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A New Understanding of "the Fa Cultivates Practitioners"

August 13, 2002 |   By a Western Practitioner

(Clearwisdom.Net) When we calm down to study the Fa with righteous minds the Buddhas, Daos and Gods will point out what we should understand. A long time ago, Master said in his article, "Seeking Discipleship with Teacher," "All of the gong and Fa lie in the book, and one will naturally obtain them by reading Dafa. Those who learn it will change automatically, and they will already be in the Dao when they read the book over and over again." Master also emphasized the importance of studying the Fa in his lectures given in different countries. I understood further the importance of studying the Fa after a recent Fa group study.

In the section entitled "Characteristics of Falun Dafa" in Zhuan Falun, Teacher wrote,

"Therefore, this gong transforms people all automatically. Thus, it becomes that 'the gong cultivates practitioners,' which is also called 'the Fa cultivates practitioners.'"

In the section "Practicing Only One Cultivation Way" Teacher said,

"There is no mind activity whatsoever for cultivation at very high levels. This is because while you were at everyday people's foundation-building level, that foundational system was already laid. After reaching high-level cultivation, our cultivation system especially works automatically, and cultivation practice is completely automatic. As long as you upgrade your xinxing, your gong grows."

I always felt this part of Master's Fa pointed to evolving Gong. I suddenly have a new understanding regarding these words, "the Fa cultivates practitioners." This is the entire cultivation format of Teacher's Fa. When we use huge amounts of time discussing during group Fa-study, in everyday life or on the telephone we already have too many "mind activities."

During group Fa study, we usually spend one to one and a half hours studying the Fa. The practitioners who are late hardly study any Fa. Much of our time has been spent on discussion and even arguing. Sometimes when we share experiences, we appear to look inside when we actually put ourselves outside the problem. This kind of discussion sometimes changes to negative experience sharing. I think what everyone enlightens to is just drops and sparkles from what we cultivate in the Fa. Therefore, there's no need to attach too much importance to our own or others understandings. There is no need to spend a lot of time discussing it either. This impacts the quality of Fa study. The great Dao is the simplest and the easiest. Actually as long as we firmly believe in Master, study the Fa well and do things according to the Fa's requirements, no tribulation can stop us.

These words are written in "Zhuan Falun,"

"We have also said that if every one of us cultivates his inner self, examines his own xinxing to look for the causes of wrongdoing so as to do better next time, and considers others first when taking any action, human society would become better and ethical standards would again rise. The spiritual civilization7 would also become better, and so would public security. Perhaps there would not be any police. No one would need to be governed, as everyone would discipline him or herself and search their inner self. Wouldn't you say this would be great? You know that laws are becoming more comprehensive and impeccable. Yet why are there people who still do bad deeds? Why don't they comply with the laws? It is because you cannot govern their hearts. When they are not seen, they will still do bad deeds. If everyone cultivates the inner self, it will be totally different. There will be no need for you to ensure justice."

Sometimes because of our attachments we act as "supervisors of others" in cultivation. Practitioners should cultivate themselves and look inside their hearts. There's no need to emphasize oral self-criticism or expression. Acting solidly at once to correct that which falls short is better than speaking the self-critical words a hundred times. When we solidly cultivate everything according to the Fa, the improvement of every individual and the whole group can advance by leaps and bounds and we can really catch up with the Fa-rectification process.

Many times we don't need to say too much, because our words and behavior show our levels. Sometimes I see our practitioners standing somewhere or sitting in front of the Chinese Consulate to send forth righteous thoughts and clarify the truth. The compassion they cultivate from Dafa and their pure radiance appears on them. I am moved and the ordinary people are moved. This makes my heart of cultivation purer and firmer and also brings out the people's compassionate thoughts. I feel that I respect our practitioners more and more, which comes from a strong feeling of belonging that grows stronger everyday. When I really give up selfishness, other practitioners' tribulations become mutual tribulations between them and me; the progress of others becomes my progress and the righteous power breaks through to all dimensions. Only this boundless Dafa can combine us to become an indestructible entity.

Let everyone of us start with ourselves. Study more Fa and study it well. Let the great Fa melt us, clean us and purify all of our deviations on different levels. Let's not be attached to our past errors. The Fa is harmonious. When we understand the Fa and follow the requirements of Fa-rectification we improve as a whole group.