(Minghui.org) I read an experience-sharing article by an Austrian practitioner on the Minghui website. In the article, she said that we didn’t have time to argue about how we should solve problems, and that we should fundamentally change ourselves by abandoning human notions. Her sharing resonated with me so deeply that I couldn’t hold back my tears.
I asked myself how I could maximally get rid of “human” notions.
Master said,
“Of course, it is easy for me to talk about it; actually cultivating to this point is a long, gradual process.” (Lecture Two, Zhuan Falun)
Master has repeatedly told us that studying the Fa well every day is the basis for elevating ourselves.
I have been studying the Fa with a focused mind the past month. I have read it aloud and will re-read a paragraph if my mind is not focused while reading it. I sit on the same chair and put Zhuan Falun on the table beside the chair. To my surprise, I found that I was actually longing for reading the Fa recently. When I was reading, I felt like I was in a calm and private safe haven.
I also noticed that I was in a bit of rush when reading, as if I must finish the task in an efficient way. I was treating reading the Fa with everyday people’s notions. After getting rid of those notions, I felt that I studied the Fa in a calmer manner.
When a delivery man or repair man came to my home, if time allowed I would chat with them about the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong, a spiritual practice that is also known as Falun Dafa. I would give them flyers and paper lotus flowers, and told them that these things were real amulets. On some occasions I had added, “When you are facing hardships and recite these words; your life might change.” I didn’t explain it further but hoped that they would explore it and feel the effectiveness themselves. But in my heart, I felt a bit uneasy and that I should say more.
I realized that I had a wish that they would use it and that when they did it would be effective. There was a hidden attachment. I was attached to results and wanted to prove something.
I realized that I was more focused on the result of reciting the phrases, not on the process of reciting these words. I also realized that I had a thought saying that people might feel that the practice was more like religion, strange, naïve, or something new age. I understand now that those were my inner notions and I had used them in my mind. I have since cast away those notions.
I watched a film about human genes on the Pure Insight website. It explained how the quality of our thoughts affects our DNA and all the cells in our bodies from a scientific perspective. I understand now that we can talk to people from the perspective of science, which conforms better to everyday people’s mindsets. People can feel the power of the truth more and have a better understanding if I use a more effective way to clarify the truth.
I decided that I will use these tools more when I clarify the truth to people.
Master said,
“A notion, once formed, will control you for the duration of your life, influencing your thinking and even the full gamut of emotions, such as your happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy.” (“Buddha Nature,” Zhuan Falun Volume II)
Our true selves on the level where we were created were at the most microcosmic level of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. The higher our origins are, the smaller the particles that compose of our bodies are. Those particles are the manifestations of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance at that level. Basically we were created by Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance at that level. We can return to that original level through cultivation.
The Fa that Master has explained and that touches me deeply was that the particles of karma cannot reach the level where our true selves are, and though that karma can bury our true selves, it cannot reach our true selves.
Master said:
“That is because karma does not have matter as fine or as tiny as that in it. Karma is produced among ordinary human beings, so it is a substance of ordinary man. It’s not possible for that material to be so microcosmic, whereas when the life of a human being is created, extremely microcosmic substances are used. That is why karma cannot penetrate it. It is merely that the person’s original nature has been buried.” (“Buddha Nature,” Zhuan Falun Volume II)
That is why we can return to our original selves gradually during the process of getting rid of karma layer by layer. The karma was formed by our notions in this lifetime or in previous lives, and has buried our pure and kind nature.
I asked myself five minutes before I sent forth righteous thought at 9 p.m., “How many notions do I have?” The answer was that I was afraid of “nonexistence.” Before obtaining the Fa, when I had anxiety or strong negative feelings in different periods of my life, I had always had the thought that I didn’t exist. I later realized that I had such a notion. I only had such a sense at that time.
But this time I connected this notion with my attachments to showing off, demonstrating myself, and putting myself in the spotlight. This was actually an attachment caused by me wanting to show my presence.
When I started practicing Falun Dafa in 2019, my attachment to showing off became very obvious. I tried to let go of this attachment. I realized that this showoff mentality had always accompanied me since I was 18 years old, as if it was my second self.
I had a complete understanding of the attachment to showing off as my cultivation progressed. I found that my daily life was set up around this attachment; how I dressed myself, where I lived, who I should choose as my spouse, which car I wanted to buy, and at work, among my friends, and my spiritual life. How I exaggerated things was connected with this attachment. It was deeply rooted in me and permeated throughout my life without me noticing.
When I dug into it further, I found that the attachment of reinforcing my presence and showing off was caused by my fear of not being acknowledged. My daily life was set up completely around the notion of not losing myself. I tried my best to safeguard my selfishness. This was a black hole. The selfishness was like an octopus, entangling me and reaching every part it could reach in my body. I supplied energy to it. I had never reflected on what my real successes were, what my values truly were, and what I really liked. I always measured myself based on whether I was successful or not through superficial results that I had achieved.
I read another practitioner’s sharing article about her fundamental attachments. I realized that all my attachments resulted from having a “strong presence” or “being noticeable,” such as jealousy, anger, strong emotions, complacency, seeking efficiency, a lack of patience, looking down upon other people, looking up to someone, and criticizing others. My fear also came from worrying about “being invisible.” My fundamental fear was to lose “presence.” I was fundamentally attached to having a “strong presence.” Only when I let go of this fundamental attachment could the Fa could show its power through me.
After this realization, I paid more attention to my behavior and reactions. I could find why I had such behaviors or reactions more easily. All my attachments were connected to this fundamental attachment of “being noticeable.” All my fears were connected to being afraid of losing presence.
I was even afraid that my understanding of the Fa in my sharing article was not deep enough. This fear was also connected to “being noticeable.” I wanted to reinforce “my presence” by having a deep understanding of the Fa in my sharing article. The fact that I doubted whether it was my fundamental attachment was an attempt to find an excuse for my selfishness. I wanted to keep it. If I did everything out of “selfishness,” how could I possibly consider other people first? My way of doing everything was founded on “selfishness.” How could I possibly become assimilated to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance?
After I have found the source of my attachments, I felt like that I had a mechanism installed. I could find which attachments had arisen from my fundamental attachment, how it displayed itself, and how I could get rid of it. I realize that I cannot go back to my old ways anymore. I have become humble.
Thank you, Master, for spreading the Fa to us! Thank you, practitioners, for your sharing on the Minghui website! I am walking forward steadily on my cultivation path.
The above is my sharing at my current level. Please kindly point out anything that is not in line with the Fa.
Thank you, Master, for your compassion for saving me and guiding me all the time! Thank you, Master, for allowing me to be involved in saving sentient beings in the Fa-rectification period!