(Minghui.org) Recently, many fellow practitioners have been in an incorrect cultivation state. Some feel that they cannot continue cultivating; some are experiencing serious sickness karma; and some have passed away.
I was shocked to know that many practitioners are going through tribulations one way or another. After reading the sharing article “Some Thoughts on Most Dafa Disciples’ Cultivation State,” I also feel that many of us still don’t know how to genuinely cultivate ourselves, and I’d like to share some of my thoughts below.
The Joy of Genuine Cultivation
Master published Hong Yin II in 2007, and one of the poems read,
“Rest momentarily for self-reflection, add righteous thoughtsAnalyze shortcomings explicitly, advance again wholeheartedly”(“Be Rational, Awaken,” Hong Yin II)
I read it over and over, and pondered what is the meaning behind the poem? What can we learn from it?
Based on my understanding, I decided to take a small amount of time every night to reflect on what I went through during the day against the Fa and see if there was anything I did not do well in accordance with the Fa.
As a result, I was always able to identify what I did not do well, and which attachment caused it. What’s even more amazing was that after another day or two, something would suddenly happen that touched the same attachment again, and I would discover it in an instant and do a better job at eliminating it.
In this way, I kept finding my attachments and removing them. During that time, my cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds. I was shocked by the speed at which my level increased and my changes physically. It was an indescribable experience.
Our cultivation in Falun Dafa progresses really fast. If we truly and solidly cultivate, the speed of improvement is so fast! To use a metaphor, the way we progress is not like a plane flying upwards diagonally, but a rocket shooting straight up, Actually we move even faster than a rocket as we break through layers of celestial bodies and the universes. Dafa is wondrous. Master’s words target whatever we need to improve.
Master said:
“For instance, upon arriving at the workplace, a person overhears two people saying bad things about him, things bad enough to make him furious.” (Lecture Four, Zhuan Falun)
For a period of time, my cultivation state was really good. Whenever I came across conflicts and looked within, I could see immediately what attachment or attachments triggered the conflict.
Master said:
“I hope that after going home everyone will make the best use of his or her time for genuine cultivation.” (Lecture Nine, Zhuan Falun)
Master taught us the Fa. It is up to us to seize the moment to do genuine cultivation.
The Fundamental Reason for Cultivation
I notice that some fellow practitioners usually stop short at sharing how they elevate their xinxing and eliminate attachments, but when it comes to everyday affairs, they could spend hours talking about it.
One practitioner stopped practicing and gave me her Dafa books. After cultivating for over 20 years, she told me that she did not believe in the existence of divine beings. I was stunned! She came to Dafa for good health, but she has never truly obtained the Fa.
In fact, this is not surprising. Master told us:
“If you come to learn the practice and this Dafa with various pursuits, you will not learn anything.” (Lecture One, Zhuan Falun)
When one’s basis of cultivation is not set correctly, it is hard to cultivate diligently and solidly. If people don’t change their fundamental notions or eliminate their fundamental attachments, they might wander around at the entrance of Dafa but never get in.
Proactively Find and Eliminate Attachments
As cultivators, we have to eliminate certain attachments to be able to elevate to another level. If we can’t realize or eliminate them for a long time, our cultivation will progress slowly or get stuck at certain levels.
We may also have certain very stubborn attachments (perhaps arranged by the old forces) that are particularly hard to cultivate away. I sensed that I had a particular attachment that was carried over to this lifetime of mine from previous lives. Even in this lifetime, the old forces had made meticulous arrangements to nurture and grow this attachment. I also noticed that this attachment had been divided into many layers. It was really hard for me to identify and get rid this attachment. I had to pay close attention to each and every thought of mine in order not to be swayed by it.
Fellow practitioners might have a similar situation as me, but with different manifestations of the attachments. Some may be attached to their reputation, some to profit, and others to human sentimentality.
I knew a fellow practitioner Yun. She had a strong attachment to elation. Shortly after she began practicing, all of her illnesses were gone! Her joy was beyond words! She was at the forefront of promoting Dafa and her steadfast heart was admirable.
But Yun was a very dominant person, which added difficulties to her cultivation. She sold her house and used the money to promote Dafa. She has lived with her daughter since. She quit eating meat, even eggs. She had to cook separately from her family. Her extreme behavior turned people away, even fellow practitioners in her family.
For the last several years, she became so weak that she could hardly walk. She had to use a walker to get around. I talked with her several times and she finally realized her problem. But rectifying her behavior takes the process of genuine and solid cultivation.
If one doesn’t get rid of their attachments for a long time, there will be great consequences that might make one lose confidence in cultivation; one might be confused and not know how to cultivate anymore; and it can also worsen the tribulation and make it harder for one to discover one’s attachments. If one is misled by their attachments and make mistakes, they may face even worse tribulations.
Do the Three Things Well
Study the Fa Well
When fellow practitioners study the Fa, some try to “dig up” some deeper meaning between the lines; some pursue speed and read very fast; and some try to show off how fluently they read.
Even though I memorized “On Dafa” very well, my mind could still wander when I memorize it. I wanted to remind myself as well as fellow practitioners, even if one can memorize the Fa very well without any mistake, that doesn’t mean we have studied the Fa well. We need to have a calm mind and focus on what we are studying.
Sending Forth Righteous Thoughts the Way Master Requires of Us
While sending forth righteous thoughts, some practitioners shout the verses loudly and vehemently, with resentment towards the perpetrators. There are also some who use much force on their palms. But the power of righteous thoughts isn’t about how much force we use, but our divine power in the other dimension. Only when our mind is clear and focused, can we command such power.
Clarifying the Truth is Our Mission and Responsibility
The cultivation of Dafa disciples is to awaken sentient beings and save them from the great havoc of the universe. From my own cultivation experience, only when I carried out my duty of truth-clarification well, could I feel the elevation in my cultivation. As a Fa-rectification period Dafa disciple, only cultivating our xinxing is not enough, we also have to validate the Fa and save sentient beings to accomplish our mission.
But we should avoid going to extremes and not mistake doing things as cultivation. Some only view persuading others to quit the Chinese Communist Party as doing well in cultivation and view that as a way to evaluate one’s cultivation.
A Kind Reminder
I’d like to share with others how much I benefited from looking within. I would like to remind fellow practitioners to do the same, so that we can cultivate and elevate together.
I enjoyed reading sharing articles on Minghui.org, particularly those that talked about how fellow practitioners improved their xinxing, how they carried out their duties of saving people, and how they resolved the conflicts and eliminated interference from other dimensions.
It is my sincere hope that more practitioners will take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity of the Fa-rectification period to genuinely and solidly cultivate ourselves, and follow Master to our heavenly abode.
This is my understanding at this level, and please kindly point out any shortcomings.
Editor’s note: This article only represents the author’s understanding in their current cultivation state meant for sharing among practitioners so that we can “Compare in studying, compare in cultivating.” (“Solid Cultivation,” Hong Yin)
Views expressed in this article represent the author's own opinions or understandings. All content published on this website are copyrighted by Minghui.org. Minghui will produce compilations of its online content regularly and on special occasions.
Category: Improving Oneself
