Unconditionally Looking Within

(Minghui.org) Master told us, “For a cultivator, looking within is a magical tool.” (“Fa Teaching at the 2009 Washington DC International Fa Conference”) I've deeply experienced this in my cultivation. However, some practitioners often look inward with pursuit. For example: “I have looked within so the physical tribulation should end, my health should improve, the environment should not be as evil,” and so on.

My understanding is that if we cultivate and truly look within, our physical condition and the environment will definitely change, because that conforms to the Fa principle. But practitioners should not look within to change their environment. If they do, it's cultivation with pursuit. Looking within should be unconditional.

At one point I was arrested and incarcerated in a detention center. I was very depressed and wanted to get out as soon as possible. I recited Master's Fa:

“Imprisoned as you are, don’t be sorrowful or sad Carry on with righteous thoughts and actions, and the Fa is with you Calmly reflect on the attachments you have Remove your human thoughts and evil will naturally die out” (“Don’t Be Sad” in Hong Yin Vol. II)

I searched inward and realized a lot of my thinking and behaviors were not in accordance with the Fa at that time. Deep in my mind, however, I realized my looking within still had pursuit—wanting to come out of the detention center. I understood that as long as I let go of human thoughts the evil would naturally die out and I would be released. Nevertheless, I still had not assimilated to the cultivator's realm of clearly understanding the Fa principles, which is real understanding without any pursuit. Instead I still had the thought of seeking to come out.

After realizing this, I sent forth a thought to completely eliminate the attachment of pursuit, layer by layer. My motive for looking within was not to come out of the detention center, but to walk well the path arranged by Master to save more people and completely negate the old force's arrangement and the persecution.

I continuously looked within as I kept getting rid of the attachment to pursuit. Gradually I felt my looking within got purer and purer.

Later, when I was tied to a bed at the labor camp affiliated hospital to have an ECG taken, I sent a pure thought to completely disrupt the whole procedure and negate the old force's arrangements.

I can still vividly recall my pure and calm mindset at that time. I truly experienced the power of righteous thoughts. The ECG was totally disrupted and the doctors said they had never seen an image like that before. I disintegrated the persecution with my righteous thoughts.

I understand that every time we encounter the persecution, conflicts or physical karma elimination, we should look within, but without pursuit and cultivate ourselves. Only then can we completely change our human thinking and reach the Fa's requirements.