(Minghui.org) A respected veteran practitioner in our local area passed away recently. She had been clarifying the truth about Dafa to people on the front lines for the past 20-plus years, and was highly respected. She didn’t recognize me when I last saw her. Many practitioners went to help her during her final days, but she was not able to make it in the end.
I heard that her child once said to her that she didn’t cultivate her heart. She asked, “Why didn’t you tell me?” This reminded us that practitioners should help each other, and not wait until it is too late. We should point out other practitioners’ problems when we see them, so as to avoid any regrets.
This practitioner had done great things that many other practitioners would not be able to achieve. Unfortunately she failed to make it in the end. Her death told us that cultivation is very serious and there is no guarantee that we can complete our paths by just doing things.
I thought that cultivation was an individual act, and that everyone’s situation was different, and that it was a personal issue whether one cultivated diligently. I have cultivated for more than 20 years and have been increasingly aware of my limitations. My third eye is not open, so I have not been willing to share my thoughts. But this death reminded me to talk about the issue of cultivation. I had to emphasize that cultivation and doing things were not contradictory. We can do things better by cultivating ourselves well.
What Is Hardest in Cultivation?
What is the hardest part of cultivation? Different people have different answers. Even the same people have different answers at different stages of their lives. Personally, I think that the most difficult part is that I have to let go of attachments that I am not aware of. If I don’t recognize my attachments, how can I rectify them?
It might be for this reason that many practitioners have been unable to get over a tribulation for a long time. The practitioner didn’t think he was wrong in a particular aspect, and superficially it was not his fault. If the practitioners around him didn’t think it was his fault either, showed their sympathy, and comforted him, it was difficult for him to look for his own problem.
Master is taking care of our cultivation. However gods will not tell us directly where our problem is, and what we must eliminate. They will give us hints. I treat the hints as a god’s language. Divine beings don’t tell me directly, but rather show me through my surrounding environment, and let me realize it.
For example if I don’t feel comfortable physically, other people treat me badly, or terrible things happen to me, I treat it as the gods communicating with me and telling me that I should pay attention to something, or cultivate in a particular aspect. Cultivators have to figure it out and look within. We should not look at things superficially. This is called “looking inward.” Many practitioners say that they have looked within, but cannot find their attachments.
Why can they not understand this kind of “language”? Most probably they didn’t empty their minds. If they assumed that they were correct, then it may have been hard for them to receive the hints from gods. If they emptied their minds, they may have calmed down and been able to easily identify their problems.
It is easier said than done. I realized this only after experiencing countless tribulations over the past 20-plus years, and it still took some time before I was able to let go of those attachments. It is an ongoing process. Sometimes I know that gods are giving me hints, but I still find it difficult to take action when I am within the tribulation. I then repeatedly recite “Let hardship then be treated as your joy” (“Tempering Your Will,” Hong Yin) and I would feel joyful in my heart. Master is looking after me all the time.
Solidly Looking Within
“Looking inward” is not an empty phrase. Looking inward means looking at our hearts honestly. Everything happening to us can possibly be hints.
Some practitioners don’t treasure the conflicts people bring to us and complain terribly. Those practitioners who cultivate alone and don’t come across tribulations look conformable. It is hard for them to cultivate and let go of the problems they are not aware of. We have people around us to “help” us and gods often give us hints. These are actually precious opportunities.
Those people who “help” us most probably knew what roles they would play during this period of time, before they descended to this world. I asked myself if I was willing to play the role of making trouble for cultivators and what it would mean for them. My understanding is that if we succeed in cultivation, they indeed have helped us. But if we fall down because of the tribulations they set for us, wouldn’t they disturb us and sabotage us? What would be waiting for them in the future? Wasn’t it terrifying for them?
Speaking from another perspective, they were risking their lives. Whether we cultivate ourselves well or not will determine their future. That is why they will not feel sympathetic with us when we don’t do well.
The most hurtful words I heard in those days were, “You have cultivated in vain during these years.” I was speechless. This was worse than someone cursing at me. Others were more anxious than myself if I was not enlightened.
This was obviously also a reflection of jealousy of the beings in the old cosmos. They don’t know how to help us with compassion, but only in a negative way. Practitioners should remind each other with kindness. But we are cultivating ourselves, aren’t we? Beings in the old cosmos are positioning themselves as well. We shall save them all the same.
Cultivating With a Clear Mind and Following the Course of Nature
From a personal cultivation perspective, I could understand some principles of “following the course of nature.” I remind myself to follow the course of nature whenever things happen. I do not hold fast to my opinion, and let go of myself. This may bring better results than I expect, even results I would never have imagined before. But during the process I might not see the results. Only by cultivating firmly will I have good results.
I look within when coming across problems and understand that gods are hinting that I should gain realization of something. I don’t feel that cultivation is hard any longer after so many years. Nothing can prevent me from cultivating myself on my cultivation path. Although a lot of time I can’t meet the standard that the Fa set for me, I know what is right, and try my best to do it well.
I know that many practitioners would rather not talk about the issue of cultivation for various reasons. They might be misunderstood even if they reminded other practitioners in a kind way. I have come across similar situations. But every practitioner will have some practitioners to talk to, and we should remind each other. When seeing a practitioner stumble at the same spot repeatedly, we should point it out to him honestly and kindly.
The above is only my limited shallow understanding. Please point out anything not in line with the Fa. Actually we will find our shortcomings after a while. Don’t we cultivate in order to improve? But we cannot improve if we always think we are right.
Editor’s note: This article only represents the author’s current understanding meant for sharing among practitioners so that we can “Compare with one another in study, in cultivation.” (“Solid Cultivation,” Hong Yin)
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Category: Improving Oneself
