PureInsight | January 14, 2002
Regarding cultivation, in the West they talk about faith, while in the East the term enlightenment is used. 'The path a Dafa disciple takes is a glorious history, and this history has to be created by his own enlightening.' (from 'Path”)
The Fa is explained completely by Master Li. What is left is for disciples to enlighten. If we can enlighten to it, this means that we have improved in cultivation and our level is upgraded. So where does one’s enlightenment quality come from? It comes from a pure state of mind.
Recently, a fellow practitioner mentioned that his mindset was no longer as pure as when he first started cultivation. He did more things now, came into contact with more people and became busier and more capable. There were also many more conflicts with other practitioners. When someone pointed it out, he looked within himself and found quite a few shortcomings. When he tried to change, he did it haphazardly. In the upgrading of his xinxing from the volume of a small cup to a large container, he could not do it decisively and he felt that something was missing.
Actually, this fellow practitioner is indeed lacking in something. He is losing the most precious thing for a practitioner - a pure state of mind.
In cultivation one needs to enlighten, while the basis for one’s enlightenment takes root deeply from a pure state of mind. The purer the state of one’s mind, the higher the level of enlightening. Without enlightening, a cultivator runs in circles in the same spot and has reached the end of his cultivation.
Everyday people are capable in their own ways too. They will also reflect on past mistakes and forget about eating or sleeping when performing a task. However the difference between cultivators and everyday people is that everyday people do things for themselves and their mindset is not pure. They are easily agitated and unstable. But the cultivator has such a pure heart. When in a state of tranquility, it is just like the still water of the origin of matter. This kind of purity and tranquility is a real manifestation of one’s cultivation status.
Some practitioners believe that when they are not doing things for themselves, but for Dafa, their heart is considered pure. This is only a theoretical understanding. If one has done lots of things, his capability will improve, but when his heart is no longer pure, he becomes agitated. The enlightenment quality becomes weak or lost, and then how can he cultivate? Is it still cultivation? Some practitioners read the books and study the Fa but cannot enlighten to any Fa principles. They need other people to say something or point it out, and then they would think about it. They stumble along in their path of cultivation and need people to push them. They have lost the ability to progress with diligence in the Fa. This is caused by the enlightenment quality becoming weaker because of losing their pure state of mind.
Master Li said: 'What you do then, with a pure heart, will be the best and most sacred.' (from 'Further Understanding' in Essentials for Further Advancement) My personal understanding is that a pure heart can make you do things well and be successful. With a pure heart, your enlightenment quality will be improved and you will upgrade yourself in all matters, and make progress in cultivation. This is the best and most sacred. We must not lose our pure heart!
Translated from:
http://www.zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2001/12/13/12893.html
