(Minghui.org) Several practitioners in our area were arrested last month while they were telling people the facts about Falun Gong. They were taken to a detention center, but were released the same day. The several local coordinators shared about it and identified our shortcomings.

I strongly agreed with one practitioner's sharing. He said, “There is one saying among everyday people. Decline rewards for merit but take responsibility oneself.” That is to say, the rewards for success belong to everyone, while mistakes are attributed to oneself. A practitioner is not in a good cultivation state if he keeps achievements and fruits to himself, while shoving all responsibility for mistakes toward others. This is the standard of everyday people. Practitioners should have higher standards and do much better than everyday people.

In our discussion, I became aware of some problems among us. During the past several years, our local Dafa practitioners created a very good environment, which is much looser than in the surrounding areas. Many people have quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations. We unconsciously developed attachments to zealotry and complacency. Our Fa study, sending forth righteous thoughts, and experience sharing gradually turned into formalities. We did these things almost just to accomplish tasks and maintain formalities. As time went by, I myself gradually started ignoring the essence of cultivation.

Group Fa study, practicing the exercises, sending forth righteous thoughts, clarifying the truth, and participating in Fa conferences are all things that Teacher taught us to do. However, during the process of doing these things, they unconsciously became superficial formalities. Then what was the effect of Fa study, practicing the exercises, sharing and sending forth righteous thoughts? How well were we doing these things?

We gradually slacked off and were not strict with ourselves, and even regarded maintaining these formalities as cultivation. It's true that some people quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations, but how well did they know the truth about Falun Dafa? Did some of the people think that the CCP was disgusting, but still had no righteous thoughts about Dafa?

Cultivation cannot focus on its formalities, but should focus on its effects. “Looking inside” is not a signature phrase. We should practice cultivation steadily and do truly well what we should do. If our hearts do not change, everything will be for naught.