别让一句话毁了童年

别让一句话毁了童年

有句话叫“不能让孩子输在起跑线上”，这让相当一部分父母卷了起来。既然不能输，就得提前跑，结果使起跑线逐步提前，从中学到小学到幼儿园，甚至到婴儿班。所学的，不过是把相关内容提前一点而已。

The saying, “Don’t let your children lose at the starting line,” has driven many parents into a frenzy of competition. Determined not to fall behind, they keep shifting the starting line earlier—from middle school to primary school, to kindergarten, and even to baby classes. Yet, what their children learn is merely the same material, just at an earlier age.

这样的教育能带来什么？很多时候，只能使孩子从小就背负压力，连应有的童年乐趣都被剥夺。等一路跑到真正应该投入学习的大学阶段，早已疲惫不堪，失去动力了。

What does this kind of education achieve? Often, it only places undue pressure on children, depriving them of the joy of childhood. By the time they reach university—when they should truly invest in their studies—they are already burned out and disengaged.

孰轻孰重？是作为父母必须认真思考的。这样才能给孩子有效的引导，使他们在正确的时间，站到真正的起跑线上。尤其是人工智能时代到来后，我们现在所学的很多知识，培养的工作技能，正在快速地被淘汰。未来，可能80％的工作将被人工智能替代。在充满变量的未来，孩子如何才能安身立命，处于不败之地？

Parents must carefully reflect on what truly matters in education. Only then can they provide proper guidance, ensuring their children start at the right place and at the right time. Especially with the emergence of artificial intelligence, much of today’s knowledge and skill sets are becoming obsolete at an alarming rate. With estimates suggesting that AI could replace up to 80% of jobs in the future, how can children equip themselves to thrive and maintain a firm footing in such an unpredictable world?

很多人没有信仰也缺乏精神追求，工作不仅是生存所需，还是用来打发日子、出人头地、实现价值的途径。可以说，工作就是一切。但要不了多少年，有些我们引以为豪的能力，人工智能秒会，且远远胜出。除非你特别优秀，特别有创造力，无法被人工智能取代，否则，大量普通工作恐怕是朝不保夕的。

In the absence of faith or spiritual pursuits, many see work as the centerpiece of life—a means to survive, pass the time, achieve success, and realize their values. However, it won’t be long before we see the skills we take pride in are mastered by AI in moments, far surpassing human capabilities. Unless we are exceptionally outstanding and creative—irreplaceable by artificial intelligence—many ordinary jobs may not remain secure for long.

所以未来的人可能分两类，一类是有精神追求，不论世事如何变幻，都能自洽、自足、自得其乐；另一类是没有精神生活，面对魔幻的世界，就会迷茫、混乱、找不到方向，根本不知该怎么活。这些人一旦遇到挫折，很可能会抑郁、焦虑，甚至做出危害社会的事。

Therefore, future generations may fall into two categories. The first group includes those with spiritual pursuits, who, regardless of the changes in the world, can find contentment, self-sufficiency, and inner joy. The second group lacks a spiritual anchor. Confronting a surreal world, they are likely to feel lost, confused, and directionless, unsure of how to navigate life. When faced with setbacks, they may succumb to depression, anxiety, or even resort to destructive actions against society.

尼采在一百多年前说过：上帝死了，要重新估量一切的价值。对于今天的人，同样需要重新估量自己，估量一切。因为我们过去的价值、意义、幸福，全都建立在物质世界，但这个世界已飘摇不定。

Over a century ago, Nietzsche declared, “God is dead, and we must re-evaluate all values.” In much the same way, people today must reassess their understanding of themselves and the world. Our traditional notions of value, meaning, and happiness were rooted in the material world, but this foundation is now faltering.

为什么现代人有了远超以往的生活条件，却如此迷茫、焦虑、缺乏安全感？就因为我们曾经依赖的世界充满着不确定，并以肉眼可见的速度在坍塌、崩解。可以说，“见证历史”已成为常态。

Why, despite enjoying far better living conditions than previous generations, are modern people still plagued by confusion, anxiety, and insecurity? This is because the world we once trusted is now rife with uncertainty, unraveling at a visible pace. In a sense, “witnessing history” has become an everyday reality.

在滚滚而来的时代洪流中，怎么才能站稳脚跟？必须具备拥抱无常的心态，而不是活在自己的设定、期待、执著中。这就需要传承东方文化，尤其是佛法智慧，才能以不变应万变，在积极入世的同时，保有出世的超然。这样的心，将比外在的任何分数、能力更为重要。

In the relentless torrent of our times, how can we stand firm? The answer lies in embracing impermanence and releasing our grip on personal assumptions, expectations, and attachments. This calls for inheriting Eastern culture, especially the wisdom of Buddhism, which equips us with the ability to remain grounded amid change, embodying a supermundane mind while actively engaging in the world. Such a mindset is more crucial than any external achievement, such as scores or abilities.

摘自《佛法在家庭教育中的运用》

作者：济群法师

Excerpted from:

Bringing Buddhist Teachings to Family Education

By Master Jiqun