(Clearwisdom.net)
Studying the Fa is most important. Every cultivator knows this. But not everyone is able to really understand the reason and place importance on it. At least I did not.
I know Master's words, "When your mind isn't at peace, studying the Fa is not effective." ("A Heavy Blow" in Essentials for Further Advancement), but I frequently could not calm down and yet still continued to "study the Fa." Now I think that if I read Zhuan Falun with a troubled mind, the effect is not as good as reading just one word with a calm mind. At least I can understand the Fa behind one single word. If the Fa I read enters my mind, I will be able to "distinguish the righteous from the evil, obtain true teachings, lighten their bodies, enhance their wisdom, enrich their hearts, and board the boat of the Fa, sailing smoothly." ("Enlightenment" in Essentials for Further Advancement) What will enrich my mind? It is the Fa. When the Fa enriches my mind, what condition will I be in?
When I was unable to study the Fa well for a long time, I tended to like to read what other practitioners had seen in other dimensions and read stories about reincarnation. When I read the novel The Cosmos' Calamity, my heart was moved even more. I felt that I got from reading these articles was better than reading the Fa. I even admired these stories and looked up to them as good examples. But shouldn't practitioners' righteous thoughts and actions come from the Fa? I had put the cart before the horse. This was not good for myself or for the writers of these articles. To put it even more plainly, I was harming them [by admiring their stories instead of studying the Fa].
Recently I have this understanding of studying the Fa: When I can quiet my mind to study the Fa, in almost every paragraph and almost every day I come to new understandings. The more I learn, the more greater the Fa manifests. I also have a greater interest in studying the Fa. Of course, I pale in comparison with those practitioners who can see the heavenly secrets behind every word .
Sometimes the interference is huge and I cannot quiet down. I look intently at each word and try to understand the meaning of it. Slowly I am be able to calm down. It is like getting a screw in the right groove, and it turns easily. When I study the Fa I have the feeling of my mind being enriched by the Fa. I also feel my energy being replenished.
Once while studying I suddenly felt very ashamed. I was embarrassed to face the Fa that I was reading on the computer screen. I actually bowed my head, looked inwar,d and realized that I was trying to get something out of the Fa. This is a selfish wish. After letting go of it, I could face the Fa again.
