(Minghui.org) Worldly principles include all kinds of ancient and modern theories and concepts. Before I practiced Falun Dafa, I was very interested in classic quotes and contemporary popular sayings. I thought they were good and reasonable.

After I started to practice Falun Dafa, studied the teachings more, and had my character uplifted, I gradually sensed that such worldly principles could interfere with my xinxing improvement. That feeling became more clear to me recently when I read a blog that seemed very philosophical, until I realized that I had to clean up those confusing ideas with a calm mind.

For example, I recently read the following quote online: “To be human, one should not be too good, and dogs should not be fed too much.” It implies that one should do things moderately. If one treats others too well, they won't be grateful; if a dog is too full, it won't play the role of protecting the home. Is this thought correct? For ordinary people, it may make sense. But for cultivators, it can be a distraction and a trap.

Master [Li Hongzhi] said:

“Cultivation is a process of elevating the soul, and it begins by becoming, bit by bit, a good person, and progressively becoming ever better, such that you become more virtuous than non-practitioners and, ultimately, someone higher.” (“To the Practitioners of Vietnam,” Team Yellow Translation)

Dafa disciples should be better people, with merciful hearts, and not seek returns. Should they refuse to be good just because people do not show appreciation to them according to worldly principles?

Why do worldly principles interfere with xinxing improvement? Because ordinary people follow worldly principles, and cultivators follow extraordinary principles. Cultivators, however, come from ordinary society and practice in it, and, as such, they are still a part of it. Therefore, those worldly principles can create great confusion, which can be hidden deeply. We often cling to them without being aware of it.

Master stated:

“A person's life, as seen from higher realms, is not meant to be lived as a human being.” (“The Third Talk” in Zhuan Falun)

The principles discussed by people in ordinary society, whether popular or profound, seem to serve as guidance for being human. Because of this fundamental difference, practitioners have to let go of obsessions with worldly principles. Ordinary people value self-interest, but Dafa disciples should act according to Master's principles.

Master has said:

“From now on, whatever you do, you should consider others first, so as to attain the righteous Enlightenment of selflessness and altruism.” (“Non-Omission in Buddha-Nature,” Essentials For Further Advancement)

“The ideas and theories of this world cannot lead to spiritual perfection of any sort, and the ways that people live and act in this world do not accord with how beings really are in the universe.” (“To the Experience-Sharing Conference in Taiwan,” Team Yellow Translation)

Many worldly ideas can be attachments. We should let go of all those selfish attachments to ourselves.

Worldly theories are mostly the opposite of the righteous principles of the cosmos; they are twisted. Therefore, any obsession with worldly theories is a departure from Dafa. Cultivators have to let go of worldly theories to be able to assimilate with Dafa. At the same time, we should not criticize ordinary people for clinging to worldly theories, and we should not argue with them about what is right and what is wrong. If conflicts occur with ordinary people, we fall into ordinary people's standards when we are stuck on who or what is right or wrong.

Master stated:

“As gods see it, for a cultivator to be right or wrong in the human world is not important in the least, whereas eliminating the attachments that come from human thinking is important, and it is precisely your managing to eliminate those attachments rooted in your human thinking as you cultivate that counts as important.” (“Fa Teaching Given in Manhattan”)

In traditional culture, many of the world's teachings evolved from Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism. Even if the principle is from a legitimate school, Dafa disciples have to let it go because it is against the basic requirement of “staying true to one practice,” as Master has said:

“Don't add anything in beyond Fa-study. So you absolutely cannot circulate among Dafa disciples anything that isn't a part of Dafa itself, and you absolutely cannot disrupt Dafa disciples in any way.” (“Teaching the Fa at the 2004 Western U.S. Fa Conference,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. V)

Behind every human notion, there is an implied worldly teaching. A cultivator who is immersed in ordinary human thinking is really immersed in the world. Dafa disciples practicing in ordinary society can neither behave abnormally nor mix with ordinary beliefs. Only by assimilating into Dafa can the cultivator live in the world, guided by the higher standards of the Fa.