(Minghui.org) I recently read an article on Minghui Weekly: “Another Big Test in the Battle Between Good and Evil.”
One paragraph really touched me: “In Fa-rectification, Master uses the greatest mercy to save all lives that are still kind and savable. For us Dafa practitioners, our level of faith is reflected by whether we devote ourselves to true cultivation or simply treat the practice as a philosophical theory and a “safe” way to live our lives.”
The article helped me look at cultivation from a new perspective—I realized that I treated Falun Dafa’s principles, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, as a “philosophical theory and a safe” way to live.
I didn’t begin practicing Falun Dafa because I was sick. The first time I read Zhuan Falun, Master’s words resonated with me,
“Many people have practiced qigong for a very long time. There are also people who have never practiced it, but who have pursued and pondered the truth and the meaning of human life.” (Lecture Eight, Zhuan Falun)
I felt Master was talking about me.
I always thought my heart was very pure. When I encountered difficulties in passing tests, I tried to look for my fundamental attachments but I couldn’t find them. I realized that my cultivation state improved very slowly. Although I went to Beijing to appeal for justice for Falun Dafa, and filed a criminal complaint against Jiang Zemin, my cultivation state was sometimes good and sometimes poor, and I always felt powerless.
I often asked Master to strengthen my righteous thoughts, but was I truly cultivating? My cultivation was very poor when I measured it with the Fa. It was hard for me to get rid of fear, and I didn’t do the three things well.
When I finally found my fundamental attachment, I suddenly realized that I regarded Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance as a philosophical theory and a “safe” way to live.
In the past, when I saw that practitioners around me failed to overcome big tribulations, or passed away due to the persecution, or were “transformed” under pressure, I analyzed what caused this. I found that they hadn’t removed their fundamental attachments, and they wanted to get something out of Dafa. So, the old forces took the advantage of their loopholes and they were ruthlessly taken away.
Whenever this happened, I examined myself but felt I didn’t have any fundamental attachments. I thought I was following Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and I felt happy and fulfilled being a practitioner.
When I clarify the truth, I often tell people how healthy I am, how harmonious my family is, and what a good person I am, so people praise me. I thought that I was validating the Fa and that there was nothing wrong with what I said.
After I read the article I realized that my words reflected my heart: I was using Dafa, and I regarded Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance as a philosophy or theory. I knew that by practicing Falun Dafa my health would improve, my family would be harmonious, and so on—wasn’t I practicing Falun Dafa to achieve the “safe” way of life that I wanted? Doesn’t this show that I wanted the “good life” of ordinary people?
During our cultivation journeys we start out as ordinary people and progress to the final consummation of Dafa disciples during the Fa-rectification period, and there are countless levels in between. Only when we meet the criteria of each level can we be considered to be assimilating to the Fa at that level, and only then can we meet the qualifications to move on to the next level, layer by layer... I’ve cultivated for more than 20 years, but when I look back I’m only as good as an ordinary person. Am I fulfilling the mission and responsibility of a Dafa disciple during the Fa-rectification period?
When I found my fundamental attachment, my mind became very clear. Although many years have passed, I finally understand. Master said, “Dafa disciples’ magnificence is connected to the Fa-rectification of the cosmos, and your greatest mission is to safeguard the Fa.” (“Fa Teaching Given at the Conference in Florida, U.S.A.,” Collected Teachings Given Around the World Volume II)
When I saw the words “safeguard the Fa,” I felt incomparably solemn and steadfast. Compared to the difficult decision 25 years ago when I had to decide whether or not I went to Beijing to protect the Fa, I truly improved.
As a Falun Dafa practitioner living in China, I understand that in addition to working harder to do three things well, we must strengthen our righteous thoughts to eliminate the evil. We are not in the U.S., we are in the main battlefield between good and evil, so our responsibility is large.
This is my current understanding. If anything I’ve said is not in line with the Fa, please compassionately correct me.
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Category: Cultivation Insights
