(Minghui.org) I repeatedly read Master's lecture “Dafa Disciples Must Study the Fa” after it was published and benefited greatly. Most of all, it helped me realize my attitude towards studying the Fa.
I am 73 years old this year and started practicing Falun Dafa in March 1999. I used to suffer from heart disease, high blood pressure, and many other ailments before I began practicing. As a result, I had to retire nine years early. Although I took large quantities of medicine every day, they did not help.
I was fortunate to obtain the Fa while at the lowest point in my life and finished reading Essentials for Further Advancement in one sitting. When I woke up the next morning I was pain free - a feeling I never had before. After suffering for 20 years, all my pain and discomfort had disappeared! Master removed all my ailments overnight. Dafa is so amazing! Master is so compassionate. That is how I started practicing Falun Dafa.
Since I knew nothing about cultivation, I began practicing with an intention of having my illnesses cured. I read Zhuan Falun and followed the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I believed in each and every principle that Master talked about in the book and never doubted anything. I read two to three lectures every day.
After I had been practicing for more than two months, I saw with my right eye a small Falun spinning quickly, clockwise and then counter-clockwise. Then I saw it with my left eye. Later, I saw small Falun spinning in both directions a few times. It was wonderful!
I even saw a Taiji with my celestial eye. I didn't look at them again as I was afraid it would become an attachment. However, if I am in a good state during meditation, I can see wonderful scenes.
By 2005, I felt that every sentence in Zhuan Falun had become very familiar, so I didn't focus on what I was reading, and my mind began to wander. I knew it wasn't right, but I couldn't control it. I read the section again when I realized that my mind had wandered. But after a while, I didn't know what I was reading. I couldn't recall what I had just read after I finished studying the Fa, which meant that I had studied the Fa but did not obtain it.
I then switched from reading the Fa to copying it. I finished copying Zhuan Falun in six months and I have now copied it three times. Later, I memorized the Fa five times, finishing last in early August 2014.
However, whether I studied, copied, or memorized the Fa, it did not seem to enter my mind fully because I had forgotten why we study the Fa. I did it in order to finish the task of studying one to two lectures every day. I glanced over the Fa as I believed I was familiar with the words. I was thinking of something else while my mouth was reading the Fa. Thus, I did not elevate much in the Fa-principles and my xinxing did not truly improve.
As soon as it was published, I repeatedly read Master's lecture: “Dafa Disciples Must Study the Fa.” I carefully read it word by word.
Master said:
“When some people read Zhuan Falun they are not concentrating, but rather, thinking about other things, and not able to focus their attention on cultivation. It thus amounts to wasting time. And not just wasting time—instead of it being the time when they are to be elevating, they are using their minds to think over issues and things that they shouldn’t concern themselves with, and thus, not only aren’t they elevating, but on the contrary, they are often dropping in level.”
I then understood why I had long-term interference from sickness karma, which caused my legs to swell. My ability to do the three things was not affected, but the swelling would not go away. I realized that this was due to my incorrect attitude in studying the Fa. I was studying for the sake of completing the task and going through the formality.
Master also said:
“As for you, disciples of Dafa, the closer it gets to the end the better you should walk your paths, seizing the day to cultivate yourselves well. After doing a whole slew of things, you might find, if you look back upon them, that all of it was done with a human mindset. When it is a human being doing human things, and things are not being done with righteous thoughts, there won’t be any Dafa-disciple mighty virtue in those things. In other words, as gods see it, that’s just fooling around—not mighty virtue, or cultivation—even though you did do it. Then wouldn’t you say it was done in vain? You must study the Fa well, for that is the fundamental guarantee that you return to your position. (Disciples applaud) This isn’t just something that I casually thought up: what Master is imparting to you is the Fa of the cosmos. What I just said was to tell you that you absolutely must not slack off in your cultivation, you absolutely must not slack off in your Fa-study, and that you definitely must do it with all due sincerity. If previously you didn’t study well, you definitely should, once you leave here today and having heard Master address this again, really earnestly study and cultivate, and not let your mind wander.” (“Dafa Disciples Must Study the Fa”)
My eyes filled with tears when I read this. Each word reveals the compassion that Master has for us. On the matter of studying the Fa, in almost every recent teaching Master has reminded us to study more Fa, study more Fa, and study the Fa well. In “Dafa Disciples Must Study the Fa,” Master spoke very clearly on the difference between studying the Fa well and not studying it well.
As Dafa disciples we must study the Fa and study it well. I read on the Minghui website that some practitioners suggested we study the Fa slowly.
When I started to read Zhuan Falun slowly, each and every word went into my mind. I used to finish one lecture in an hour and a half. Now it takes me approximately two-and-a-half hours, and I sit with my legs crossed in the full lotus position. I don't feel pain in my legs, instead, I feel more and more relaxed.
In August 2014, I saw one sentence of Master's Fa sparkling. Every word was transparent and glittering, and all the words came alive. I knew Master was encouraging me once again for studying the Fa earnestly. I must study the Fa, cultivate myself, and do the three things well.
I like to read Master's recent lectures very much. Master uses easy to understand language to talk about the profound Fa-principles. The more I read, the more I love to read them.
I am extremely fortunate and proud, and often weep when I read the books. Master's breadth of mind and infinite grace are reflected everywhere in the books. Since Master has walked the Fa-rectification path so righteously, the old forces can do nothing. Our Master is too mighty.
I always believed that my memory was poor due to my old age, and I thought I couldn't remember much of the Fa that I read. After repeatedly studying “Dafa Disciples Must Study the Fa,” I felt that my mind had suddenly become broader and many Fa-principles surfaced. It truly shows that Dafa harmonizes and perfects everything. Dafa is profound and boundless.
Now when I imagine things and develop bad thoughts, the word “Emptiness” immediately comes to mind, and all rotten substances vanish. My body feels relaxed, and I sense that I am extremely tall and I am assimilating to the Fa when meditating. It is all very comfortable.
I have also studied “What is a Dafa Disciple.” After studying the two lectures, “Dafa Disciples Must Study the Fa” and “What is a Dafa Disciple,” my heart was like clear water. I now know better who I am, where I come from, why I am here, and where I should go.
Because my level is limited, if there are any shortcomings in what I have written, please kindly point them out.
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Category: Improving Oneself
