(Minghui.org) My cultivation state has not been good since I retired. I slacked off, and since there was no need to rush to get to work in the morning, I relaxed and enjoyed the comforts of life.
I would spend time on the internet, enjoy reading the news, and put off Fa-study until last. I did not do the exercises regularly, could not concentrate when reading the Fa, and frequently missed the global times for sending righteous thoughts. As a result, my calls to people to clarify the facts did not have good results.
Master expects practitioners to cultivate in Dafa with the same heart as when we first started the practice. Thus, I realized my problem and tried to change it.
I asked myself: How can I cultivate as I did when I first started? Master tells us to look inward. I found many attachments: laziness, political interests, lust, gluttony, resentment, fear, showing off, and jealousy. I was not behaving like a practitioner, and I knew that I needed to get rid of those attachments. However, I made little progress.
Master must have been very disappointed with me, because he pointed out my problem through a Minghui article. In that article, a Dafa disciple brought up the topic of respecting Master and Dafa. I realized that my current cultivation state was due to one fundamental issue—I did not put Master and Dafa first, which reflects the problem of respecting Master and Dafa.
As cultivators, we all know that Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is the universal law. Zhuan Falun will guide us to return to our true selves. Master is the creator of the universe. I am Master's disciple, and I must put Master and Dafa first. I must implement this respect into my daily thoughts and actions.
I looked inward and attempted to correct myself. For instance, when I study the Fa, I hold the book with both hands and read the words carefully. I treasure the book and put it into a designated place. I also practice the exercises by closely following Master’s instruction, and I complete the five exercises all at once without stopping. I also send righteous thoughts as scheduled and try to concentrate when doing so.
Master said,“Study the Fa and gain the Fa,Focus on how you study and cultivate,Let each and every thingbe measured against the Fa.Only then, with that,is it actually cultivation.”(“Solid Cultivation” in Hong Yin)
Respecting Master and Dafa also count as true cultivation.
When I had the thought of respecting Master and Dafa, Master gave me strength. I suddenly felt an indescribable thrill, and my tears came pouring out. I knew that Master was there to purify my body. It was just like when Master teaches, “Cultivation depends on one's own efforts, while the transformation of gong is done by one's master.” (Lecture One in Zhuan Falun)
Looking back at those human attachments, they were nothing. I realized that I should consider Master and Dafa first. Respecting Master is a powerful thought that eliminates all bad thoughts.
Respecting Master and Dafa also represents my xinxing level. At the critical juncture of exchanging the old cosmos for the new, it is our Master who brought a great future to the universe. Master and Dafa have provided everything for all sentient beings in the cosmos. As Dafa disciples, how can we disrespect Master and Dafa?
In China, since the Chinese Communist Party has brainwashed people since childhood to be atheists, the traditional Chinese culture of being reverent to heaven and divine beings has been destroyed. Now, there is no respect for the divine, and people disrespect the divine without realizing it. As Dafa disciples, we need to preserve traditional Chinese culture and remove Party culture.
This is my current understanding of the Fa. Please correct anything that is incorrect.