(Minghui.org) Studying the Fa together with other practitioners is a form of cultivation practice encouraged by Master. For a period of time I always fell asleep during group Fa study, and although I knew that it was the old forces’ interference, I was unable to break through. To address this I began to copy and memorize the teachings, as this ensured that I didn’t skip any part of the Fa. It worked well for me, and I formed a notion that it was better to study on my own, and I should only attend group Fa study once a week.
When I shared my view with a practitioner, she told me that group Fa study is a form of cultivation that Master left for us; it requires better focus and a more elevated state of mind during Fa study. It also allows for sharing and reminders from others, which I knew had helped me improve tremendously. I was thus determined to overcome this test and stay very focused during group Fa study.
When I felt sleepy during group Fa study, I would stand up, wash my face, or pinch myself. Sometimes, despite my efforts, I still fell asleep. One day, a practitioner reminded me, “That wasn’t you who felt sleepy, you should know and acknowledge that it wasn’t you but the evil interfering with you. The evil dares to interfere with you studying the Fa, which is of utter importance, so you should eliminate it without hesitation.” This woke me up, and I sent righteous thoughts to eliminate the evil factors. However the outcome wasn’t ideal.
One day I read an article on Minghui.org, “Eliminate Demonic Nature (With Master’s Comments).” The practitioner said, “My mind is now clear. It is not enough to recognize evil as evil and righteous as righteous. It is not enough to recognize that we are righteous and to separate ourselves from the evil. We must realize that evil should not exist, and we must do everything in our power to destroy the evil. When the thought karma comes, instead of simply tolerating it, knowing it not to be myself, waiting for Master to remove it as I did before, I now summon up every ounce of determination to destroy it with all of my heart, knowing it should no longer exist, and that it is a manifestation of my own demon nature to passively allow it to exist.”
“... As this determination rises, my mind becomes solid like a diamond, and I feel that a single move of my mind could break mountains in half.”
The author allowed me to have a more clear understanding on my sleepy state—I allowed it to exist by thinking, “I often feel sleepy during group Fa study. My father used to fall asleep with a book in his hand, so do I; it’s in my genes.” These thoughts were not mine and were forced upon me. I knew that I had to negate and eliminate them.
In a recent group study, I became aware that the sleepy sensation had begun to gather around my head. I held up Zhuan Falun and addressed it in my mind, “Practitioners are studying the Fa and doing the most sacred thing here. Interfering with practitioners’ cultivation is an enormous crime. Go away or I will eliminate you.” This happened three times, and my head became very clear. In the following group Fa study, it was the first time I experienced the feeling of being completely devoted to studying. The more I read, the more I wanted to continue. I sat in the full lotus position for longer than usual, and my legs barely hurt. The feeling was wonderful and I didn’t want to uncross my legs at the end of the session.
A practitioner who recently joined our Fa study group could see with his celestial eye. He said that when practitioners search within during experience sharing, Master removes a large amount of black substance from them. When the atmosphere is solemn and harmonious, and everyone searches within, he could see Master next to us, smiling. We were very encouraged by his words. I’d get excited when he showed up at the Fa study group, and listened to his sharing attentively.
As time went by, I became wary, knowing that I had probably developed the attachment of zealotry and idolized the practitioner because I have always wanted to meet a practitioner with their celestial eye open. Master has told us that no one could see the cultivation state of others. Those with celestial eye open see only what’s at their level, not the ultimate truth.
Master said:
“Cultivation depends on one’s own efforts, while the transformation of gong is done by one’s master.” (Lecture One, Zhuan Falun)
Why did I become excited after hearing the practitioner’s words, yet feel indifferent when I studied that part of the Fa? Isn’t this a reflection of my notion that “seeing is believing” and my attachment to novelty? After awakening to this, I felt that these attachments were greatly reduced. This was Master’s arrangement for us to improve together as a group.
There is another practitioner in the study group who, unlike me, has never wavered since the persecution began. Although we have known each other for years, we could not see eye to eye—I thought she was condescending and self-righteous, while she believed I had too many notions. One day, it occurred to me that I should be kind to fellow practitioners and see their positive characteristics. I shouldn’t judge her just because her views were different from mine. The division between us is exactly what the old forces want, and it can lead to losses among practitioners. The different notions of practitioners and the conflicts between us serve as mirrors to remind us to look within and improve.
Category: Cultivation Insights
