(Clearwisdom.net) I've long wanted to learn Zhuan Falun by heart, but whenever I thought about its 300-plus pages, I always thought it would be very difficult to learn it by heart. The bottom line was "fear of difficulty," so I never made the move to learn it. On November 5, 2005, I read an online experience of a little disciple's learning the Fa by heart and the introduction to methods on how to do this. I thought in my heart, even young disciples are learning the Fa by heart. I also read stories of elderly disciples learning the Fa by heart. Eventually I became determined that I would also learn the Fa by heart. I started that same night, taking two hours to memorize two pages. My heart was extremely happy; I had finally taken that first step.
On the first day of learning the Fa by heart, I felt very strange. Both of my legs were sore and ached. My body itched here and there. This phenomenon hadn't emerged for a very long time. I knew this was the Fa cleansing the bad things in my body. These bad things were what were making me suffer. It was only trying to interfere with me, to block my way. However, I wasn't to be deterred, and these manifestations soon disappeared. That same night I had a dream. I held both of my hands together and continuously flew upwards, breaking through the top layer. I knew this was Master encouraging me, and I had raised my level.
There have been many experiences shared on learning the Fa by heart. I will choose some of the main points to exchange and discuss with fellow disciples.
When ordinary people are learning some skill or knowledge, they need to recite a lesson from memory. Yet cultivation practice is more holy and important than anything ordinary. We Dafa disciples should all learn the Fa by heart. We all know that Master is rectifying the Fa, using "Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance," the fundamental Dafa, to reform the great cosmos and to rebuild the universe. Dafa disciples came as representatives of our own cosmos assimilating to Dafa, as well as shouldering the responsibility of our major mission of assisting Master in Fa-rectification. Only through assimilating to Dafa can the sentient beings of the cosmic systems join the new universe. After we reach Consummation, we will become the kings and masters of different levels of the new universe. We should bring a complete Fa back with us. I am the kind of cultivator whose third eye is not opened yet, but I believe that by learning the Fa by heart, our corresponding sentient beings are learning it as well. They are also continuously assimilating to Dafa. In this way, sentient beings will have the fundamental guarantee of entering the new universe.
Memorizing and reciting the Fa can enhance the quality and results of Fa study. Master has always warned us in Fa lectures that if we cannot calm our hearts while studying the Fa, it is equivalent to wasting our time and effort. I have come to understand that it is very hard to comprehend Dafa's boundless meanings on different levels with an unsettled heart. Before learning the Fa by heart, through reading the Fa out loud, I felt I was studying very quickly, and in one hour I could finish one lecture. However, it was very difficult to calm my heart down, and my mind constantly wandered. The result of this was certainly compromising the quality of the Fa study. Learning the Fa by heart can overcome the above deficiencies. Through memorizing the Fa, I can concentrate my mind to the greatest extent. Otherwise, I cannot learn it by heart at all.
Reciting the Fa can also better guide our cultivation practice. If we've learned the Fa by heart, what is stored in the brain is all the Fa; wouldn't we be truly dissolved in the Fa? Whether it is facing matters of everyday people, personal cultivation, or clarifying the truth to save sentient beings, at any time we can rectify every thought in accordance with the Fa guiding our actions. This way we will advance faster, elevating even more quickly.
You can comprehend the connotations of the Fa better if you have memorized the Fa.
In the process of learning the Fa by heart, the biggest enlightenment for me was truly coming to understand that Master's Fa is all-encompassing, embodying limitless connotations. For instance, I had a deeper understanding of the principle of practicing only one cultivation way. This principle is in fact about believing in Master and believing in the Fa. I would never have come to comprehend so much by just quickly reading through Dafa.
Learning the Fa by heart has to be done step by step. I do it according to the method introduced to me by fellow disciples. Separate it into segments, learn the complete segment if it is small, and separate the large sections into smaller sections to be memorized. Repeat every section 3 to 5 times until you can recite it all the way through. It is best to memorize all the way to the end and not to repeat the previous sections. Otherwise, it will feel like you've forgotten it again, creating feelings of anxiety. It will affect the process of learning the Fa by heart. In fact, while learning the Fa by heart, I found that unconsciously, I could do it faster and faster. Maybe this was the power of the Fa! Two pages, three pages, four pages, step by step I increased my pace.
It took me nearly three months to completely memorize Zhuan Falun once. I am now in the process of memorizing it the second time. The speed of memorizing is a lot faster now than the first time. Every day I use two to three hours to learn eight to ten pages. In a month and a half, I can finish memorizing the whole book. I will continue in this way until there isn't any discrepancy left while learning it by heart.
Fellow disciples, let us all learn the Fa by heart. When you really begin to memorize it, you will discover that it isn't really that difficult.
These are my understanding on a personal level. Please compassionately point out anything inappropriate.
