(Minghui.org) After lifetimes of reincarnations, we have had the good fortune of obtaining not only our human bodies, but also Falun Dafa. We are the most blessed lives in the universe. However, with the influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) culture, we have lost our original nature and our true selves.
After I started practicing Falun Dafa, I did not pay diligent attention to studying the Fa and cultivating my xinxing (mind and heart nature), and consequently I was persecuted time and time again.
Meanwhile, I also noticed that fellow practitioners who appeared to be cultivating extremely well were likewise persecuted in succession. I had to steady myself, look inside, and analyze myself as to why? Am I truly practicing? Am I living my life in accordance with the standard of a cultivator?
Memorizing the Fa
I decided to read all Dafa books and writings to further my understandings of the Fa.
Master said:
"Those of us who have the ability, who are in their prime, excepting people who are older or who have poor memory, should try to memorize the book. Perhaps what I’m suggesting is high—my requirement might be really high. But in many regions a lot of students have memorized it very well. When they study the Fa they don’t even need the book—they recite it from memory." (“Comments Regarding the Fa-Rectification Made at the Falun Dafa Assistants Meeting in Beijing” from Explaining the Content of Falun Dafa)
In the video of the Fa Teaching in Guangzhou, Master Li (the founder of Falun Dafa) once again referred to the Changchun Dafa disciples who memorized Zhuan Falun and other writings.
I knew I must also memorize the Fa. In fact, Master brought this subject up in 1994, and 20 years has passed.
I have made great improvement since memorizing Zhuan Falun.
When I memorize Zhuan Falun, I can feel layers upon layers of profound Fa principles unfolding. I find it hard put the book down. Its content is so profound.
At the same time, I feel my thinking has entered another dimension and my human notions are changing, while I’m not even fully aware of it happening.
Memorizing the Fa is also a process of “...studying the Fa and obtaining the Fa...” (“Comments Regarding the Fa-Rectification Made at the Falun Dafa Assistants Meeting in Beijing” from Explaining the Content of Falun Dafa) a process of cultivation of the mind, and also a process of ridding oneself of attachments, which is a process of physical change.
For example, I used to always feel perturbed and deeply concerned when others looked down on me. I just couldn’t let it go. I later understood it was due to my own karma, and others were helping me to improve and raise my xinxing. Nothing is accidental.
After I understood this Fa principle, when I did the second exercise of holding the Law Wheel, I would feel the meridians where I had illnesses before suddenly clear, and my body would feel very light.
I personally experienced what Master said:
“Why can’t some people cure their illnesses after a long period of practice? Qigong is cultivation practice and something supernormal, as opposed to everyday people’s physical exercises. One must focus on xinxing in order to cure illness and increase gong.” (Zhuan Falun)
I Started to Seriously Cultivate
In Zhuan Falun, in the section on “People with Great Inborn Quality”, Master said:
“I have mentioned that one must suffer the toughest hardships of all. The other day I said that humankind’s time-space concept is different from that in another, larger time-space. Here, one shichen is two hours, which is a year in that space. If a person practices cultivation in this harsh condition, he will be considered truly remarkable. When this person develops the heart for the Tao and wants to practice cultivation, he is just simply great. With such hardships, he still has not lost his original nature and wants to return to the origin through cultivation practice. Why can practitioners be helped unconditionally? It is just because of this. When this person sits in meditation for one night in this dimension of everyday people, upon seeing this, others will say that he is really remarkable as he has already sat there for six years. This is because one shichen of ours equals one year over there. Our humankind’s dimension is an extremely unique one.” (Zhuan Falun)
After memorizing this section, I understood I need to be more diligent and need to use higher standards to demand of myself. I decided to do the meditation exercise in the quiet of night.
It was really hard at the beginning, especially between one and three o'clock when the urge to sleep was strong. Anyway, I bit the bullet and jumped over the hurdle.
Since then, I found my cultivation state has been raised to a new level. When I studied the Fa, I realized the Fa content was not the same as before. I now read Master's words with a deeper understanding.
I further extend the time in the jieyin position during meditation, (conjoining the hands) to nearly an hour and a half. It helps me to clear out my thoughts. I only know I am in a meditative mode and can feel being in a state of inaction where everything seems to be at a standstill. In my mind’s eye, I faintly see Master in the image of a Tathagata, with curly hair, wearing a white robe, sitting in the lotus position, hands conjoined, majestic, displaying multiple of bodies one larger than the other. Just like what I remember seeing in the Shen Yun DVD.
Plum Flowers Always Strive in the Bitter Cold
I now understand more the solemnness, wonderment, and splendor of practicing Falun Dafa,
My body has also undergone great changes. My skin has become fairer and more delicate. I’m a woman of over thirty years old, but I can easily pass for twenty. That’s the phenomenon that happens when every cell in the body is immersed in high-energy matter.
My thoughts are generally devoid of worldly complications. Before, the attachments to lust and desires were difficult to overcome. With cleansing that comes with extensive time spent in meditation, human notions are unconsciously replaced by more noble thoughts. Now, lustful thinking will make my head ache, and food cravings will cause my stomach to turn.
I notice many practitioners around me have yet to experience physical changes or have reached a degree of “cultivation of mind and body.” They have not yet cultivated diligently and solidly, falling asleep during Fa study, feeling drowsy when doing the exercises, and dozing off while sending righteous thoughts. They fan themselves during Fa study, turning on the air conditioning when doing the exercises in the summer, and snuggling inside their quilts doing meditation in the winter. They don’t want to endure any difficulty.
Their mouths declare Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good, but their hearts are filled with attachments to fame, fortune, and familial sentimentality. When you suggest that they try to memorize the Fa, they’ll come up with different excuses.
Master said:
“Amidst tribulation, the gold body is refinedThere is no reason for steps so slow” (“The Path to Divinity is Difficult” from Hong Yin Vol. II)
When there is no bitterness, how do we distinguish sweet? When we do not change, our body will continue to age.
Truly Trust in the Righteous Fa and Rid Ourselves of Scientific Superstitions
There are some practitioners who can’t sleep at night. I have had similar difficulty and can deeply appreciate what they are going through. They don’t eat well. They don’t sleep well. Sometimes their physical bodies are in such discomfort they prefer death over living. They send righteous thought to negate the old forces’ arrangements, and feel a little better. They do the exercises, and get a little relief. Yet, despite immediate effects, there is no fundamental change.
Sometimes, their “illnesses” seem to be severe, and they will think about resorting to medication. They fail to enlighten and begin to lose confidence. They lament this trial or that tribulation is impossible to overcome. What to do?
I personally know a practitioner who couldn’t pass the test and checked into the hospital. There were some who passed away in hospitals.
I now realize that Master uses illnesses to rid us of karma, giving us whole body purification. Master constantly talks about “No loss, no gain.” (Zhuan Falun) While karma is being eliminated, we have to endure some. In fact, we have only just a little bit to bear.
When we suffer a bit and endure our karma elimination, our bodies will get better, our sleep becomes more peaceful, and our hearts calm down.
When we have more understanding of the karmic issues, we will come to appreciate that Dafa is truly a deep and extraordinary science, far beyond all modern sciences combined, far beyond our ancient Chinese medicine or qigong.
I also have come to realize the sacredness of spreading the Fa. When we give people money and material things, they will use them up one day, sooner or later. When we give them Falun Dafa, they will benefit beyond their lifetimes.
I realized a lot of people believe in modern science. Among them are even practitioners with inadequate study of the Fa; myself included, once upon a time.
When people would ask me about the benefits of Falun Dafa I would tell them that reciting “Falun Dafa is good” would help protect them from illness. Some wouldn't believe me and said they would rather believe in modern medical science, and others would expound on the benefits modern technology has brought to mankind.
I later realized from studying the Fa, that my problem stemmed from my own ignorance. Modern science does not believe in God, nor does it believe in the cause and effect of good and evil retribution. If we do not steady our hearts to study the Fa, then we cannot break through this layer.
In the depths of our life’s microscopic level, there exists factors that do not believe in Dafa, There is still suspicion. There is still an element of doubt. So, at the crucial moment, we go to the hospital. This is the long-term result of not studying the Fa in all sincerity. Its cumulative, and when the karma gets too big, we can’t pass the test.
The Meaning and Outcome of Meditation
For a long time, I didn’t understand about having a heart of compassion.
In the past, when I got up before 4 a.m. to do the exercises, I used to be a little uneasy and have a deep desire to continue sleeping. When I got to the deep meditation stage with the conjoining of the hands, sometimes I would get very drowsy. I knew that was wrong.
I know many practitioners are in this similar state, especially in the case of some elderly who fail to keep their backs erect with hands conjoined, and thus it is not done properly.
Eventually, I overcame this hurdle. When I extended the time of meditation, everything became wonderful. Sometimes, when I recall people’s abusive words that really insulted my personality, even when I couldn't calm down during the day, I become tranquil when I meditated. I would think of Master’s Fa and about my thanking people and having compassion, as they are actually giving me de (virtue) and helping me raise my heart and mind nature.
When I continue to meditate, my will becomes strong. I can sometimes feel my energy becoming more powerful.
The more I study the Fa and do the exercises, the more I feel how precious Dafa is. After studying and exercising, I’ll be full of energy with every cell in my body being filled with joy, and I feel full of vitality and life!
Being Active
Some people who practice cultivation talk about non-action. But, how can they not speak up and talk to people when they see them being deceived by the Party. How can they not take action when they witness a murder or arson?
The Communist Party has done so many bad deeds, that even the heavens will have it destroyed. People who are members of the Party and people who support it out of ignorance are like people drowning in water. Can we refuse to help? Our conscience cannot allow that. Our human moral nature will not condone this inaction.
This is what I have learned and enlightened to in the process of elevating my xinxing and clarifying the facts while studying the Fa.
My level is limited. Kindly point out anything inappropriate.
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