PureInsight | January 13, 2003
{PureInsight.org} I think that understanding the true meanings of "unshakable, steadfast faith" and "should" is particularly important for Dafa disciples.
Since we are cultivating among non-practitioners, what standards we apply and what state of mind we are in when we look at Dafa is a constant challenge. Especially due to interference from the old forces, we are prone to err if our vigilance wavers even the slightest bit. How we look at Dafa is indeed a crucial issue. We were taught to understand the Fa based on the Fa, using our true nature. When we become confused or interfered with, we should ask ourselves, "Are we the ones who are really confused? Should this kind of interference exist?" The side of our nature that is our true self will not be confused. Our acquired notions and karma are what's susceptible. During the Fa-rectification period, everything is meant for Dafa. Isn't the interference coming from the old forces and degenerated beings who are controlled by the old forces?
When we understand the Fa based on the Fa, we are very clear about what we should do, and we can do things well. When we fail to do this, we do not know how to conduct ourselves. Even if we manage to finish what we're working on, the result is often not very good at all. What does it mean to understand the Fa based on the Fa? That is when the side of our true self is in charge. The opposite is true when the side of our true self is suppressed. Can we adopt some special techniques or tricks to guarantee that the side of our true self will be in charge? Of course not! That is because the Buddha Fa cultivation is absolutely beyond human knowledge and skills. Master says in Zhuan Falun, "One's gong level is as high as one's xinxing level." It's clear that we should look at our xinxing if we want to fundamentally solve the problem.
Because we are cultivating in delusion, Master cannot display the true manifestation of the Fa at the level of our true selves to us. Our understanding of Dafa is in fact based on our comprehension of the Fa principles . The correct understanding of the Fa by our main consciousness should be unshakable, steadfast faith. It means that at every moment we should be able to clearly distinguish our true selves, our attachments and notions, and external interference. I firmly believe that Dafa is the most righteous and my true nature is pure. I also believe that all things that are not righteous and not pure are acquired postnatally, which need to be rectified. During the process of studying the Fa well, sending righteous thoughts and clarifying the truth, Dafa will naturally display to me the Fa principles that I should know at my level, until the true manifestation of the Fa at my realm is completely displayed, and that is when consummation is achieved. This process that one goes through with unshakable, steadfast faith is what Master is referring to in "Why One Cannot See" (Essentials for Further Advancement): "an exceptional person can depend on his enlightening to reach Consummation."
Unshakable faith is the most powerful weapon to break through delusions and the only way of finding the truth. Human beings can obtain so-called knowledge through exploration and empirical studies. But the truth of the universe can only be obtained through unshakable faith in Dafa. Unshakable faith means to be able to step out of humanness in thinking and in action. When one has unshakable faith, he is within the Dao and having righteous thoughts and righteous actions.
When we firmly believe in Dafa, we are using the power of Dafa to eliminate the evil and save sentient beings, and we are omnipotent. When we understand that one single thought and one single action of ours directly impacts the life and death of countless sentient beings, we will regard the three critical things that Master told us to do well – study the Fa, clarify the truth and send forth righteous thoughts - as our undeniable responsibilities. We will see our participation in the Fa-rectification as the highest honor, and we will cherish all sentient beings. When we understand that everything is meant for Fa-rectification, Dafa will unlock extraordinary wisdom in us and create various ways and methods of spreading the Fa. When we truly understand that the righteousness should exist but evil should not, our thoughts will be "focused and strong, with an air of supremacy and the ability of destroying all evil in the cosmos." ("Righteous Thoughts")
The behavior of someone who has unshakable, steadfast faith in Dafa will definitely conform to the requirements of the Fa. He will automatically know what he "should" do. "Should" carries a special meaning during this Fa-rectification period. Master repeatedly taught us on many occasions what we should do. Do we truly understand the great responsibilities inherent in the meaning of "should?" Do we truly understand the immense mercy included in the meanings of "should?" Have we experienced the wisdom that the word "should" bring to us? Have we felt the power behind of the word "should" that is able to repress evil and eliminate disorder?
We should study the Fa well, with our pure hearts, because that is being responsible to the sentient beings in our own universe. We should clarify the truth using the methods that ordinary people can understand, because this is genuinely being responsible for sentient beings. We should send forth our righteous thoughts with our pure heart, because this is eliminating evil and offering salvation to sentient beings.
After understanding the true meaning of "unshakable, steadfast faith" and "should," let us follow Master's guiding words, "With righteous thoughts and righteous actions; he is diligent without letting up; eliminating demons that damage the Fa; he is good to all beings." ("A Righteous God")
Translated from http://www.zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2002/12/6/19531.html
