我很认同坚持不懈及敬业的精神，这不只是为了得到他人的肯定、奖励，或增加财物、学识；也不只是勤奋投入。当学佛更深入，发现自己所认知的精进面临了挑战，而这些挑战改变了我。

　　我是在背完第一部经之后，才开始珍视精进法门。以前很排斥背经，不懂背经的必要性与好处。由于法师们的鼓励，我不再找借口，首次背完一部经──《佛说八大人觉经》。

　　我领会到背经是深化修行的方法。我现在发心要把《金刚经》背起来，虽然不晓得要花多少时间，但这是我每日定课之一。把《佛说八大人觉经》背完，需要自己发心坚持不懈。我一天背一行经文，花好一阵子才能背完整部经；我常在睡前背诵当天所记下来的经文，如果没有背熟，便拿起手电筒快速浏览经文，直到背诵正确才睡得着。

　　每天早上第一件事，是背诵先前所背的经文，接着背一行新的进度。这么做不是为了别人的认同或赞许，而是自发性地加功用行，让自己更了解佛陀的教义。我希望自己不要忘记教理，每天都试着受持经文的义理。精进对我来说，不再只是坚持不懈、勤劳或是获得肯定；精进是一种内在的喜悦，无需外在的认同；是一种常能持有这资粮的喜悦；一种不能摇动的平静。

　　感恩有机会参加佛门寺《金刚经》共修，唱诵、背诵《金刚经》，不仅仅是喜悦，更是超越语言文字、前所未有的领会──那不是一种短暂的感受，而是像找到一个立足点，指引自己如何待人处世。

　　（I appreciate persistence and having a strong work ethic, but it is more than just doing something for outside recognition, reward or the accumulation of things or knowledge. It is more than just showing up and working hard. As my practice deepens, I find that my diligence is challenged, and those challenges have brought about changes.

　　I started to appreciate diligence when I finally memorized my first sutra. I resisted memorizing sutras because I did not see the need or the benefit in doing so. Because of the encouragement from the Dharma Masters, I finally stopped making excuses and memorized my first sutra—The Eight Realizations of Great Beings.

　　I have realized that memorizing sutras is a way for me to deepen my practice. I now plan to memorize the Diamond Sutra; I do not know how long it will take me but it is a part of my daily practice. It took persistence on my part to memorize The Eight Realizations of Great Beings. I memorized one line a day, and it took quite a while to finally commit the entire sutra to memory. Many a night I would start to recite what I had memorized that day only to stumble on a line, so I would grab a flashlight and quickly peek at the text to get the line correct, only then could I fall asleep.

　　First thing in the morning I would recite what I had memorized thus far and then add a new line for the day. I did not do this for outside recognition or admiration. I did it to strengthen my practice and to gain a better understanding of the Buddha’s teachings. I always want to have the teachings with me. I try and uphold the teachings of the Sutra every day. Diligence for me is no longer just persistence and industriousness or external recognition. It is an inner joy—the joy of diligence without attachment to outside recognition; the joy of having this resource always with me. It is an internal unwavering calm.

　　I am grateful for the opportunity to join the collective practice of chanting the Diamond Sutra. It is not enough to say that chanting and memorizing the Diamond Sutra is joy. It is so much more than that, but I do not have the words to describe it at this time; it is unlike anything I have experienced before. It is not a temporary feeling. It is more like I am grounded, and I have a guide for how to conduct myself.）