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Elevating Through Group Fa Study and Validating the Fa

April 06, 2009 |  

(Clearwisdom.net)

Greetings, Master
Greetings, fellow practitioners

The group Fa-study in South Australia is held at my house on a Saturday evening. Naturally, I became the coordinator for this group. Today, we would like to share with fellow practitioners our cultivation experiences from three different aspects.

1. Some thoughts and understandings on group Fa study

Through regular group Fa study and experience sharing, we have all come to realize and understand the importance of Fa study. In "Teaching the Fa at the Meeting with Asia-Pacific Students", Master said:

"Group Fa-study is an environment I created for you and a form that I've left for you. I think you should still participate. That's because it has stood the test of experience, and cultivating that way allows our students to improve the fastest. When you cultivate on your own, you miss out on factors that help you improve. And haven't you, as Dafa disciples, said that you would do as your Master says? Haven't you said that you should walk straight on the path that a Dafa disciple should take?"

Since group Fa-study is an environment that Master has created for us and a form that Master has left for us, as disciples, we must follow Master's instructions. We must fully utilize this environment to encourage each other, to cultivate diligently and hence elevate collectively.

In our Chinese Fa study group, we usually take turns reading, each person reading one paragraph. If one person makes a mistake such as reading a word wrong, adding or omitting words etc., we correct each other in a timely manner. Then the practitioner who is reading can concentrate and read the Fa with a calm mind while other practitioners can concentrate fully with a strong main consciousness.
Practitioners think that when we study the Fa, the reading pace should not be too fast. To achieve that, firstly, we need to calm our hearts. Then the reading will be peaceful, flowing and slow. We need to let every word and every sentence appear clearly in our minds so that we can fully understand the Fa.

In "Teaching the Fa at the Conference in Canada", Master said:

"The purpose of studying the Fa is to have you understand. Understanding the Fa is the most important. When reading the Fa, you should know the meaning of the words you are reading. At the very least, you should understand the surface meaning. If you say, "I forget what I just read," don't feel troubled. Its not a problem. Just go ahead and read. But if you say, "I don't even know the words I'm reading, and I just keep reading and reading, with my mouth murmuring and eyes looking, but my mind is elsewhere," then that doesn't work, and you won't achieve the goal of cultivation."

When studying the Fa, we must first sit properly, in single or double lotus position, with the body upright. Practitioners with their third eyes opened shared that when we study the Fa, layers upon layers of Buddhas, Daos and Gods in other dimensions and countless sentient beings are studying the Fa with us. All of them are kneeling down, listening to the Fa. The heavenly girls are scattering flowers. When reading with a calm heart, every practitioner emits golden Falun from his or her mouth, including Buddhas, Daos and Gods. Practitioners who study in an absent-minded manner cannot produce such magnificent scenes.

While studying the Fa, we try to maintain a quiet environment. We strive to be on time. All mobile phones are to be switched off. We also try to stay in one spot and not make any noise so that the field is pure and harmonious, which can only enhance our concentration. This is also to respect Master and the Fa.

Usually we study a lecture from Zhuan Falun, recite poems from Hong Yin and Hong Yin Vol. II, and then study Master's lectures, especially those published after July 20, 1999. We also set aside some time for reciting the Fa from memory. We recite five or six poems from Hong Yin each week. We are now up to the second half of Hong Yin Vol. II. Each practitioner practices reciting at home first and then at the group Fa study we recite the poems one by one.

Through Fa study and reciting this way, we can make comparisons. We find that now we are able to pass many tests that we were unable to pass previously. One practitioner liked listening to the Fa but didn't like studying the Fa herself. So she didn't attend our combined group Fa study where we study the Fa simultaneously in English and Chinese. After reciting the Fa, she got rid of her attachment and now she is attending the combined group Fa study. She is now much more at ease with studying simultaneously.

2. Validating the Fa and Saving Sentient Beings while Cultivating Ourselves

In "Fa Teaching at the 2008 New York Conference", Master said:

"But in your case, as you validate the Fa and save people, you are a cultivator still, and cultivators have human attachments or else they would be gods. And could a god do cultivation? Gods cannot cultivate. Only those with human bodies can cultivate, and only that can be called cultivation."

When we are validating the Fa and saving sentient beings, we are also cultivating ourselves and the process is a good opportunity for our elevation. Master keeps telling us that as cultivators we will be tested all the way through until the end to see whether we are fundamentally solid in our belief of the Fa. If we want to elevate, we have to look inward and cultivate ourselves at all times. We have to let go of attachments to worldly happiness or sadness and loss or gain. Master will utilize every opportunity to help us get rid of our attachments. So whatever happens, we shouldn't get deluded by the superficial manifestations of a matter and shouldn't argue on the matter itself, trying to work out who is right and who is wrong. We must rise above the matter itself. We have to realize that every time something stirs our hearts, it is for us to look within, for it is targeting the very attachments we need to get rid off. This way we will never miss any opportunity to improve in our cultivation.

A few weeks ago, we had to prepare for a community Christmas parade which was to take place the next day. We had to build and decorate a Dafa float with a Christmas theme.

I was on night shift the night before and after just two hours sleep I had to get up, as we were preparing the float at my house. Practitioners arrived early. Some came to fold origami lotus flowers and some had brought fabrics with them to dress the float. A couple of male practitioners were making a big lotus flower from steel wire. I myself was also very busy, coordinating and preparing lunch and dinner for everybody. Every practitioner was trying his or her best to contribute towards building and decorating the float.

When night fell, the float was ready. We all had a busy day. Some other practitioners had arrived for the group Fa study. By the time I sat down, I felt exhausted and remembered that I hadn't practiced the exercises yet that day. At the end of the night as practitioners were leaving, Practitioner A pointed out to me at the door that I had lacked compassion during the day. Practitioner B also said that I had spoken too abruptly to another practitioner and that I was not kind. Though I had felt uncomfortable, I had accepted it. I just replied lightly, "Okay, everybody should look within."

After everybody had left, I cleared up the tea pots and cups, the kitchen and the sitting room. Alone at last in a dark room, I could no longer hold back my tears. I felt deeply hurt and upset. I felt that I had done a lot for the day but yet nobody appreciated it. I was overcame with huge grief. It was as if the old forces' factors and huge amounts of karma were pressing upon me, like an avalanche. I couldn't breathe. I cried and asked Master, "Master, why is it so hard to cultivate?" Normally it wouldn't have affected me this way. But it had happened when I was exhausted and when I needed to improve my xinxing the most. I realized that the container was just too small and the water had overflowed. It was time to upgrade to a bigger container. That was why the conflict had happened. I tried hard to dig out the roots of my grievances. "Why do you cultivate? For whom do you cultivate? Isn't it a good opportunity to eliminate your attachments?" But the process was so difficult and so painful that my heart was aching terribly.

Dafa practitioners' xinxing will be tested and elevated in the process of getting rid of attachments. In "Fa Teaching at the 2007 New York Fa Conference", Master said:

"I knew what I was doing, and I knew the beginning and the end of this affair, and that was plenty! So as for this process in the middle, I completely disregard all of the myriad changes that occur, whatever they may be."

In "Discarding Attachments" in HongYin Vol.II, Master said:

"You may talk cultivation
But you have to discard the attachments
that you hold deep inside
What's given up is not oneself
But instead the folly of delusion"

Master has explained the Fa to us clearly. Why wouldn't we let attachments go? A couple of days later, when I saw practitioner A again, all my discomfort and unpleasantness were gone, not even a trace was left. My heart was filled with joy. I then sincerely thanked Master, "Master, thank you for your boundless compassion and for allowing me to experience the wonders of cultivation." I was enveloped by this compassionate field and I could see that the practitioner was kind and serene. I could only see her shining strong points.

Through studying the Fa and memorizing the Fa, I enlightened that during this Fa-rectification period, we must do personal cultivation, at the same time as we validate the Fa and save sentient beings. It is important to get this basic requirement right. Looking inward is to rectify all of our own deviated notions and not just to solve problems. Sending forth righteous thoughts is to safeguard Dafa and purify the universe through the applications of our divine powers bestowed upon us by Master. It is not just an exercise to protect oneself or help others to solve problems. Clarifying the truth and saving sentient beings is the manifestation of Dafa's mercy in this human world, and not just for self-consummation.

The best guarantee for validating the Fa well and doing the three things well is to study the Fa more, study the Fa well and study the Fa with a clear and clean mind. In "Diligence and Righteous Enlightenment" in Hong Yin Vol.II, Master says:

"Don't let up in studying the Fa;
amidst it transformation happens
Let nothing sway conviction;
of it comes right fruit and the blooming lotus"

3. Communicating and sharing more often to bridge the gaps, cooperate well and elevate together holistically

Besides study the Fa, we also shared. We came to the understanding that the sharing shouldn't be too long and that we shouldn't just discuss things or discuss some details of what's happening. Our focus should be on how we view something from the perspective of the Fa and what attachments we have managed to unearth during the process.

If our sharings were only to target the details of the conflicts and the discussions were just within the scope of the matters themselves, then our discussions would get caught up in this never-ending cycle, a vicious cycle. As time goes by, practitioners would become negative and slack off. This would cause gaps among practitioners, thus affecting our holistic improvement and elevation.

I have realized that when sharing experiences, it is best not to mention the practitioners' names. This is because when we come across conflicts, it is we ourselves who need to improve. We shouldn't create hardships or conflicts for fellow practitioners.

By studying the Fa together and cultivating together, we can encourage each other and improve faster. Dafa requires that practitioners work as one body. When practitioners have conflicts or arguments, each party has to improve and cultivate. We shouldn't try to avoid any conflicts either because this is exactly the way it is.

There are not that many of us in South Australia. Each practitioner, however, is steadily walking on the path of cultivation. Everyone is involved in projects in one way or another. Some are involved with the Epoch Times and some with New Tang Dynasty Television. Some are clarifying the facts in Chinatown and Victoria Square on the weekends, distributing truth-clarifying materials and the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and encouraging Chinese people to withdraw from the Chinese Communist Party. Some are making telephone calls to China. Some are operating practice sites. We have nearly ten practice sites at different community centers. At the moment, our biggest project involves the Shen Yun Performing Arts shows. The different aspects include promotions, getting sponsorships, marketing and selling tickets. This is the opportunity Master has arranged for us in order that we can save more sentient beings and at the same time elevate in cultivation. I believe all practitioners will be doing their best.

We also realized that when when we are involved in any Dafa projects, we shouldn't differentiate as to whether a certain project is more important or more elevated than another. We only have good or bad xinxing. Whether you are an assistant, a coordinator or a practitioner who hands out fliers on the street, we are all practitioners who are still cultivating. Everyone has his or her attachments and shortcomings. Everyone is cultivating in Dafa and we shouldn't have the concept of hierarchy. Instead we should possess more tolerance, understanding and compassion towards each other and towards all sentient beings. We hope all practitioners can cultivate more diligently. Please allow me to finish my sharing with Master's poem, "The Fa Rectifies the Cosmos" from Hong Yin Vol.II:

"Compassion can harmonize Heaven and Earth, ushering in spring
Righteous thoughts can save the people in this world"

Thank you, Master!
Thank you, fellow practitioners!