Balancing the Relationship between Cultivating and Studying
擺正修煉與學習的關係
Sydney little dizi: Zhenghong Jiang
悉尼大法小弟子：蔣鎮鴻
尊敬的師父好！
各位同修大家好！
Greetings esteemed Master!
Greetings fellow practitioners.
我叫蔣鎮鴻，今年十一歲，我有幸出生在一個大法弟子的家庭裡。“我是從天上下來的，我下來是為了讀法。” 這是我在2017年為美國法會寫的交流稿的第一句話。我從三歲起就能背誦《洪吟》，在五歲生日前我讀完了第一遍《轉法輪》，感謝父母和爺爺奶奶的幫助與支持。從我出生到現在，我從來沒有吃過藥和打過針，在師父的慈悲呵護下健康成長。我曾在2017年和2018年有幸去美國參加法會見到師父，參加過紐約和華盛頓的遊行。雖然，我沒有機會去中國大陸，但是我參加過兩次香港遊行。在我學小提琴之前我經常參加各種講真相活動。
My name is Dante. This year, I am eleven. I was very privileged to be born into a family of Dafa practitioners. I wrote an experience sharing for the 2017 Fa conference in the US and the first line I wrote was: “I came from heaven, I came to study the Fa”. From the age of 3, I could recite Hong Yin. Before my fifth birthday, I had finished reading Zhuan Falun for the first time. I want to thank my parents and grandparents for their help and support. Ever since I was born, I have never taken medicine, and have grown up healthy under Master’s compassion and care. I have had the privilege of seeing Master when attending the 2017 and 2018 Fa conferences in America. I have also participated in parades in New York, and Washington D.C. Although I have never had the opportunity to visit mainland China, I have attended a few Hong Kong parades. I also participated in many kinds of events clarifying the truth before I started learning violin.
但是，隨着年齡的增加，學業增多，而且我還學習鋼琴和小提琴，週六週日都排滿了，我做三件事的時間越來越少了。在過去的一年中,為了考一所好的中學，剛開始，我經歷了很多魔難與考驗，後來，當我把自己當修煉人，做好大法弟子該做的三件事後，一切結果是那麼的神奇與美好，謝謝師父。
However, as I got older, and my studies increased, with the addition of piano and violin crowding up my weekends, the time I spent doing the three things became less and less. In the past year, with the goal of getting into a good high school, I faced many tribulations and tests. But then, after I started treating myself as a practitioner, and doing the three things, the results were miraculously wonderful. Thank you Master.
師父在《新西蘭法會講法》中開示：“有許多小孩兒不但學法好，而且在學校的學習都是前一、二名，很多都是這樣，非常的多。但是他們不是執著成績的本身，而是在大法修煉中明白了應該怎樣做，能夠擺正學習與法的關係，因為學習是學生應該做好的。是對法的理解，在哪都應該做好人。知道自己是個學生就應該學習好，他自然學習也就好了。”
Master said in Teachings at the Conference in New Zealand “Many children have not only learned the Fa well, but are also ranked first or second in their studies at school. A lot are like that, there are a lot of them. It’s not that they are necessarily attached to academic achievements, but that through Dafa cultivation they have come to understand what they should do. They are able to balance school studies and the Fa well. Students should do well in their schoolwork. That comes from understanding the Fa; they know they should be good people wherever they are. They know that since they are students, they should study hard. Then naturally they do well. ”
小時候，除了學法，我也很喜歡學習，成績也很好。我上幼兒園就跳到一年級了。一直以來，我的成績都是在班上的前幾名，我還向老師及同學講真相，證實大法。但是到了五年級，學校功課越來越多了，還有鋼琴和小提琴的學習，我的學法時間越來越少，有時除了週日去明慧學校參加煉功，平時很少在家煉功，講真相活動就更少參加了。我漸漸的擺不正學習與修煉的關係了，心性也掉下來了，還養成了很多壞毛病：
When I was little, I really enjoyed learning, and my academic record was outstanding. I skipped a grade from Kindergarten to Year 1. From then on, my grades have always been in the top few in the class. I have clarified the truth to my teachers and classmates. But when I got to year five, my studies and homework increased, with the addition of learning the violin. The time I spent studying the Fa decreased, and except for Minghui School on Sunday, the time I took to do the exercises at home became very little. Needless to say, I hardly did any truth clarification.. I could no longer maintain the balance between my studies and my cultivation. My xinxing dropped, and I developed some very bad habits:
首先我產生了懶惰心，本來我每週六上午八點到十點去上補習，我不想做補習作業，我和爸媽說我要多練琴，不要補習了。結果，剛停了補習，我的手就受傷了，兩個多星期不能練琴。也沒有比之前更多的練琴。
Firstly, I started getting lazy. Before, every Saturday I would go to tutoring from 8am to 10am. But I didn’t like doing the homework, so I told my parents I needed more time to practise violin and I didn’t need tutoring anymore. Then, as soon as I stopped tutoring, I hurt my hand, and I couldn’t practise violin for more than two weeks. So stopping tutoring didn’t give me any more time than before to practise violin.
我還有抱怨心，我抱怨父母給我那麼多壓力，除了學習，同時還要學習鋼琴和小提琴兩門樂器。當媽媽提出申請私校獎學金和參加精英中學的考試，我開始都不願意，我還想在現在的學校，不過後來知道很多同學都會到別的學校，我也就不反對了。
I also developed a habit of complaining. I complained to my parents about the pressure from not just school, but also learning my two instruments violin and piano. When my mum thought of applying for a private scholarship and taking the selective exam, I didn’t want to do them at first. I wanted to stay at my current school, but after learning that most of my friends were also leaving, I didn’t object.
考試前，我只去參加了作文補習班，沒時間參加數學補習班了。在二月份，我考了五場入學獎學金考試，數學每次都沒有做完。我申請了六所私校的音樂獎學金，我也在準備兩首小提琴曲子，不過等了一個多月還沒有消息，我很擔心自己沒有面試機會。三月份，我收到了幾家私校的拒信，打開成績單，果然是數學只在頂尖5%-10%，其他的科目在2-3%以內。聽說，如果各科成績能在1%以內，那就很可能拿到獎學金了。
Before the tests, I only went to tutoring for writing, and had no time for maths. In February, I sat the scholarship exams for five private schools, and I didn’t complete the maths paper for any of them. I also applied for music scholarships and prepared two pieces for an audition. But after waiting for a month, there was still no news. I was very worried about whether I would get an interview. In March, I received rejection letters from a few private schools. I opened the reports and wasn’t surprised to see that my maths was only in the top 5 to 10 percent. My other subjects were in the top 2 to 3 percent. I heard that only if you got the top 1 percent in all the subjects, could you have a good opportunity to get a scholarship offer.
我很失望，我開始懷疑自己的付出是否會有回報。我的身體也開始消業，咳嗽、流鼻涕等狀況時常發生。
I was very disappointed, and started doubting whether my efforts had actually had any reward. My body also started eliminating karma. Coughs and runny noses were becoming common.
看到我這樣的狀態，我的父母不斷地和我溝通。獎學金申請考試結束了，我每週日又恢復去明慧學校學法煉功和學中文，週六參加大組學法，有時還參加小組學法。我開始向內找，我悟到自己有很多方面需要提高。
When my parents saw all this,they started talking to me about their takes on the situation. After the scholarship application process was finished, I started going to Minghui school again, and participating in the Saturday group Fa Study again, and I even started occasionally going to the local group Fa Study. I started looking inwards, and found that I had many areas to improve.
第一個方面是要尊重父母：我的父母為我的未來教育付出了很多，而我卻完全無視他們的辛苦，偶爾還會對他們生氣。他們有超過十倍的理由對我生氣，但他們似乎從來沒有。我意識到爲了培養我，他們付出了很多，我應該努力減輕他們的壓力。我體會到尊重父母是多麼的重要。
The first one is my respect for my parents. My parents had dedicated so much for my future education, but I completely ignored their efforts, and I even got angry at them sometimes. They have much more reason to get angry at me, but they usually don’t. I realised that they had put a lot of effort into raising me, and I should try to take the pressure off them. I realised how important it was to respect my parents.
還要注重學法：我悟到學法很重要。記得師父說（不是原話），所有的答案都已經在《轉法輪》里了。師父已經讓我們知道所有我們需要知道的事情，告訴了我們如何做出正確的選擇，最終達到圓滿。
I also needed to increase my focus on studying the Fa. I realised how important studying the Fa was. Master told us all of the answers were already in “Zhuan Falun”. He has made known to us all we need to know: how to make the right decisions, and finally reach consummation.
另一個方面是要助師父救度眾生：師父為我們做了一切，好讓我們得救。我們不想讓他失望，不想使師父拯救我們的努力白費了。師父也為所有眾生提供了獲得救度的機緣，作爲修煉人，作爲小弟子，我們要做的是助師正法，幫助人們走回傳統，回歸本源。
Another aspect needing improvement was saving sentient beings. Master did everything for us, so we could be saved. We should not disappoint him, nor let his efforts to save us be in vain. Master gave every sentient being the opportunity to be saved. As a cultivator, as a young disciple, what we must do is assist Master in a rectification. We must help people to return to tradition, and return to their origins.
學法向內找，幫助我提高了心性。後來，我收到了兩家頂級私校的面試通知，其中有一個音樂面試。我放下有求之心，認真準備。在精英中學考試前的假期，我去掉自己的懶惰心，每天早上七點多就和媽媽乘火車去參加補習班，我的模擬考試成績一次比一次好。我相信師父一直在幫助我，當我把自己當作修煉人後，我的情況變了。在私校獎學金面試當天，我沒有執著結果，還給面試老師發了神韻單張，介紹了神韻，結果拿到了這家私校的獎學金。
By studying the Fa and looking inward, I improved my xinxing . Later, I was offered interviews at two private schools. One of them was a music audition. I put down my attachment to pursuit and diligently prepared. The holidays before my selective exam, I got rid of my laziness. Every morning at seven o’clock I took the train with my mum to tutoring college. I took many practice tests and each time the results got better. I believed that Master was always helping me. When I started treating myself as a cultivator, my situation changed dramatically. At the day of the interview, I didn’t have any attachments. I gave the teachers flyers for Shen Yun, and introduced them to Shen Yun. I ended up getting a scholarship for this school.
第二學期的假期，我就把學法煉功加到我的日常生活中，每天早上煉功，晚上和媽媽、外婆一起學法。平時上學期間，每天在媽媽送我去坐校車的路上，我都背一邊《轉法輪》中的<論語>，如果有時間我就再背幾首《洪吟》。回家後聽爸媽的話，除了按時完成作業，我練琴也更積極了。
During the second semester vacation, I added Fa study and exercise to my daily life. I practised the exercises every morning and studied the Fa with my mother and grandma in the evening. During normal school days, every day when my mother sends me to the school bus, I memorise <On Dafa> from “Zhuan Falun”. If I have time, I will recite a few poems from “Hong Yin”. When I get home, I listen to my parents’ advice. In addition to completing my homework on time, I have become more diligent in practising the piano.
另外，雖然學習與練琴已經佔用很多的時間，當得知513有慶祝世界法輪大法日的小提琴表演，我還是積極參加排練與演出。我知道我這次拉琴是為了洪法和講真相的，必須做好。 我發現最難的部分不是拉琴，是怎麼平衡練大法的曲子和練老師指定要練的東西。後來我發現只有把老師要求的東西練好，才能更好的拉大法的曲子，讓眾生更加感受到大法的美好。
Although my studies and instrument practice already took up a lot of my time, when I heard about the violin performance for the May 13 celebration of World Falun Dafa Day, I eagerly participated in the rehearsals and performance. I knew that this time, I was playing the violin to spread the Fa and clarify the truth, and so I must perform well. I found that the hardest thing is not playing. It was how to find a balance between practising the pieces for the performance, and practising the things my teacher had assigned. Later, I realised that only after I first did what my teacher had assigned, could I play the performance pieces better and allow sentient beings to feel the beauty of Dafa more.
在《洪吟四》中，師父有一首詩叫【你的眾生在等你】。我相信這是在告訴我們，因為眾生在等待得救，我們必須要更加精進做好三件事，尤其是講真相。
In Hongyin IV, Master wrote a poem called “Your sentient beings are waiting for you”. I believe this is telling us that because all sentient beings are waiting to be saved, we must be more diligent in doing the three things, especially clarifying the truth.
我每週日上明慧學校六年了， 以前我都是上午煉功、學法、學中文，下午學傳統文化或畫畫。很高興在今年四月到九月份多個週日下午校長組織了小提琴排練，讓我們也有機會參加講真相的活動。除了513活動，我們還參加過4場社區的講真相活動。
I have been attending Minghui school for six years. Normally when I went to Minghui School on Sundays, I practised the exercises, studied the Fa, and studied Chinese in the morning. I then learned Chinese traditional culture or drawing in the afternoon. I am very happy that we have violin rehearsals in the afternoon during April to September, which provides us the opportunity to clarify the truth through violin performances. In addition to the May 13 activities, we also participated in four community truth-clarification activities.
今年6月4日參加了新洲語言聯合會舉辦的文藝表演，我們演奏了《飛旋的法輪》，當場我們的小提琴合奏被選中去參加6月17日由新洲語言聯合會舉辦的四、五百人的晚宴。晚宴除了有很多語言學校的校長及老師參加，還有很多的嘉賓。我們演奏了「我是大法小弟子」、「給獄中媽媽的一封信」、「美麗的五月」和「飛旋的法輪」。表演之前，我向大家介紹了明慧學校是注重教授中國傳統文化與正體字，並用真、善、忍指導學生們在這現代社會的日常生活。之後，我們還多次參加了社區弘法活動。
On June 4th, we participated in the artistic performance organised by the NSW Language Federation. We played “Flying Falun”. On the spot, our violin ensemble was selected to participate in a dinner on June 17th where there would be 400 to 500 people. In addition to the principals and teachers of many language schools, the dinner also had many guests. We played “I am a young Dafa disciple”, “A letter to mother”, “Beautiful May” and “Flying Falun”. Before the performance, I told everyone that Minghui School focuses on teaching traditional Chinese culture and traditional Chinese characters, and uses “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance” to guide students in their daily lives in this modern society. After that, we also participated in many community events to spread the beauty of Dafa.
最近，我很意外的獲得了我前所未有的好成績。我獲得了新洲WriteOn寫作競賽的金獎，AMC（澳洲數學競賽）的滿分獎，ICAS（國際中小學教育競賽和評估考試）數學、英語及技術的High Distinction （優異證書）。我還收到了Sydney Boys和音樂附中的錄取通知。
Recently, I unexpectedly received unprecedented good marks. I received a gold award for the WriteOn writing competition, a perfect score in AMC (the Australian Maths Competition) and High Distinctions for Maths, English and Technology in ICAS (International Competitions and Assessments for Schools). I also received offers from Sydney Boys High School and The Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
我悟到這一切都是在證實大法，我獲得的這些好成績都是因爲我擺正了學習與修煉的關係。
I realised that all of this was validating Dafa. The good results I have obtained are all because I have fixed the relationship between study and cultivation.
以上是我的修煉體會，我知道自己在修煉上還有很多不足，還請同修慈悲指正。
Above is my cultivation experience sharing, I know that I still have many shortcomings in cultivation, and I ask my fellow practitioners to please kindly correct me.
谢谢師父！谢谢同修！
Thank you Master!
Thank you fellow practitioners!