DON'T DO These 5 things When You Study - Story of student from AVERAGE to TOPPER

God's Goals Great

6 Apr 202407:31

Summary

TLDRThis video shares the story of a boy struggling with his studies, who learns five transformative techniques from a Zen master. These tips—clearing the mind, focusing on the present, absorbing knowledge instead of memorizing, breaking tasks into steps, and being persistent—help him improve his concentration and study habits. Over time, he becomes a top student and learns that these lessons not only improve academic performance but also enhance personal growth. Viewers are encouraged to apply these techniques to achieve similar success.

Takeaways

🧘 Clear your mind before studying to improve concentration and understanding.
🔥 Focus on the present moment to avoid distractions and enhance learning.
🧽 Absorb knowledge like a sponge, don't just memorize facts—understand and relate them to real-life situations.
🪓 Break large tasks into smaller steps to make studying more manageable and less overwhelming.
🌱 Persistence is key—study consistently, even if only for a little each day, to see long-term improvements.
🕯️ Meditation helps calm the mind and improve focus for better study sessions.
🔄 Avoid worrying about past mistakes or future concerns; keep your attention on the task at hand.
🧠 Visualization and deep understanding help retain knowledge longer than rote memorization.
📅 Consistency in studying creates gradual improvement and mastery over time.
🌿 Learning these principles not only enhances academic performance but also improves life skills and personal growth.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video?
-The main purpose of the video is to teach viewers five techniques that top students use to study more effectively, helping them to cover more material in less time and remember what they learn.
Who is the main character in the story, and what challenge does he face?
-The main character is a boy from a village who excels in most areas of his life but struggles with his studies. Despite trying hard, he is unable to grasp concepts or remember facts, which discourages him.
How does the Zen master help the boy improve his studies?
-The Zen master teaches the boy five key techniques for improving his studies: clearing the mind, focusing on the present, absorbing knowledge instead of memorizing, breaking tasks into smaller steps, and being persistent in his efforts.
What is the significance of the muddy water jar in the story?
-The muddy water jar represents the boy's mind. When it is full of distractions and agitated, it is unclear, just like muddy water. After letting the dirt settle, the water becomes clear, symbolizing the clarity that comes from a calm and focused mind.
Why does the Zen master ask the boy to focus on a candle flame?
-The Zen master uses the candle flame to teach the boy how to focus on the present. The boy’s mind initially drifts to thoughts about his past failures and worries about the future, but through practice, he learns to stay focused on the present moment.
What lesson does the Zen master convey with the sponge and the stone?
-The Zen master uses the sponge and the stone to illustrate the difference between memorizing and absorbing knowledge. The sponge absorbs the water, representing how students should absorb and understand information, while the stone lets water slide off, symbolizing memorization without understanding.
What does breaking the block of wood teach the boy about studying?
-Breaking the block of wood into smaller pieces teaches the boy to break large tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. This helps prevent feeling overwhelmed and allows for more effective learning in smaller chunks.
How does the Zen master emphasize the importance of persistence?
-The Zen master plants two seeds to show the importance of persistence. One seed, which is regularly watered, grows into a healthy plant, while the other remains dormant. This teaches the boy that consistent effort over time will yield results.
How does the boy's life change after applying the Zen master’s lessons?
-After applying the Zen master’s lessons, the boy becomes more attentive, understands his studies better, and remembers what he learns. His grades improve, and he begins to enjoy learning. As an adult, he continues to reflect on these lessons, which not only help him in his studies but also in life.
What are the five techniques that top students use according to the video?
-The five techniques are: 1) Clear your mind, 2) Focus on the present, 3) Absorb knowledge instead of memorizing, 4) Break tasks into smaller steps, and 5) Be persistent.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Transforming into a Top Student

The video introduces itself as a guide for students who struggle academically but aspire to excel like top performers. It promises to reveal five techniques that can help cover more material in less time without forgetting. The story begins with a student who, despite his hard work, could not memorize well. After learning five techniques from a mentor, he transformed from an average student into a top performer. The video aims to inspire viewers to believe in their potential for improvement through these methods.

05:00

🌱 The Struggling Boy Meets the Zen Master

The narrative introduces a boy from a village who excels in most areas of his life but struggles with his studies. Despite his efforts, he can't grasp concepts or remember facts, and his classmates mock him. One day, the boy visits a temple and meets a Zen master. The boy asks for help with his studies, explaining his difficulties with concentration and memory. The Zen master responds that he will teach the boy valuable techniques to improve his focus and study skills, marking the beginning of the boy's transformation.

🧘‍♂️ Clear Your Mind Before Studying

The first lesson the Zen master teaches the boy is the importance of clearing the mind. Using a jar of muddy water as a metaphor, the master shows that when the mind is clouded with distractions, one cannot see clearly. The dirt settles in the water, making it clear, just as calming the mind allows for better focus. The master advises meditating and focusing on breathing before studying to eliminate distractions, ensuring better understanding of the material.

🔥 Focus on the Present Moment

In the second lesson, the Zen master teaches the boy to stay focused on the present. He uses the example of a candle flame, asking the boy to focus on it without letting his mind wander. At first, the boy struggles as his mind drifts to various worries. However, with practice, he learns to concentrate on the present moment. The Zen master explains that focusing on the present helps improve attention during study sessions, while distractions related to past failures or future concerns should be gently pushed aside.

🧽 Absorb Knowledge, Don’t Memorize

The third lesson emphasizes the importance of understanding over rote memorization. The Zen master uses a sponge and a stone as metaphors: while the sponge absorbs water, the stone lets it slide off. He explains that many students, like the stone, attempt to memorize facts without truly understanding them, which leads to forgetting. Instead, students should be like the sponge—absorbing, visualizing, and relating knowledge to real-life scenarios. This way, the knowledge becomes ingrained and is never forgotten.

🪵 Break Big Tasks into Smaller Steps

In the fourth lesson, the Zen master illustrates how to approach large tasks by breaking them into smaller, manageable parts. He demonstrates this with a large block of wood, showing the boy how to gradually chisel it into smaller pieces. He relates this to studying, advising the boy to break down study material into sections and take small breaks between each section. This method prevents boredom and makes long study hours more productive.

🌿 Persistence Leads to Success

The fifth and final lesson is about persistence. The Zen master shows the boy two seeds, one of which he waters regularly while the other is neglected. The watered seed grows into a plant, while the other remains dormant. The master uses this analogy to teach the importance of consistent effort. He advises studying regularly, even in small amounts, to see gradual improvement over time. Consistency, not immediate results, is key to becoming a brilliant student.

🚀 The Boy's Transformation and Life Lessons

The boy returns to school and begins applying the techniques he learned from the Zen master. Although the change is not instant, over time, he becomes more attentive, understands topics better, and remembers what he studies. His grades improve, and he begins to enjoy learning. As an adult, he reflects on the invaluable lessons from the Zen master, realizing they taught him not only how to study but also how to live better. The story concludes by encouraging viewers to apply these techniques to become brilliant students and live fulfilling lives.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Excel

Excel refers to the act of performing exceptionally well or surpassing others in a particular field. In the context of the video, it relates to the student's aspiration to improve his academic performance and achieve higher grades. The video aims to help students excel by providing techniques that top students use.

💡Memorize

Memorize is the act of committing information to memory. The video script discusses the student's initial struggle with memorization, suggesting that mere memorization is not as effective as truly understanding and absorbing the knowledge, as illustrated by the Zen master's lesson with the sponge and the stone.

💡Mentor

A mentor is an experienced and trusted advisor or coach. In the video, the student's mentor is the Zen master who imparts valuable study techniques, embodying the role of a guide who provides wisdom and direction to help the student improve.

💡Meditation

Meditation is a practice of focused attention and awareness, used to achieve mental clarity and calmness. The Zen master teaches the student to meditate before studying to clear the mind of distractions, which is a technique to enhance concentration and understanding.

💡Concentration

Concentration refers to the ability to focus one's attention on a particular object or activity. The video emphasizes the importance of concentration for effective studying, as demonstrated by the boy's initial inability to focus on his studies and his subsequent improvement through the Zen master's guidance.

💡Understand

To understand is to grasp the meaning or comprehend the essence of something. The video script contrasts memorization with understanding, suggesting that true learning comes from understanding concepts rather than just memorizing facts, as illustrated by the sponge absorbing water.

💡Present

Being in the present means focusing on the current moment without being distracted by past or future thoughts. The Zen master advises the student to study in the present moment, which helps in maintaining focus and is crucial for effective learning.

💡Absorb

Absorb, in the context of learning, means to take in and assimilate knowledge. The video uses the metaphor of a sponge absorbing water to illustrate how students should absorb knowledge by understanding and integrating it into their thought processes.

💡Break tasks into steps

This concept refers to the strategy of dividing a large task into smaller, more manageable parts. The video script uses the example of splitting a large block of wood into pieces to demonstrate how breaking tasks into steps can make them less daunting and more achievable.

💡Persistent

Persistence is the quality of continuing in a course of action despite difficulties. The video script uses the analogy of seeds growing into plants to illustrate the importance of persistence in studying, emphasizing that consistent effort leads to success.

💡Concepts

Concepts are abstract ideas or principles that underlie specific instances or applications. The video script advises students to understand and visualize concepts rather than just memorize facts, which helps in long-term retention and application of knowledge.

💡Real-life scenarios

Real-life scenarios refer to practical situations or contexts outside of a purely academic setting. The video suggests relating learned concepts to real-life scenarios as a way to better understand and remember them, thus making learning more meaningful and applicable.

Highlights

The video promises to teach five techniques that top students use to excel in their studies.

A story is introduced about a boy who struggles with his studies but learns from a Zen master to improve.

The first tip is to clear your mind, using meditation to remove distractions and focus on studying.

The Zen master uses a jar of muddy water to show that clarity comes when the mind is calm.

The second tip is to focus on the present, avoiding distractions from past failures or future worries.

The Zen master teaches the boy to focus on the flame of a candle as a method to train concentration.

The third tip is to absorb knowledge rather than simply memorize it, comparing learning to a sponge absorbing water.

Understanding concepts and relating them to real-life scenarios will help retain knowledge better.

The fourth tip is to break large tasks into smaller steps, making it easier to study over time.

The Zen master demonstrates this by showing the boy how to split a large block of wood into smaller pieces.

The fifth tip is to be persistent, with steady, consistent effort leading to success.

The Zen master uses the example of two seeds, one nurtured and one neglected, to show the value of persistence.

The boy returns to school and applies these lessons, seeing gradual but significant improvements in his studies.

The video emphasizes that these techniques are not only about studying better but also about living better.

The boy grows up to be a successful man, often reflecting on the valuable lessons from the Zen master.