(Minghui.org) I began Falun Dafa cultivation practice in 1998, at the age of 11. I am ashamed to say that on most of my cultivation path, I have not been diligent, and I lacked the confidence to share with practitioners. I recently had a dream that awakened my conscience and made me decide to cultivate diligently.

Falling and Rising in Cultivation

In the dream I visited another dimension. I was drifting about in a vast cosmos when several bright stars came into view. I suddenly realized that I was rapidly falling. I passed through many time spaces at a high speed. I finally dropped into the human world, where I saw many Falun Dafa practitioners spreading Dafa.

I then arrived at the ocean shore and saw some people I knew, but could not stop. I kept falling and sank rapidly into the ocean.

A feeling of intense depression and desperation overcame me. As I was sinking I called out to Master in my heart: “Master, I know I did not cultivate well. I will cultivate better if I still have a chance.”

I immediately stopped sinking and began to rise in a slow spiral motion upwards. As I was rising up I noticed that sinking was fast, while rising was so slow. I realized that I was so far behind in my cultivation that I may not be able to catch up with the Fa-rectification process, even if I cultivated well from now on.

Master told me that I was in a better cultivation state than when I was falling down. I knew Master was encouraging me and I became very excited. I realized that the attachment of zealotry was already starting to form and then I became scared that I would fall down again . But even with zealotry and fear showing themselves, I was still slowly rising.

I told Master that I would cultivate better, but my heart was not confident. Even in my dream I knew I could not stick with a project for a long time. I had several times before told Master that I would cultivate better, but I still failed. Even though I had been so lax, Master still let me rise up after I told him that I would cultivate better from now on.

“Master, you are so merciful,” I said. “I will share this dream with practitioners who have not cultivated well. I will also use the story to remind myself to never forget my promise to you.”

Master Protects and Helps

During the dream, Master gave me many hints and I understood that I could break free of any trouble as long as I shouted “Master” during a critical moment. Yet, I still was complacent and knew that I was not treating my cultivation seriously enough.

Practitioners should do the three things well and that there are serious consequences for lagging behind in cultivation. It is not that I did not understand this Fa truth, but only this dream opened my mind to a greater extent.

Even when it seems hopeless and we give up on ourselves, Master does not give up on us. He still protects us and helps us on our journey home.

The consequence for practitioners lacking diligence in cultivation is too terrible. The icy cold and despair I felt when sinking below the water is impossible to describe. It was horrible!

Fundamental Attachment

The root cause was that I did not study the Fa enough. After my dream, I began to treat myself as a new practitioner and calmly looked within to find my fundamental attachment that prevented me from studying the Fa thoroughly.

I was so young when I started to practice Dafa and could not understand the surface meaning of the Fa. I treated studying the Fa similar to how a monk chants a sutra. I thought I already knew the meaning of the Fa’s words but I could not see any higher Fa principles. I thought that I would just follow the principles Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance and that it was not necessary to read Zhuan Falun.

My mind was not peaceful when I studied the Fa. I thought I did not have the attachment of seeking higher level truths but in reality I did. It is just that the attachment was too deeply hidden, so I could not enlighten to higher level principles while reading Zhuan Falun.

Will Power Is Needed

Living among everyday people was like being lost in a thick fog. Firm, long-lasting willpower is needed to wake up. Only the Fa could wake me up and grant me enough willpower to break away from the allure of the ordinary life I had fallen into.

I sincerely hope those practitioners, who act like I did in the past, wake up quickly. Time waits for no one. Master is still watching us and waiting for us to awaken.