Be Careful Who You Listen To

(Minghui.org) Many practitioners may have had similar experiences: whenever I study the Fa, do the exercises, or send forth righteous thoughts, my mind wanders. Because I can’t focus I don’t fully absorb what I’m reading. My righteous thoughts aren’t strong, and when I do the exercises I’m just going through the motions.

I realized I can’t let myself remain in this state. But before long, it happens again. I’d like to share my understanding about this.

For example: Even though I’m doing the exercises I’m thinking about the sausages in the refrigerator’s fresh food compartment: “They should be moved to the freezer, or they’ll spoil. I should move them now, or I’ll forget about it.” As soon as I have this thought I go and do it. This type of interference happens whenever I study the Fa, do the exercises, or send forth righteous thoughts.

Why do I think about these things and allow myself to be distracted? I realized that this is interference. We must not allow ourselves to be distracted when we study the Fa, do the exercises, or send forth righteous thoughts—we should eliminate every wrong thought.

We cannot go along with this interference because those thoughts do not conform to the Fa. If we think these thoughts are ours, then aren’t we allowing ourselves to controlled by something?

We should not cooperate with this interference—instead we should resist and eliminate these distracting thoughts. We should not be driven by these external messages and do whatever they want us to do—causing us to neglect Fa study, doing the exercises, and sending forth righteous thoughts.

Master said,

“Another situation is called “unknowingly practicing an evil cultivation way.” What is "unknowingly practicing an evil cultivation way?” It is when someone practices an evil way without realizing it. This problem is very common and simply too widespread. As I said the other day, many people practice qigong with wrong thoughts on their minds. Though they are practicing a standing exercise there with their hands and legs shaking from fatigue, their minds are not at rest. One is thinking: “Prices are going up. I have to go shopping after finishing the exercise. If I don’t hurry up, things will be more expensive.” (Lecture Five, Zhuan Falun)

When I read this I realized these wild thoughts were no small matter. If we allow ourselves to be distracted we may be unknowingly practicing evil cultivation.

My understanding is that a difficult part of our cultivation is being able to differentiate our true selves from any notions we’ve acquired, including our human thoughts. We must not listen to, or go along with these distracting messages. We should listen to Master and the Fa. We cannot let our main consciousness become weak and as Master said, “unknowingly practice an evil cultivation way.” If we don’t pay attention, then aren’t we cultivating in vain?

Another issue we should pay attention to, is when our main consciousness isn’t strong or when we let ourselves relax.

Refusing to Acknowledge Illness Symptoms

I seemed to get thirsty recently and I kept having the urge to use the restroom. I suddenly had the thought that this was a symptom of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). I didn’t realize this thought was interference—I took out my mobile phone and looked up the symptoms for hyperglycemia, and how to prevent it.

Master said, “True cultivators have no illnesses,” (“Explaining the Fa for Falun Dafa Assistants in Changchun,” Further Discussions on Falun Dafa). Wasn’t my checking on my mobile phone acknowledging that I had an illness?

A few days, I realized the thought that I had hyperglycemia was interference: I practice Falun Dafa, so how can I be confused by these fake illness symptoms? Master said, “Once you bring up the word “illness,” I am unwilling to listen.” (Lecture Two, Zhuan Falun)

Master said that we have no illnesses, so I’m not sick. Isn’t my thinking I’m sick a manifestation of not believing in Master? I’m a practitioner and Master arranged my cultivation path—I refuse to go along with this interference.

When my mind became clear and my understanding of the Fa principles improved, my body relaxed, and I no longer felt thirsty.

From my experience I feel we must study the Fa more so we can strengthen our main consciousness. When these external messages come and disturb us, we should measure them with the Fa and listen to Master. Only then can we reduce the risk of taking a detour on our cultivation paths.

This is my recent limited understanding. Please correct me if there is any room for improvement.