Practicing Openly and Nobly, Avoiding Extremes

(Clearwisdom.net) I started practicing Falun Gong fairly recently. It eluded me how to maximally conform to the state of ordinary society. I resigned my job and walked away from my friends. I tried to do the three things in an isolated environment.

I was diligently doing the three things and believed they were the most important things for a practitioner of Falun Gong. I believed that everything else was of no importance and thus just a waste of time. I thought that anything else would interfere with my practice.

I walked the cultivation path holding this extreme mindset and believed to be in the right. I truly believed that I was very diligent. I was without a job and friends. I distanced myself from family members and old friends and resisted work even when I had no other choice in the matter. As time passed, I became more and more a recluse and antisocial. I even had to lie to myself to remain sane. I didn't want anyone to know what was happening to me. I often felt wronged and blamed non-practitioners for not knowing that I was saving people and doing a magnificent task.

I did not recognize my extreme views for a long time and thus couldn't calm down when meditating. I was puzzled how come I had given up everything and was such a diligent practitioner for so long and yet I had so many distracting thoughts when I meditated. Not until a few days ago did I realize that I was going to the extreme. I had in fact thought about this problem before, but never took it seriously. This time I faced my problem squarely and corrected it based on the Fa.

Teacher talked about this issue in articles from "Essentials For Further Advancement," including in "Practicing Cultivation After Retirement", "Perfect Harmony" and "Cultivation and Work." Reading these things, I realized I couldn't continue to hold on to my misconceived notions.

I will begin to work, live, and make friends in ordinary society. I will face my life and practice openly and normally. Only when I am in perfect harmony with my surroundings can I save more people and better walk the path Teacher arranged for me.