(Clearwisdom.net) My daughter has cultivated Dafa for over ten years. Every week she comes to visit me and we exchange cultivation experiences to assist each other. Recently, I noticed that she only read Master’s lectures from different places but rarely studied Zhuan Falun. She explained to me that she had read Zhuan Falun many times in the past years, since she also studied it every week at a group Fa-study site and recited two paragraphs every day, so she began to only study Master's other lectures when she studied alone.
Later, she told me that she found out she had developed the attachment of pursuing fame. The reason was because she had studied Master’s lectures in various places very frequently, and, when others mentioned something, she would immediately know which lecture it came from. This caused her to feel delighted, and she made more effort to study more lectures to keep ahead of others. This was her attachment. If one studies the Fa with the attachment of pursuing fame, the effects of Fa study won't be good, and one's study of Zhuan Falun is also affected. Of course we should study Master's other lectures, but the point is that we should distribute our time proportionally on both Zhuan Falun and other lectures.
Because she studied the Fa with these hidden attachments, she couldn’t enlighten to the Fa's principles, making her feel dismayed and uneasy. The worse she felt, the more she wanted to study the lectures, but not Zhuan Falun. She always looked forward to reading through all the recent lectures and articles, but the more she wanted to do this, the busier her work became. She wanted to take some days off to study the Fa, but it was so busy at work that she couldn't leave. At one time, she finally took one day off. She felt very happy. Before going to bed, she developed a plan in her head to study Master's recent lectures the next day and which book she would study. But that night, she had a dream that was very clear and real. In the dream, she picked up a copy of Zhuan Falun, which had been opened and was placed with the back cover facing up. She then picked up two more copies of Zhuan Falun.
After she woke up, she enlightened that the dream was a hint from Master. Master had reminded her to pick up and continue to study Zhuan Falun, and also to keep on reciting Zhuan Falun where she left off halfway through. So that day she calmed down and concentrated on reciting Zhuan Falun wholeheartedly. As a result, she returned to a positive state of Fa study: She was able to study the Fa calmly and she felt at ease again.
She also enlightened that, although studying a good amount of the Fa was very necessary, if one was sometimes quite busy and thus rushed through reading the Fa to keep up with the dedicated amount one sets for oneself daily, thinking that one would gain much as long as one read a good amount, this is actually studying the Fa with the attachment of pursuit.
“When it comes to Fa-study, though, I think you still need to squeeze in time for study, even if it means for a little while only. But when you squeeze in time for study there's a problem that's apt to come up: you can't calm your mind, and if you can't calm your mind, you're in fact studying in vain and wasting time. If you're going to study, you need to set aside everything else that's on your mind, keep your mind steady, quiet your mind, and truly study. Even if you just study a few paragraphs [this way], it's better than reading the entire book with a restless mind. When you study the Fa, you have to absorb it.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Meeting with Asia-Pacific Students”)
Being eager and impatient over success is not good, either. One also studies in vain if one studies the Fa with such a mentality. Dafa is so profound. As long as we get rid our attachments of pursuit and study the Fa with a humble heart, Master will allow us to enlighten.
Since then, my daughter has studied the Fa well again. She has returned to the path of cultivating steadfastly. The reason I shared her story here is to remind fellow practitioners to earnestly read Zhuan Falun straight through. Let’s all strive forward vigorously.
Category: Improving Oneself
