(Minghui.org) My cultivation was at a standstill for a long time. I was deeply poisoned by the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) atheistic culture of struggle and lived with people who were very pro-CCP. If it wasn't for Master Li's compassion and help from fellow practitioners, I may have missed this precious predestined opportunity that comes only once in a millennia.
After I was finally able to break through the Party’s ideology, I could understand the teachings of Falun Dafa, believe in Master, and devote myself to cultivation. The notions I had developed, however, still interfered with me when I studied the Fa. I had thoughts like, “If these two words can be taken out of this sentence, it would be more fluent.” I knew it was disrespectful to Master to have these kinds of thoughts, but I couldn’t suppress them. I felt helpless and depressed!
I then thought that I may be experiencing “thought karma,” but I wasn’t completely sure. I truly felt that the thoughts came from my heart, since they seemed like my own thoughts. I felt dispirited as I couldn’t fully assimilate to and become a particle of Dafa. I doubted whether I could succeed in cultivation.
Master said,
“Remember that one only needs to worry about putting in the effort of spiritual practice, and the rest is in the hands of one’s teacher.” (The Second Talk, Zhuan Falun)
I finally enlightened, “This is not me!” How could I be absent-minded? Before I went to sleep, I often called out to Master with sincere gratitude. I have never been disrespectful, so how could those disrespectful thoughts be me? Only then did I realize that it was thought karma.
Master said,
“There is also a powerful form of karma that has a large impact on those leading spiritual lives, called the karma of thought.” (The Sixth Talk, Zhuan Falun)
“In other dimensions everything is alive, and karma is no exception. With any true practice one must eliminate karma. To eliminate karma means to destroy it, to transform it. Naturally, the karma won’t go for it, and so you will face adversity and obstacles.” (The Sixth Talk, Zhuan Falun)
Thought karma is a stubborn demon that hides behind people and struggles to survive. Its purpose is to prevent them from cultivating. I firmly ingrained Master’s words in my heart,
“Most people can, however, repel it and deny it by having strong, self-aware thoughts.” (The Sixth Talk, Zhuan Falun)
Each time the thought karma came out, I ignored it and knew it wasn’t me. The thoughts gradually lessened, and they now rarely appear. In the process of eliminating them, I finally realized that Master purposely used grammar in an unorthodox manner to articulate deeper meanings in his teachings.
Master said,
“From an everyday person's level, perspective, and frame of mind, one cannot understand genuine things.” (The First Talk, Zhuan Falun)
This is so true! I also realized that as long as we truly cultivate, our levels won’t merely stay at the surface. Each time we improve, Master will give us what should belong to us.
I am now more aware that true belief in Master and the Fa is the only fundamental safeguard for our cultivation. If we don’t believe in Master and Dafa, then what are we practicing? And how do we practice? If we treat Master and the Fa with ordinary notions, we will never rise above this earthly realm.