生命教育的定義簡單來講就是「培養並保持健全的身心靈的教育」。在今天的社會環境下，它顯得更為重要。貝多芬在他的九大交響曲中，展現了他在歷經痛苦煎熬後對生命的種種體悟，也因此為交響曲這種曲式注入了全新的內涵，影響了後世的大作曲家。整個九首交響曲涵蓋了貝多芬對人生的各種想法，包括對革命英雄的讚嘆與自況、命運的挑戰與人的掙扎乃至勝利、對大自然的體察與置身其中的情感、體悟人生而得的狂喜、面對橫逆的幽默與嘲諷、以及與全世界和解、融合之後的歡樂頌歌。這種充滿生命內涵的音樂創作恰似音樂巨人對世人所作的生命教育開示。其創意固是前無古人，其內涵之深亦是後無來者。

Life education is one of the most important issues when it comes to education, especially in the modern society. It can be given a simple definition as ‘education that cultivates and maintains the healthiness of the body, the mind and the soul.’In his nine symphonies, Beethoven demonstrated his reflection of life after tremendous suffering. Therefore, the messages hidden in these symphonies become a significant subject in life education. Beethoven revealed all kinds of extra-musical thoughts in the symphonies, such as admiration for a true hero, the severe challenges of fate and the struggling and final triumph of man, and the positive feelings one gets from the countryside. These messages can be treated as the great composer’s inspiring teaching in life education.