(Clearwisdom.net) Recently, I was in a conflicted state of mind. On one hand, I sensed the urgency of the Fa-rectification process, but on the other hand, I encountered family misfortune and pressure from school. It was hard for me to focus my mind on anything, and I felt lost and helpless. Amidst a variety of complicated issues, I had to choose what to keep and what to let go of. This caused tremendous pain in my heart. My father's (also a practitioner) sudden death last year was a huge blow to our family. Though later I returned to school to continue my studies, I felt uneasy and was always worried about my lonely mother. I missed the blissful family life we had. I wanted to give up everything and go home to take care of my mother, but in reality, I could not just abandon everything due to various complicated issues.

It was like what Master said:

“Emotion is a net: the more one struggles, the more it tightens
Fame and gain tie people up throughout their lives”
(“What's Your Yearning?” from Hong Yin III)

I became depressed and impatient, and had no motivation for anything.

Just when I was extremely confused, I opened Hong Yin III. I calmed down and silently read Master's Fa. I felt Master's compassion in between the lines, the responsibility that Dafa disciples are shouldering, and the urgency of saving sentient beings during the Fa-rectification period. I suddenly woke up. As Dafa disciples, we are lives that came here for the Fa, and our mission is to cultivate ourselves well, assist Master in Fa-rectification, and fulfill our vows. We live, learn, and work in ordinary human society, which is the external form of our cultivation, sort of like what the kasayas and the temples are to monks. The external factors are not the reason we followed Master to come here, in the same way that a monk's responsibility is not to make the prettiest kasaya or build the grandest temple, but to strengthen one's ability of ding, cultivate one's xinxing well, and elevate one's gong potency and level. Of course, the monks need their kasayas and temples, and they should be fine with them as long as they are comfortable and decent. Shouldn't our cultivation be this way, as well?

I read “Troubles” from Hong Yin III:

“I close my eyes and doze off
to sever all troubles here
Upon waking, endless things come along
Neither heaven nor earth can
block my road of Fa-rectification
But disciples' human hearts can”

When I read this poem, I finally found my sense of direction: As cultivators we can save sentient beings and validate the Fa wherever we are, and do them well. Why was I so entangled with my mother, school, and job, and unable to extricate myself? Isn't my path the path to validate the Fa? The answer is clear and simple: As long as I know what my priorities are, I can take the trivial things in life lightly; I can just go with the flow and do what I'm supposed to do. Consequently, the knots in my heart were untied, my priorities in life became clear, and the conflicts were dissolved.

I'd like to share the following understandings based on what I've experienced:

When we feel confused and helpless, it's best not to discuss with non-practitioners about finding solutions to our problems in life, as this enables us to fall into ordinary people's way of thinking and deviate from Dafa. We should look at the problem from a cultivator's point of view to solve our problems. A simple test is to gauge whether the action measures up to the standard of the Fa and the status of a cultivator, and if it's beneficial to Dafa and our cultivation. Next, one should study the Fa wholeheartedly.

Master said:

“The Fa can break all attachments, the Fa can destroy all evil, the Fa can shatter all lies, and the Fa can strengthen righteous thoughts.” (“Drive Out Interference” from Essentials for Further Advancement II)

Everything is within the boundary of the Fa. As long as we calm our minds and study the Fa, there is nothing the Fa cannot resolve. It's truly miraculous!

In addition, I would like to make the following suggestion. When some practitioners are anxious to solve problems quickly, they look at Master's photo in Zhuan Falun and ask Master to show them the Fa principles. Then, they open the book to a random page and attempt to find the answers there. I don't think that is the correct way of solving a problem, because one is doing it with a strong attachment. Dafa practitioners' actions should be based on the Fa. Only when we relinquish the desire of pursuing things and study the Fa without human notions can we understand the deeper meaning of Dafa.

Dafa disciples around the world are one body. We don't need to find practitioners that we like to cultivate with, and should not attempt to change our environment. Whether we live in or outside of China, close to Master or far away, in a village in China or in a remote part of the world, these could be the choices we made beforehand or arranged by Master. Thus, no matter where we are, we should do our best as disciples of Dafa, since we are the only hope for the sentient beings in that particular area.

Master said,

“No phenomena are just 'natural,' as everything has its arrangement. What is called 'by chance' doesn’t exist.” (Teaching the Fa at the Western U.S. Fa Conference)

This is how things are for practitioners. I hope practitioners who are lost and don't know where to go, focus on doing the three things and not waste time dealing with unnecessary inner conflicts.

Above are some understandings at my current level. Please kindly point out anything that is not appropriate. Heshi!