(Minghui.org) I was arrested a few years ago while handing out informational materials about Falun Dafa and the persecution. I was later illegally sentenced to prison.
While imprisoned, I began to examine how I had been doing in my cultivation. I found that I was attached to doing things and to building up mighty virtue. I paid a great deal of attention to how many things I had done, so I felt good about myself and kept taking on more tasks. I also could hardly calm down when I studied the Fa, and this state persisted for a while.
Because I had loopholes in my xinxing, I was arrested.
After I recognized this and worked on eliminating my attachments, I was eventually able to calm down. I began to memorize and recite the Fa and clarify the facts to people face-to-face despite the difficulties.
I kept reminding myself not to make the same mistakes, not to think too highly of myself, not to do too many things and to make sure to do well with the tasks at hand.
One day I was able to clarify the facts to my coworkers, but when I came home and began studying the Fa, I felt that something was interfering with me.
I began to look inward, and although I didn't do less in clarifying the truth that day, I didn't feel that my energy field was as strong as before.
I realized that one reason was that I hadn't spent as much time reciting the Fa that morning.
I spoke with my mother who was also a practitioner, and we discussed that one should maintain a state of mind of being unselfish and “not pursuing” when clarifying the truth. We should not cultivate just for ourselves, but simply tell people the facts about the persecution without being attached to doing things.
When I tried to help my mom by pointing out issues related to her cultivation, I also looked inward to examine myself. Almost immediately, whatever was troubling me disappeared.
I understood from this that by our daily truth-clarification, Fa study, doing the exercises, and sending forth righteous thoughts, we are being diligent to a certain degree. The key to truly improving oneself, however, is to measure one's words and actions with the Fa to eliminate any deeply hidden attachments.
Teacher said:
The Three Religions stress cultivating with non-action,But at first improper intention ‘tis with-action;A focus on charitable works is still action,Remove all attachments for true non-action.(“Non-action” in Hong Yin)
I realized that the outcome is different as to whether one puts one's heart into clarifying the truth or not. This might be why when some practitioners do it solidly, they don't run into any problems. However, others are harassed or even arrested.
After I made sure that my motive for talking to people was correct – to save them, my attachment to fear also disappeared. I know that we are reaching out to people despite the great difficulties in China, and that we've put aside our attachment to life and death.
If practitioners are compassionate, upright and our motives are pure, we can break through any interference.
As practitioners, let's strive to eliminate those fundamental attachments that are hard to detect in one's day-to-day life that was formed over thousands of years. By achieving this state, what we do is most sacred.
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Category: Improving Oneself
