My Understanding of Being ‘Solid in One's Cultivation’

(Minghui.org) Master said in “2018 Fa Teaching Given in Washington, D.C.,”

“Every Dafa disciple aspires to become a true cultivator, someone who is steadfast and solid in his cultivation as he travels the path to divinity.”

“But I think that this is not an issue for the Dafa disciples who are solid in their cultivation, have strong righteous thoughts, and know what they should do.”

When I read the above teaching for the first time, I read the phrase “solid in his cultivation” (Chinese pinyin: xiu lian you su) as “well-trained” (Chinese pinyin: xun lian you su), with one word wrongly used and pronounced and with a completely different meaning. I later found Master's original words, “solid in his cultivation.”

These four words deeply impressed me. I feel that the phrase has deep meaning. My current shallow understanding is that practitioners who are solid in their cultivation should persistently practice cultivation, go through various experiences in righteous cultivation practice, experience many tribulations and tests, and build up rich experiences.

This way they know how to walk well on the path of cultivation in the Fa-rectification period and handle situations according to Dafa principles when problems arise in themselves or externally. They have a solid faith in Master and Dafa and are mature in cultivation.

I have shared more from these points with practitioners. If you find anything insufficient, please point it out compassionately.

Attaching Importance to Fa Study and Studying the Fa Well

I noticed that all Dafa practitioners who have overcome tribulations and dangerous environments attach importance to Fa study and study the Fa well.

For them, Fa-study is essential to their existence and is not related to any external forces or other factors. It's natural and normal for them, as natural as breathing. For them, it's unimaginable and implausible not to study the Fa or not to do so for a long time. They persist in studying the Fa or reciting the Fa no matter how busy they are and in all circumstances.

They experience the power of Dafa from the bottom of their hearts through long-term genuine cultivation practice. They have firm belief in Master and Dafa. As they study the Fa constantly, they are well blessed by Master and obtain powerful energy.

They know that only Dafa can make fundamental changes in their lives. Only with Fa in their heart can they resist the temptations and interference in this most complicated, corrupt, and chaotic world.

Only by gaining wisdom from Dafa can they distinguish good from evil, truths from falsehoods, and thus overcome tribulations. Only then do they have sufficient righteous thoughts to save people. These practitioners know that truly studying and absorbing Dafa is actually saving their boundless sentient beings.

They are quite clear that they cannot make studying the Fa simply a formality. They understand the Fa, absorb the Fa, and assimilate to the Fa. Master said,

“Only when you really study and absorb Dafa do you really “have Dafa.” If you have truly followed it and worked on yourself, and become a sincere disciple, then you really do “have Dafa” and have nothing to fear.” (“2018 Fa Teaching Given in Washington, D.C.”)

I know that many practitioners have started reciting the Fa in order to gain a better understanding of Dafa. They have overcome fear and have not been hindered by the illusion of old age or bad memory. They constantly eliminate their bad thoughts, evil elements, and karma so as to have peace of mind and a compassionate mentality all the time.

In tribulations, they maintain ample righteous thoughts, calmness, and a strong will; they are not interfered with or swayed by human attachments, notions, and thought karma because they have Dafa in their hearts.

As such, they are able to overcome the tribulations quickly and negate the arrangements made by the old forces.

When such Dafa practitioners truly study and absorb the Fa, they can often experience its happiness, wonder, and magnificence. A Dafa practitioner who truly understands the significance of Dafa can overcome all difficulties and break through all interference in order to study the Fa well. Actually, righteous faith and a firm belief in Master and Dafa, powerful righteous thoughts, and being solid in cultivation all come from constant Fa study and absorbing Dafa.

Looking Within

After so many years of cultivation practice in the Fa-rectification period, a truly mature and determined Dafa practitioner looks within at all times during conflicts, troubles, and tribulations. Of course, some hold their temper and look inside immediately, while some don’t do as well at that point, but they still look within and improve later when they clear their mind.

Master taught us before July 20, 1999, that looking inside when a problem arises is the fundamental difference between Dafa practitioners and ordinary people.

I realized that looking inside is what Master requires us to do and what Master arranges for us on the path of genuine cultivation practice. If a Dafa practitioner can look inside at all times unconditionally, he is improving his xinxing and practicing genuine cultivation, which is the true manifestation of a true cultivator.

When they do this, Master takes care of this practitioner. It's not about acknowledging the old forces, nor is it looking within under the arrangements made by the old forces.

The old forces will not let us look within because as we do so, the evil hidden behind our human attachments would be exposed and eliminated’ the old forces and their arrangements would thus also be eliminated and negated. Looking within is simply a thought and a behavior, but in the extremely complex space of the universe, when we look within, it might be the manifestation of our rectifying the Fa. Our knowing sides that have assimilated the Fa and reached consummation are looking for, eliminating, and disintegrating the evil beyond all time and space. In the meantime, our great Master is also strengthening and helping us. One simple thought on our human side might correspond to a splendid, tremendous and dramatic change in the boundless cosmos.

Moreover, I realized that in the new universe, Dafa practitioners in the Fa-rectification period have assimilated the Fa and become masters at different levels of the universe. In the portion of the universe under their jurisdiction, if a part of the universe shows degeneration in the long period of time, they would quickly figure out the reason underneath the surface and rectify the degeneration and corruption, harmonize and make up for the loopholes so that the universe will never be annihilated.

Looking inward is very deep and meaningful; it is not as simple as what we see from the surface.

Therefore, the old forces will try their best to prevent us from looking within and prevent us from identifying our bigger attachments. They use false phenomena to cover up the true essence and impress us with incorrect thoughts like not being able to identify problems or not being able to fix them even if they are identified. I wonder whether the thought that “looking within is acknowledging the old forces’ persecution” comes from the old forces too. Such incorrect thoughts block us from improving and practicing genuine cultivation, and they make us reluctant or unable to look within.

Master made it clear to us in the following Fa teaching:

Disciple: Some Dafa disciples believe that if we first look within when we go through an ordeal, we are following the old forces, and we should first send righteous thoughts instead.

Master: Sigh… what I usually say is that you should first look within anytime you meet with trouble, and see whether there is a problem on your part, and if so, correct it immediately. Sending righteous thoughts is what you should do when you know for sure some evil force is involved or meddling. You need to be sure that that’s what it is before sending righteous thoughts. And sending righteous thoughts isn’t something to do for each and every thing you meet with. If you did something wrong and then you sent righteous thoughts, they would be targeting you, yourself, if they were to really take effect right then. (“2018 Fa Teaching Given in Washington, D.C.”)

No matter how evil and complicated the arrangements made by the old forces are, they can work only through human attachments. All the interference from the old forces can work because they catch hold of practitioners' human attachments. Looking within from the Fa’s perspective is eliminating human attachments and the evil lives and elements behind them, so the act of looking within is negating the arrangements made by the old forces. I often find that as long as we really look within, conflicts and tribulations are dissolved immediately. However, we should not forget that we have always been protected by Master and his boundless power. The point is whether we can truly look within and correct our mistakes.

In practice, we have seen in countless situations that when a practitioner really wants to look within to identify the reason, face up to their problems and mistakes, and wants to elevate in realm, Master would give him hints and help him identify the real reason. In such circumstances, tribulations would soon be removed, and the effect is really immediate.

I have one more understanding: we should look within at all times instead of waiting until persecution or a major illness karma tribulation falls upon us. Actually, in our daily lives, all kinds of conflicts are tribulations. For instance, someone might say ugly words that makes one mad, or one suddenly thinks of having been hurt by someone. All these are tribulations, big and small, and they relate to our human attachments. We should look within, let go of our attachments, and improve. In the meantime, our illness would be eliminated. This way, we can avoid allowing karma to accumulate to the point of creating a big tribulation that's difficult to overcome.

Constantly Reviewing Our Experiences on the Cultivation Path

On the path of cultivation, success and setbacks coexist. Every practitioner has his own experiences and lessons in cultivation. All these various states and manifestations are references for the future.

If a practitioner can constantly summarize his experience and lessons and rationally elevate in his realm, his elevation will be solid, and he will improve very quickly. Such lessons are valuable for both Fa-rectification and the new universe.

We should often introspect on our cultivation and practice cultivation with a clear mind. We should understand why we achieve success and why we fail at times. In this way, our cultivation will be more rational and mature.

During this time, we can offer our insights for other practitioners to reference so that they will not make similar mistakes or make fewer detours. Cultivators can also achieve overall elevation as one body. This is how our cultivation becomes more and more solid.

It’s good for practitioners to write cultivation experience sharing articles from time to time; they can summarize their experience and lessons in cultivation and contribute these articles to the Minghui website without being attached to whether the article would be published or not.

The process of writing sharing articles is a cultivation process. The writer benefits from it while he strengthens his righteous thoughts and disintegrates the evil. I found that my articles would be published when I truly look within and remind others peacefully and kindly. Conversely, when I have an impure mentality—trying to validate myself, not looking within, using tough and sharp words, blaming others, and strongly attempting to change others—my articles written in such a state would not be published. This also occurs when I have a strong pursuit to have it published.

Nothing is accidental in cultivation. The same is true with the Minghui website, as Master's fashen and Gods are safeguarding it. If it is not published, we should look within to identify our human attachments, remove them, and grasp the good opportunity to be elevated.

Additionally, the act of contributing articles to the Minghui website is supporting the website. If we take the Minghui website as a magnificent palace, then each contribution is one piece of tile, wood or stone that helps build this palace.

Even if the article is not published, it offers an option to the Minghui editorial department. It's our honor. Actually, each article that we write with our heart is recorded in the universe. It’s the honor and eternal mighty virtue of Dafa practitioners. We would definitely see it in the future.

The Minghui website has been affirmed by Master. It’s a rare platform that Master prepared for us to share our cultivation experiences and improve in cultivation. It's irreplaceable and precious. Our cultivation would greatly improve if we take other practitioners’ sharing articles seriously.

In my past years of cultivation practice, I realized that attaching importance to the Minghui website and respecting it enables us to witness the greatness of Master and Dafa. We can let go of arrogance and self, get rid of narrow-mindedness and prejudice, broaden our views and heart, become more humble, and assimilate ourselves to the one body of Dafa practitioners.

In this way, we can always keep in mind what cultivation is all about and not be moved or interfered with by external changes. This helps us not to forget the responsibility and mission of Dafa practitioners and follow Master's Fa-rectification progress closely without slacking off.

Having One's Own Mind But Being Able to Accept Advice

I think a Dafa practitioner who is solid in his cultivation should have his own mind. This comes from constant assimilation to the Fa and a deep understanding of the Fa. He can measure everything against the Fa and distinguish between right and wrong. He does not follow anyone, nor is he swayed by sentimentality or changes outside himself.

Having one's own mind doesn't mean being self-contained or domineering. On the contrary, the state of being domineering is the manifestation of a weak main consciousness; that person is being swayed by bad beings, and his true self is buried. His main consciousness cannot control his own body, as both his body and mind are manipulated by the evil side at that moment.

Having one's own true mind comes from the Fa and aligns with the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Dafa practitioners who have their own mind are always peaceful, sincere, humble and able to take in any advice given.

Being able to take in advice points to wisdom. It also helps to maintain a cultivation state of looking within at all times. Master told us to look within even when we are a third party who sees others’ conflicts; the advice given might also be pointed directly at us.

Some advice may come across as kind, and it may come from someone close to us or someone we like, admire and respect, so it is easy to accept. But some advice may sound unpleasant and irritating, and it comes from someone whom we dislike, resent, or look down upon. In such a case, it is difficult to take it in.

But nothing is accidental in cultivation. It is very likely that the unpleasant opinions that come to us are arranged by Master. At this time, whether we can take in the opinion depends on whether we can maintain our cultivation state at all times. Of course, it's not easy to do. Master said,

“But normally when a problem arises, if it does not irritate a person psychologically, it does not count or is useless and cannot make him or her improve.” (Zhuan Falun)

Even if we are irritated, our hearts are moved, or we get angry, we should calm down later, recall what others have advised, and look within to see if we really have such problems.

If we are able to do so, we will definitely figure out our problem. This is for sure. I found that whenever I did so, my complaints about others would be gone and replaced with true appreciation for them.

A righteous cultivation practice is like a boat sailing against the tide along a narrow waterway. On this difficult path, the evil is always watching us ferociously. It's a blessing and our good fortune to receive advice from others, especially if it comes from practitioners. Strong words may not good to our ears, but they are good for our cultivation. We should appreciate and cherish them.

A Dafa practitioner who really wants to improve himself will certainly listen to any opinion. We can only elevate in our realm if we remove attachments and shortcomings and correct our mistakes. Many times we want to identify our shortcomings, but we can't find them as some attachments have been formed long ago without our awareness. Isn’t it great that others can point them out for us? If we have such an understanding, we are in a state of “being happy when told of errors.” It is a manifestation of being solid and mature in cultivation.

Persisting in Cultivation

From ancient times to the present, the most difficult thing during cultivation is persistence. On the long path of righteous cultivation practice, it's really hard to tell where and when things will end. This is especially trying for those whose celestial eyes are closed and who have no sense at all about their supernormal abilities.

Along the way, dangers, barbs, tribulations, crossroads, and traps will accompany practitioners. That's why so many practitioners become lost and cannot get back on the right path even today.

Under pressure and full of fear, many practitioners cannot step forward. Dafa practitioners who have a firm belief in Dafa and persist in cultivation practice are really remarkable.

Let’s not talk about anything else but take Fa study and exercise practice as an example. It’s great for a Dafa practitioner to persist in studying the Fa and practicing the exercises every day for so many years.

During the process, there will be interference, both internal or external; persistence itself means this practitioner has overcome many difficulties and obstacles. If he is able to follow Master's words and do the three things well, he is even more remarkable.

I've seen many practitioners encounter problems or tribulations because they have problems in studying the Fa or doing the exercises every day. They do it on and off or do not study the Fa or do the exercises for a long time. Doing this basic “homework” is the first step in being solid in cultivation practice.

People persist when things go smoothly, but cultivation practice of righteous Fa is never smooth. Moreover, the old forces’ participation and interference in Fa-rectification add more difficulties to our cultivation, so setbacks and failures are inevitable. Big or small mistakes might also occur.

Setbacks and failures tend to make practitioners lose courage and lack the confidence to forge ahead. At this point, persistence is most precious and remarkable if the practitioner can stand up, move forward, and firmly believe in Master and Dafa. They are not depressed, they will not give up, and they are not beaten by tribulations. They are not attached to self but keep sentient beings in their heart.

No matter how badly we have done at one time or how big the tribulations we have experienced are, as long as we follow Master's words and do the three things well, we negate the arrangements made by the old forces, and our sentient beings will have hope. Dafa practitioners should have such unshakable will. Our strong righteous belief is tempered by our persistence.

For any Dafa practitioner who has gone through wind and rain, bumps and setbacks, it's really not easy. We may have experienced confusion, bitterness, twists, and turns.

However, Master is with us; Dafa is with us. Master's Dafa guides us. Master takes our hand and pulls us out of the dark, desperate, and missing roads and leads us to the light so that we are able to keep walking our path. We are the most fortunate lives.

Many times, we have no idea how fortunate we are because we have become Master's disciples. In history, when a person wants to practice cultivation, the most difficult thing is to find a master who can save him.

No matter how strong his wish to practice cultivation or how great his inborn quality, it is of no use. Their assistant spirit was practicing instead of their main consciousness.

Many have reincarnated for many lives in order to gain an opportunity to practice cultivation. Many have lost the opportunity to cultivate because of only one wrong thought.

Many have never consummated beyond the Three Realms even if they thought they had. Many worshiped fake Buddhas; though they worked hard in cultivation, no heavenly paradise received them because no true Buddha ever saved him.

Where can one find such a master who can truly save and protect him? Who can teach him Dafa and guide him in genuine cultivation and elevation of his realm? Who can remove his karma and balance everything for him in all past reincarnations at all levels, solve all his grievances, and make him successful in cultivation in this lifetime?

When he had countless wrong thoughts, made many mistakes, or even betrayed his Master, his Master kept suffering for him and giving him opportunities to practice cultivation.

Just think about it, everyone. Who has done this for us? Our compassionate and great Master Li Hongzhi. We are so fortunate. Such fortune comes along once in an eon and never since the creation of the universe. This opportunity is available only in this period of time when the huge cosmos is going through reconstruction and Fa-rectification. It will never happen again. It's really worth our cherishing and should be cherished by all sentient beings in the old universe, too. We have such a great and compassionate Master. If Master can't save us this time, who else can?

We must cherish this opportunity. Even if we had been confused before, we should now be clear-minded. Starting from the next second, we should cherish the opportunity and become a practitioner in the way that Master describes: “steadfast and solid in his cultivation as he travels the path to divinity.” (“2018 Fa Teaching Given in Washington, D.C.”)

How should we do this? I think it's persistence. Let's persist in studying the Fa, doing the exercises, and practicing genuine cultivation. We can look within, validate the Fa, and save sentient beings until the day we achieve Consummation and return home with Master.

At that time, we will become masters and kings whom our sentient beings will highly admire because we have overcome the toughest, most complicated, and most corrupt and chaotic world. We will have been thoroughly tempered and possess the mighty virtue of assisting Master in the Fa-rectification period.