavior, they can become leaders and create various achievements for Cambodian society in the future […]./.