(Minghui.org) My husband and I operate a noodle shop and I work 14 hours daily, which curtails my time to study the Fa. Thus, I ran into a time problem, when Taiwanese practitioners decided to memorize the Fa.
Breaking Through Human Notions
Taiwan practitioners have lately shown great interest in reciting the Fa. However, I was not good at memorizing which made me fearful, because the interest in reciting the Fa was especially strong in my area, and different practitioners were invited to recite a given paragraph of the Fa during Sunday group Fa study.
When a coordinator invited me to recite a paragraph, I told him that not only was I not good at memorizing, but I did not have time for memorizing. I asked him to assign someone else. The coordinator encouraged me and shared the following Fa with me.
Master said,
“You said that you can't remember the Fa that you studied--that's all right. Let's say you don't remember after the first reading and you still don't remember after the second reading, then put your heart into studying and you will definitely make a breakthrough. If you truly give your best and still can't recall it, then it is a test that has been placed in front of you. If that is not the case and your not remembering is caused by not paying enough attention, then the issue at hand is for you to become more diligent.” (Teaching the Fa in San Francisco, 2005)
Master's Fa gave me the impetus to memorize the paragraph I was assigned. To strengthen my ability to memorize, I started to copy the assigned paragraph, noted it on paper and kept it with me at all times. Since I mumbled a lot, my son who does not cultivate laughed at my trying to memorize at my old age. I persisted at reciting it, so my son changed his attitude and encouraged me.
It was easier said than done, because I kept forgetting parts of what I had memorized. After getting impatient, I realized that I held fear when it came to memorizing. This fear arose from concerns about fame, and fear of being laughed at, attachments I needed to eliminate! Once I eliminated these attachments, my heart became light.
I recited the Fa whenever I had time, including when I was cooking noodles or wrapping dumplings. While reciting the Fa, I acquired a deeper understanding of the Fa. Every word was absorbed into my heart, and my heart became purer.
Remembering the process of memorizing, I realized that my reluctance was based on human notions. I thought that I had a bad memory, was too old; too busy, and had no time, among other attachments.
Master told us,
“As true practitioners, we should look at issues from a very high level instead of from the perspective of everyday people.” (Zhuan Falun)
As cultivators we need to distinguish between ordinary thoughts and righteous thoughts. If practitioners can fundamentally change their ordinary notions and not be attached, they will break through any difficulty.
Finding Time to Study the Fa
I still felt that I was not studying the Fa enough and my Fa study was not solid. I also was not doing that well when it came to clarifying the truth about Dafa. If I couldn't do the the three things well, how could I be counted as a Dafa disciple?
After seeing the Shen Yun performance in 2016, I realized the importance of studying the Fa. After some thought, I decided to give up the job I had held for 20 years, and take care of my mother, which would allow me time to study the Fa.
However, it was not as easy as I thought. My mother, in her 90s, suffered from dementia and was no longer the gentle and graceful woman I knew. Besides, neighbors, friends, and relatives constantly came to visit. I could not finish my basic Fa study, not to mention finishing anything a practitioner is tasked with.
I calmed down, looked inward and found that I was surrounded by a busy and chaotic new environment and forgot why I left work. Thus, I increased my Fa study from one lecture to two lectures a day and read Master’s new articles whenever time permitted.
After I persisted with doing this for a while, the situation improved. People no longer arrived at our door at any time and my mother’s behavior improved.
When I was doing the second exercise one time, my mother kept calling me, which made it hard to continue. Then, Master’s Fa came to my mind,
“Listening, but caring not to hear—A mind so hard to disturb.” (“Abiding in the Dao” from Hong Yin)
Instantly, all interference was gone.
Tests and Tribulations
There were constant tests and tribulations because of taking care of my elderly mother. While promoting Shen Yun I had an appointment, but my sister claimed that she could not take care of our mother. When I sent forth righteous thoughts, I calmed down and sent out a strong thought, “I must go to promote Shen Yun!" About an hour later, my sister called and said that she could take care of mother.
At that moment I understood what Master said, “When disciples have ample righteous thoughts Master has the power to turn back the tide” (“The Master-Disciple Bond” from Hong Yin Vol. II )
As long as I kept strong righteous thoughts, no matter what problem arose with mother, it could be resolved. I realized that everything Dafa disciples encounter is not accidental.
When writing this article, my mother was constantly making noises, and I just ignored her and finished what I was doing. I understood that this was not accidental and is related to cultivation.
Perhaps these things will continue to happen. However, I am determined to be more strict with myself and persist in studying the Fa. I will pass every test and tribulation by relying on Master and having righteous beliefs in Dafa. I have no doubt in my mind that I will cultivate solidly and diligently.
Category: Improving Oneself
