(Clearwisdom.net) Because I failed to pay enough attention to studying Teacher's new articles and recent lectures, I had puzzled over two questions for quite a while. One is the relationship between personal cultivation and Fa-rectification cultivation, and the other is how to distinguish between the cultivation path arranged by Teacher and the arrangements and interference of the old forces.
Recently I managed to settle down every day to read Teacher's article "Fa-Rectification Period Dafa Disciples." In just two days, I had a deeper understanding of the abovementioned two questions. Of course, it only represents my present cultivation level. Here I elaborate on my understanding using a group Fa-study as an example.
The following scenario may happen during experience sharing in a group study. After reading the Dafa books together, practitioners will start discussing and the discussion will soon turn into how to do a specific project, including its details. At this time, somebody may suggest that they should go back to the Fa, and some may say that practitioners are also improving in the discussion, and some would say it is okay to share the experiences as long as they follow the natural course, and some hold that practitioners should cultivate forbearance. All these opinions sound reasonable. After I quieted my mind and analyzed them, however, I found that all of these understandings deviate from the requirements for Dafa disciples in the Fa-rectification period. The following are the details:
(1) Guiding our Dafa work with the Fa
Teacher said in the first lecture of "Zhuan Falun," "Without knowing the Fa on high levels, one cannot practice cultivation. Without cultivating one's inner self and one's xinxing, one cannot increase gong. These are the two reasons." At this time when the Fa-rectification process is going rapidly, we need more guidance from the Fa on high levels, as it penetrates all of what we are doing for Dafa. If we are not sure whether or not to do something, the first thing we should do is to settle down to study the Fa rather than discuss the matter itself without Fa. Teacher told us more clearly in "Fa Lecture at The Conference in Florida, U.S.A," "Maybe as you study the Fa the issues you've been thinking about will be resolved, since behind every word are Buddhas, Daos, and Gods. How could they not know exactly what you want to resolve and what you're anxious to get done at that time? Then how could they not tell you?"
I heard what practitioners at a certain practice site do. Whenever there is something important to decide, but some people start arguing, they just sit down to study the Fa. After one night's Fa-study, every Dafa disciple's heart is in the Fa and there are no more arguments. They have reached a consensus. Fa is omnipotent. The purpose of our cultivation is to upgrade our levels through Fa-study. Teacher values the heart of every disciple. But this heart is not the heart of doing everyday work, but the determination that comes from a clear understanding of the Fa.
On the contrary, at our group study, studying the Fa and discussing Dafa work become two unrelated things. If we separate these two things, our discussion of the Dafa work will be about everyday issues. Thus, how could we improve in the Fa?
(2) Personal cultivation and Fa-rectification cultivation
Some practitioners suggest that everyone should cultivate forbearance in the above-mentioned situation. In my understanding, that still represents the state of personal cultivation, not the state of Fa-rectification cultivation. Certainly it doesn't mean that we don't need to cultivate forbearance. However, the essential point is how we advance our understanding of forbearance. To tolerate states that are not consistent with Fa-rectification cultivation is, frankly speaking, to acquiesce to the arrangements of the old forces. On the other hand, if we voice our opinions with our strong human feelings, we will go to another extreme and demonstrate our demon nature, which must be eliminated through cultivation. Therefore, we must be clear in the Fa that such a state is incorrect, and we move to the correct direction with both a kind heart and righteous thoughts. It is irresponsible to our fellow practitioners and a misuse of our valuable cultivation time if we keep silent when we are in such a situation.
(3) Recognizing the arrangements of the old forces on time and breaking them with righteous thoughts.
In "Fa Lecture at The Conference in Florida, U.S.A", Master Li told us, "Even each Dafa disciple's every move, every action, every word, and even the questions you ponder, none of it is that simple. In the future you'll see that everything was very carefully arranged. But it's not me who arranged this, it's the old forces who did." When I read the passage for the first time, I felt puzzled and lost because there are so many moves, actions, words and questions that we think about every day, how I can find out which ones are arranged by the old forces? If we cannot recognise their arrangements, we cannot break their arrangements. I realized that the old forces have made use of our attachment to just cultivate ourselves, i.e. the state of personal cultivation, to hinder the Fa-rectification process. I think it is very necessary that we send forth righteous thoughts to eliminate the arrangements of the old forces in our environment before we study the Fa together.
Coming back to look into myself, I found that, when I intended to study the Fa, I could not help thinking about other issues or just going to sleep. Then I had an excuse for myself "It is no good to study the Fa in the state of trance." But when I got worried, I could hear another voice, "You should resist the unrighteous things," or something in a different form, "You did so poorly, are you qualified to be a Dafa practitioner?" There were so many such interferences. Why? It is just the arrangement of the old forces. To recognise them, we must study the Fa hard and do according to what we have enlightened to in the Fa. Everything that makes us unable to make progress, that makes us lose confidence in Fa-rectification cultivation or that keeps us in the state of personal cultivation should be eliminated, because they serve the purpose of the old forces.
Finally, let's review this passage of Teacher's Fa in "Teaching the Fa at the Western US Fa Conference," "I said: what is a Buddha? "Tathagata" is what human beings call someone who's come with the truth and the power to do what he wants, whereas real Buddhas are guardians of the cosmos and are responsible for all righteous elements in the cosmos."
The above is what I have enlightened to at my present cultivation level. Please point out anything improper.