Letting Go of Notions about Suffering and Aging

(Minghui.org) It has been over a year since I fractured my left leg. Although I was able to stand for one hour to do the second exercise, Falun Standing Stance, I was afraid to. I did the first, third, and fourth exercises sitting down. When I “held the wheel above the head,” in the second exercise, I always wanted to sit for a few minutes.

Then, I had a thought. In the past, those who took a small cultivation path pursued suffering intentionally. I am a Dafa practitioner; why would I be afraid of suffering? Am I not as good as those cultivators? If so, how should I talk about Dafa cultivation? Who is afraid of suffering? Not wanting to suffer is a notion that one acquires postnatally. It is a fake self. A true self must dominate the fake self. Then I thought about Master’s Fa:

“Your Main Consciousness Should Predominate” (Lecture Six, Zhuan Falun)

“I would say that it is simply too easy if one can succeed in cultivation by just holding the arms up like that. This is what will happen when people practice the sitting meditation.” (Lecture Four, Zhuan Falun).

With those thoughts foremost, it was easy for me to make a breakthrough. That is, I could easily do the second exercise for an hour.

I realized there was an obstacle that was caused by notions, such as, a person is old so he can’t see well, his hearing will deteriorate, the energy of an older person can’t be compared to a young person’s...

How can I, a Dafa practitioner, acknowledge these human notions? The old universe operates according to the old principles, and it is at the last stage. The Fa of the universe is indestructible and perfectly harmonizes everything. Dafa practitioners walk on a path arranged by Master. So how can we walk on a path according to principles and notions of the old forces and the old universe? If we don’t correct such human notions, aren’t we walking on the path arranged by the old forces?

Letting go of human notions is a serious issue. It involves many aspects, such as a person wants to rest when tired, go to sleep when sleepy, eat a certain food he craves, is happy when everything is satisfying, worries when something doesn’t go well. Everything is included in cultivation. And one should let go of such human notions.

I used to think that only something big was a test and cultivation, so I thought about how to do big things well. But if we can’t do a trivial thing well, how can we do big things? Actually there is no difference between a big thing and a trivial thing in cultivation. So now I am no longer arrogant, but instead see many problems in my cultivation. I feel like a toddler in cultivation—it was as if I didn’t understand the nature of cultivation.

Looking back at my over 20 years of cultivation, I was not mature when I faced setbacks and tribulations. I am ashamed that I have so many human notions. I am sorry that I haven’t lived up to Master’s merciful protection and teaching. Only when I truly cultivate can I understand the nature of cultivation and willingly let go of human notions. Only by doing so can I reach the state of feeling joy in hardship.