Becoming the “Most Talented” Student after Putting Cultivation as My Main Priority

(Minghui.org) I’m about to enter seventh grade. My grades were not consistent but I was always on the verge of getting good grades. I always thought how I did in school had nothing to do with studying the Fa. I was reluctant to read the Fa and always came up with excuses like needing to complete my homework instead of reading the Fa and practicing the exercises. Master has been very compassionate and given me hints several times to study the Fa and do the exercises, but I continued to ignore these opportunities.

Even though I slacked off in cultivation, Master still arranged for me to attend a good middle school. Many of my classmates came from private elementary schools and took many tutoring classes. I, on the other hand, came from a public elementary school and had gone to barely any tutoring classes. My grades were always quite low among a group of excellent students. I always failed my math tests and did poorly in my language class.

Instead of studying the Fa and practicing the exercises when I got home from school, I’d secretly go online and watch videos. I also copied my classmates’ answers and did not live up to the principle of “Truthfulness.” I got angry at my classmates whenever things did not go my way, so I was neither compassionate nor tolerant. I did so poorly on my end-of-the-year exam that my mother was very worried.

Awakening from a Dream

I listened to Minghui Radio for young Falun Dafa practitioners one night. One cultivation experience sharing article told how a young Falun Dafa practitioner went from being last in his class to being a top student. I listened attentively to how he managed to do it. He said that he had a calm heart and studied the Fa wholeheartedly.

My mother, who was nearby, said, “It seems as if you seldom study the Fa. Even when you do read, you don’t concentrate fully and always misread characters. When you do the exercises, you only do one set.” I realized that Master was enlightening me through my mother’s words.

I recalled that, in elementary school, I got good grades only when I cultivated diligently. I would get bad grades whenever I slacked off. I seemed to be awakening from a dream. I reminded myself not to slack off in studying the Fa and practicing the exercises. There isn’t much time left in Master’s Fa-rectification period. How could I slack off? I thanked Master for his compassionate enlightenment.

Assimilating to Dafa

I began studying the Fa wholeheartedly and tried my best to do the exercises. I confessed the things I did behind my mother’s back and was determined to get rid of those bad habits. I felt lighter after confessing to my mother. I also found attachments like being fearful, being doubtful, zealotry, showing off, jealousy, and an attachment to fame and gain.

We started having classes online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I was very happy because this meant that I had time to study the Fa and practice the exercises. I read the Fa and practiced the exercises as soon as my classes ended. I also started to take conflicts with my classmates lightly.

Some of my classmates were unable to resist surfing the Internet when we had online classes. Their grades dropped drastically. I started to be more self-disciplined and was able to restrain myself from surfing the web or playing with electronic devices. I would get all my homework done.

Many of my classmates worried about their eyesight because they had to look at the computer all day. My vision has gotten better and better under Master’s protection.

The teachers who taught certain subjects began to notice and like me. After I started to abide by the principle of “Truthfulness,” I often got all the answers correct on my math tests. My teacher said good things about my class notes many times. Once I made the highest score on an essay and was called to read it out loud in front of the whole class. My teachers and classmates were impressed.

I still sometimes slack off in my cultivation. One time, I put memorizing a section of my textbook as my priority. Even though I spent a long time on it, I still couldn’t memorize it because there were so many hard-to-pronounce Chinese characters. My teacher wanted us to memorize the section that night, and I started to get worried. When I uploaded the video of me reading the content out loud, my eyes kept looking at the text. I felt bad because I was not being truthful.

When I looked at Master’s portrait, it dawned on me that I did not place my priorities correctly. I should have studied the Fa and done the exercises first instead of focusing on my studies.

My teacher asked that we memorize another section of our textbook the next day. Even though it was longer and the characters were harder to pronounce, I knew I needed to study the Fa and practice the exercises first. I meditated first and then began memorizing the section in the book. I was surprised that this time it was much easier and faster! I also memorized the text that I was unable to memorize the night before.

Three “most talented” students were to be selected at the end of the school year. I did not hold out much hope that I would be one of them because many of my classmates were much more talented than I was. I knew my heart should not be moved during the selection process and I was calm. I was able to let go of my attachment to fame and gain. The results came in the next day, and I was deemed one of the “most talented” students. Master used this to remind me not to be moved and that I needed to relinquish the attachment of zealotry.

Closing Remark

I am extremely grateful to Master for guiding me to overcome each tribulation. Master has always been protecting me. I still have a lot of shortcomings. I need to strive harder, not let Master down, and return home with Master!