PureInsight | April 25, 2010
[PureInsight.org] Every one of us practitioners has been waiting and searching [for truth] lifetime after lifetime. It may appear simple for us to have the opportunity to start practicing Falun Gong today, but in fact we sacrificed and suffered tremendously for this in the past. That is why I think since it is not easy to find truth, we should cherish this opportunity and remain diligent. However, some practitioners including me have been slacking off, been unwilling to suffer, or even became indifferent.
Knowing the Fa but not following it, or merely selectively picking out some teachings while ignoring the remainder, is this genuine cultivation practice? Not following means not believing, let alone being enlightened. If one only wants to do things according to his or her own will and even looks for excuses from the Fa, then that is not a serious attitude.
Things are actually not that difficult. We simply need to do what Master told us to do. Master has made many things quite clear, especially regarding studying the Fa, cultivating xinxing, doing the exercises, sending forth righteous thoughts, and saving sentient beings. Sometimes we do not want to let go of our own notions, and as a result, we do not want to follow words from Master. Below are several examples.
For example, a practitioner may sit in a causal manner or has an impure mind when studying the Fa. When one sits in a causal manner, is it respectful to Master? When one’s mind is not pure, how can he or she be qualified to see the manifestation of the Fa?
Another example is that one may seldom do the exercises or only do certain sets of exercises. Having no time is an excuse, but how can one have time for sleep but not for exercises? From the Fa, we have learned that doing the exercises is the best form of rest. But we tend to seek comfort and avoid suffering, and as a result are unable to finish all the exercises.
In “Fa Teaching at the 2009 Washington DC International Fa Conference”, Master said, “Be considerate of others when you do things, and look at yourself when you get into disagreements. You probably all know how to talk about this and you know what these words mean, but at critical moments you don't put them into practice.” Sometimes we are actually doing things the other way around, that is, being attached to our own feelings and ignoring the feelings of others. When running into conflicts, we often complain about others for their not being considerate of us.
In “Teaching the Fa at the 2002 Fa Conference in Philadelphia, U.S.A.”, Master said, “That's why it's considered just extremely crucial that a being meet the standard for the cosmos's beings at certain levels. So in other words, we can't acknowledge the arrangements that the old forces made for us, no matter what they did, because they, too, are candidates for being saved, only they've chosen to be weeded out. How could someone who's to be saved choose how he's saved? It's like he falls into water and someone tries to save him, but he says: ‘You can't save me directly with your hands. You have to save me with a boat that I like.’ How could that be?”
In my understanding, after a being is created, it is critical for him or her to meet the requirements at that level. He or she may not need to invent or create something, but at the same time, he or she cannot do things at will. In ordinary human society, one may consider himself or herself smart and thus better than others. In fact, this is wrong in Dafa cultivation. Everything is already in the Fa, and there is no need for you to create something. The most important thing is to follow the requirements at that level. It is not allowed to come up with something that deviates from the Fa. In another words, one should assimilate to the Fa unconditionally.
In Zhuan Falun, Master said, “You know that laws are becoming more comprehensive and impeccable. Yet why are there people who still do bad deeds? Why don’t they comply with the laws? It is because you cannot govern their hearts. When they are not seen, they will still do bad deeds.”
When reading this paragraph in the past, I was thinking it refers to everyday people who do not obey the law. But now I have come to understand that the previous cosmos was not perfect, so now that there is the most righteous Fa in place, if we still do things using our own thoughts, isn’t it inappropriate?
We should assimilate to Dafa unconditionally and do it without reservation. The best way for us to do this is to follow Master’s words with a pure heart.
Above are some understandings of mine at this stage. Please kindly point out anywhere inappropriate.
Translated from: http://www.zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2010/3/3/64666.html
