(Clearwisdom.net) When I was young, I was trained to use the "critical thinking" method at school. For any information teachers or books supplied, I'd always first ask the question: "Why?" And until I could fully understand any knowledge imparted, I would not use it. The "critical thinking" technique is a common and effective learning tool for today's ordinary knowledge. However, since I obtained the Fa, my way of "critical thinking" has affected my enlightenment quality and become a huge barrier for my further advancement.
Especially since July 20, 1999, every time when Fa-rectification advanced forward, I always came up later than other practitioners. While others were working hard and advancing according to Teacher's requirement, I was thinking about "why" instead. And when I finally understood the situation, the Fa-rectification would have advanced even further ahead. Many times in my dreams, I saw many people were strenuously running forward, yet only I was crawling on the ground and moving very slowly. Even so, I didn't understand the reason.
However, sometimes when I dealt with ordinary people, I believed whatever they said easily without any questions or suspicions at all. And as time went on, I was often deceived when shopping, and I would not realize it until I got home and found that the goods I bought were either defective or inedible. Family members (ordinary people) always complained to me: They said that as an adult, I did not have the common sense for everyday living. But I always thought I was right, and my xinxing was so high that I would not haggle over these small things. However, at the same time, I also felt something was not right deep in my heart: as Dafa practitioners, we should suffer while clearheaded, but my case wasn't like that at all!
Then one day at work, when talking with an elder worker, someone asked me to take photos. I thought, "Why are we taking pictures; what is that for?" While I was thinking this in my mind, an elder worker patted me and said, "Just go! Do whatever is asked of us to do." I suddenly realized something. Back home, I kept thinking what the elder worker had said. I believe it was Teacher who used the coworker's mouth to remind me.
The same day, while I was reading Teaching the Fa in the City of Los Angeles, I noticed Teacher said:
"A lot of students don't place high importance on sending forth righteous thoughts, and a very big reason for this is that they are not sensitive [to what it is doing]. Whether you are sensitive or not, when Master tells you to do something you should do it, and it will for sure have its effect. It's definitely not just a formality! Master would absolutely not ask you to do something useless."
Especially when reading the following phrase of Teacher's sentence "when Master tells you to do something you should do it," I began to understand. In fact, though I have never had suspicion about Teacher or Dafa, the thought of "suspicion" was thought-karma put into my head by the old forces when I was still an ordinary person. However, the thought-karma was not me, and upon discovery of this barrier impeding my further advancement, I sent righteous thoughts to eliminate it.
When I studied the Fa again, I realized it was so true that "after passing the shady willow trees, there will be bright flowers and another village ahead." (Zhuan Falun) The suspicion was gone, and I could study the Fa and follow very effectively (the current requirements). I will work hard to do well the three things Teacher requires and adhere closely to the pace of Fa-rectification! Thank you Teacher!
Above is my limited understanding, and please point out any errors. Heshi.