(Minghui.org) As cultivators, we all know that studying the Fa teachings is a must. Cultivation is serious and so is studying the teachings. I would like to share some things I've heard about and observed in different study groups and hope that they can inspire us to elevate together.

One practitioner described a study group that he used to attend that met once a week. They would spend half an hour catching up on things that had happened during the week, mostly things not related to cultivation. Then they would study one lecture and leave. They did not set aside any time for discussion on the basis of the Fa. The group met for years, but progress was very slow.

Master wants us to study the teachings together and then discuss and share our experiences so that we can learn from each other, remind each other, and encourage each other to be diligent. This group was just going through the motions and was not able to elevate on the basis of the Fa, so the old forces took advantage of the situation. Many practitioners suffered sickness karma and tribulations in their families. The group no longer meets.

When I attended a group six months ago, we first sent forth righteous thoughts, but some people dozed off. When we began to read, some became so drowsy that they even dropped the book. They could not find their paragraph and got upset when others pointed it out to them. How could they learn anything when their minds and hearts were not fully present when they studied? How could the teachings enlighten them? This group no longer exists, either.

At another group, the practitioners liked to bring goodies to share. One would make a dessert and another would make a special dish. “Fa study” became an occasion to congregate and chit-chat. The old forces seized upon their loopholes and destroyed it.

In one group that I know of, the practitioners could not share experiences calmly. They all had their own opinions regarding certain things and wouldn't budge. They argued more than they shared. Many of them were persecuted, some developed fear, some moved far away, and some no longer came. The once-large group shrank and is having a hard time staying together.

I'd also like to describe the group I currently study with. This one has been together for over ten years. We never chitchat. We send forth righteous as soon as we get together, and then we study. After that, we share and discuss on the basis of the Fa. Each of us has a project to do, and we help, support, and encourage each other. We do not exchange gifts and we do not drink or eat during the time we study. Everyone shows up on time. We hardly have any interference. We study together and carry out our duties as Falun Gong practitioners.

Cultivation is serious, and studying the teachings is not merely reading the book. Whether one is diligent or not depends on how we study. When we do well, we can carry out our duties well, otherwise, there will be interference to prevent us from cultivating and saving sentient beings.

From what I've learned and experienced, I really think that as Falun Gong practitioners, we should reflect very seriously on how we study the Fa. If we only go through the formality of studying and do not measure our words, deeds, and thoughts against the teachings, we will be interfered with. If we cannot study the teachings with a calm mind and our full attention, we will be interfered with. Our elevation and improvement start with healthy Fa study.

This is my current understanding. Please kindly point out shortcomings.