(Clearwisdom.net) In November 2008, I was very excited when I read the article by Fahui titled, “Study the Fa Well; Take Purging Our Own Problems With Righteous Thoughts Seriously” (http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2002/11/17/28821.html ). In the article, the author said:
“...we can tell that the Fa which Teacher has taught us to send forth righteous thoughts (namely, to purge the evil with supernormal abilities) is not limited to the aspect of just purging the evil beings. Instead, holistically, it has two meanings. Firstly, it refers to using righteous thoughts to remove all evil beings in other dimensions that have damaged Dafa and persecuted Falun Dafa practitioners. Secondly, it refers to purging the various degenerated thoughts, notions, karma, and so on, within ourselves. However, in communicating with fellow practitioners and reading experience-sharing articles on the web, this phenomenon can be seen: in terms of externally purging the evil beings with righteous thoughts, we indeed have done a better job; however, when it comes to purging our own problems with righteous thoughts, we have failed to take it seriously enough, nor have we done a good job--we even have some incorrect understandings of the Fa. Very few practitioners have sat down and spent time to specifically purge their own problems; some practitioners merely consider eliminating their own problems as the necessary step before they hold their palms erect to eliminate the evil beings in other dimensions, thinking that its effect is [merely] to eliminate stray thoughts and to focus their attention and effort in purging the evil and to send out pure and clean gong. Some practitioners who fail to quiet their minds while eliminating the evil even skip eliminating their own problems with their hands in Jieyin; instead, they only hold their palms erect to eliminate the evil beings in other dimensions. This is all because they do not have a good understanding of purging our own problems with righteous thoughts as referred to by Teacher--they do not understand the profound meaning of the Fa in this respect. They fail to understand the Fa from the Fa. This is a loophole in cultivation.”
The author went on to say:
“I can see that every attachment we have in the human world to reputation, self-interest, sentimentality, or selfishness, and every thought and perception that does not conform to Dafa, are all factors in other dimensions that can be utilized by the old forces to undermine the Fa-rectification. All sentient beings living within our corresponding cosmic bodies were completely immersed in this black, corrosive, and degenerated substance. The sentient beings were as though in hibernation after being polluted by the immersion. They showed no signs of life. Different attachments and acquired perceptions correspond to sentient beings at different levels and dimensions. Some fellow practitioners had strong attachments, especially those who had not even gotten rid of their fundamental attachment. Their corresponding sentient beings were soaked in this black, degenerated substance. In fact there were countless cosmic bodies from top to bottom, and each cosmic body represents [innumerable] sentient beings. 'The reason is, that gigantic cosmic body is below you, it's almost like your body, because that's how gigantic you are. There are countless sentient beings and countless cosmic firmaments inside there.' (“Touring North America to Teach the Fa”)”
“Every time I sit in the lotus position with my hands in Jieyin and silently recite, 'sitting with their hands in Jieyin and thinking about eliminating the bad thoughts, karma, bad notions, and external interference in their minds. As you're like this, think that they die.' ("Teaching the Fa at the 2001 Canada Fa Conference," Guiding the Voyage) I can see that Falun automatically helps me eliminate degenerated substances in other dimensions; each time I realize that some strong attachments and external interferences are manifestation of the old forces and I erect my palm to eliminate them, my gong would disintegrate these substances. As my righteous thoughts eliminated these internal problems, the attachments and acquired degenerate notions on my part would decrease; my xinxing would improve and the Fa of that corresponding cosmic body that the old forces used to restrict and obstruct beings from obtaining the true Fa, would be eliminated. The black degenerate substances that permeate beings would disintegrate. The beings saved are glittering with golden rays; upon their salvation, they greet you with both hands up and they are infinitely grateful to you for saving them. '...They will truly regard you as their Lord, their King, and have boundless reverence for you, because you saved them, you sacrificed for them, and you gave them everything they have.' (“Touring North America to Teach the Fa”)”
“Regarding the issue of clearing out our own problems with righteous thoughts, generally speaking, the longer the elimination time, and the more specific and focused we are to the problems, the better the outcome.”
“I have always studied the Fa diligently during cultivation and have eliminated attachments, acquired notions and other types of problems. I realized through Fa-study, with Teacher's Fa, that to eliminate our own problems with righteous thoughts in a timely manner is of utmost importance. This is how I cultivated during this period while assisting Teacher to rectify the Fa. I realized that the process of eliminating our own problems with righteous thoughts is the process of eliminating the evil and offering salvation to sentient beings; it's the process of improving ourselves and reaching higher levels; it's the process of breaking away from the old forces and changing from a human to a divine being.”
After reading the article, I sat down and specifically took some time to clean out the problems within myself. I first recited silently the Fa: “thinking about eliminating the bad thoughts, karma, bad notions, and external interference in their minds. As you’re like this, think that they die, ...” Then I thought about all the attachments or notions I have, thinking that they die.
Initially I couldn't calm down, and thoughts about some specific things came into my mind. So I rejected and negated them one by one. When I completely reached tranquility and my thoughts became focused and strong, it had already been twenty minutes. From then on, I persistently sent forth righteous thoughts to clean out my problems every day. After I did this for one month, one day I suddenly found that five minutes was enough for me to reach the state of being focused and having strong righteous thoughts. I persisted in sending forth righteous thoughts to purge my problems for two hours every day for one year. Then one day I studied the section “Cultivation Insanity” in Lecture Six of Zhuan Falun. After I finished studying, I found that I had memorized all nineteen paragraphs in this section.
I realized that I had memorized the Fa. This was the state that I have been dreaming of. Previously I recited the Fa many times. However, each time after I memorized about fifty pages, I gave up. I couldn't recite the Fa thereafter, and I almost forgot everything I had been able to recite before. So that day, I seized that state and memorized the entire lecture. I understood that the reason I couldn't recite the Fa in the past was because I had too many attachments, it was like the container was very dirty and filled with all kinds of thoughts. So, while filled with all kinds of attachments, how could I memorize the Fa? Then through purging my own problems and bad thoughts with righteous thoughts for one year, the container was cleansed and there is space to memorize the Fa naturally. After I understood this principle, I looked within more diligently and cleaned out my problems with righteous thoughts in time. Meanwhile, I also realized more clearly that we not only have to send forth righteous thoughts persistently, but we also need to assure that the quality is there; it is only by doing so, that our righteous thoughts can be effective.
I can memorize and recite the Fa now. Moreover, in the process of memorizing the Fa, I have enlightened to many principles and found my attachments and notions much more quickly. Since my mind is constantly empty, when some attachment emerges, I can easily grasp it. I hope all fellow practitioners can read the article written by Fahui and that you will benefit a lot by diligently cleaning out the problems from within.
I welcome practitioners to point out anything improper in my understanding.