(Clearwisdom.net) Recently while studying the Fa, I found that I had the mindset of counting on external factors, which taught me a great lesson in my cultivation. The purpose of this article is to help fellow practitioners with similar problems enlighten as well. Let's forge ahead continuously on the way to ending the persecution and saving sentient beings.
When I first started cultivation, my intention was to count on Dafa and on Teacher to help free myself from worldly pain. I had thought my purpose was pure, which prevented me from realizing my attachment to self. I was also mistaken in believing that that counting on Teacher and depending on Teacher were reflections of an unshakable belief in Teacher and Dafa. Actually, this expectation is different from belief. Belief is strictly following Teacher's requirements to do everything. Belief is to cultivate one's own character, to put down everyday mindsets without any condition, change one's essential nature, to assimilate to Dafa, and to have full belief in Teacher and in Dafa in any situation. However, counting on others is one-sided, is pursuing external help, is caring about one's own loss and gain, is expecting external forces to play every part and it shows an unwillingness to change oneself.
When I didn't realize this attachment, I could not see that I deviated many times from the right path of cultivating my character and looking inside during my cultivation. And, I only staggered along, and was slow in cultivation. Especially when I was persecuted, I counted on fellow practitioners to send forth righteous thoughts for me. I also counted on relatives, friends, colleagues, the head of my company and people with high social eminence and influence to help me and speak for me. Through fear and attachments, I lumped myself with ordinary people and I did not have righteous thoughts. In this situation, it is no use to ask for Teacher's help because Teacher takes care of cultivators, not ordinary people.
I had once counted on the head in my company to block the irrational harassment and persecution by the authorities. I clarified the truth to him with this kind of selfish heart. The result was that not only did he not listen, he also assisted the 610 Office in trying to transform me. He forced me to write "The Five Documents" when I returned to the company. He would, otherwise, not assign me a job.
I had once counted on my husband. I was once moved by his words "If they dare to arrest you, I will go to government office to complain every day." But when I was arrested, he threw away all of my Dafa books. He listened to lies from the authorities and turned around to convince me to abandon cultivation. He even slapped me in the face when he saw me practicing Dafa after I returned home.
I had once counted on fellow practitioners. Although I could always see through practitioners with crooked understanding, I lost confidence after I listened to some words from that kind of practitioner. I was transformed against my will. There was another practitioner who I once counted on to make decisions and coordinate. I found she talked in exaggerated ways after making several contacts. She was two faced and even lies. She rarely studied Dafa in peace, had a strong attachment to fear, and was not brave enough to come out to clarify the truth. I pointed out her problem, but she could not bear it. Now, we are divided.
After a series of mistakes and being given many lessons, I compared myself to the Fa and looked inside. I found that my heart was counting on external factors. Also, it I lacked a solid background in Fa study and xinxing cultivation. I need to get rid of all my everyday person's mindsets, fill my mind with strong righteous thoughts, and save sentient beings as soon as possible.
In the following, I'd like to write down Teacher's teaching and invite fellow practitioners to study together.
"In practicing cultivation, you are not making real, solid progress on your own, which would effect great, fundamental changes internally. Instead, you rely on my power and take advantage of powerful external factors. This can never transform your human nature into Buddha-nature. If every one of you can understand the Fa from the depths of your mind, that will truly be the manifestation of the Fa whose power knows no boundary--the reappearance of the mighty Buddha Fa in the human world!" ("Cautionary Advice" from Essentials for Further Advancement)
"Since you're Dafa disciples, you shouldn't put your hopes in so-called "natural" changes, external changes, changes in the ordinary society, or in some favors that someone might do for us. You are Gods, and you are the future rulers of different cosmoses, so who would you count on? All the beings are counting on you!" ("Teaching the Fa at the 2002 Fa Conference in Philadelphia, U.S.A..")
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Category: Improving Oneself
