We Should Distinguish the Real Self from the False Self

(Minghui.org) Many thoughts pop up in our minds every day. In many cases, we just say things without thinking deeply about our words. They are spoken under the manipulation of our notions, which were formed postnatally. So, how can we distinguish between our real selves and our false selves, so that we can control ourselves and walk our cultivation paths well? 

Understanding the Fa Clearly Despite Pressure

When I am facing pressure, it is critical that I understand the Fa clearly and distinguish which thoughts are from my true self, and which are from postnatal notions, human attachments, or external interference. 

The Minghui website recently reported that the CCP regime launched the “Zero Out” campaign – a campaign whereby every Falun Dafa practitioner on the government’s blacklist is pressured to renounce their belief. Officers from all levels of government have harassed and persecuted practitioners. Our local practitioners have suffered as well. I was harassed and felt an invisible pressure.

But, my thoughts became clear one night. We are cultivating and letting go of our human hearts and attachments. When our attachments are exposed, we can cultivate out of them. When fear came up, I realized that fear is not a part of me. I must clearly know this and distinguish between the truth and the untruth. 

Master said, “To tell you the truth, the entire cultivation process for a practitioner is one of constantly giving up human attachments.” ( Lecture One, Zhuan Falun)

I realized that it is normal that attachments show up during cultivation. Master requires us to let go of our attachments and notions and elevate ourselves during cultivation. They have nothing to do with the old forces or evil elements. So why would I want them? I should eliminate them. I felt light and at ease after I had this thought. The invisible pressure disappeared instantly. 

When my mind was filled with righteous thoughts, I thought of the sentient beings I’m responsible for. Those who persecuted Dafa practitioners would go down into the gate of no-life and would face a dreadful future if they couldn’t wake up and stop persecuting practitioners. They are the most pitiful lives. One’s attitude toward Dafa and Dafa practitioners decides whether one will be saved or not. Master requires us to save as many sentient beings as possible. The evil, on the contrary, is destroying as many people as possible. 

We must stay clear-headed and discern kindness and evil, good and bad. We send out strong righteous thoughts to eliminate the evil that manipulates the world’s people to commit crimes against Dafa practitioners. We should instill “Falun Dafa is good” and “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good” into their thoughts and encourage them to treat Dafa practitioners kindly. By doing so, they choose a good future for themselves. 

My insight is that our real selves are assimilated to the universal characteristics of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and that we must let our main consciousness control our thoughts and body while being watchful of every thought and managing ourselves well. 

Distinguishing the True Self from Our False Self When Facing Conflicts

We should distinguish the true self from the false self when facing conflicts, and we shouldn’t be moved by human notions or attachments. We should stay within human reason and handle sudden conflicts with a cultivator’s mindset. 

“A person’s body is just like a piece of clothing, whoever wears it, that’s who is in charge.” (“Teachings at the First Conference in North America”)

The situation in other dimensions is complicated. When people let go of their thoughts, the evil and other messy elements in other dimensions will control them instantly. For example, when people treat you badly, curse at you, or badmouth you, you should regard yourselves as practitioners, and hold yourself to a higher standard according to Master’s words, “...you did not fight back when hit or talk back when cursed at.” (Fa-Teaching Given at the Conference in Sydney) 

This is an opportunity to improve xinxing. In this way you are able to surpass the conflict. We should also look at the fundamentals. Master told us the principle of “four gains” in Zhuan Falun. It is a great thing. We should change our notions completely. This way, we truly are responsible for ourselves. By contrast, notions such as agony, sadness, discomfort, grievance, viciousness, anger and revenge are demonstrations of one’s demon nature. They are part of the false self and must be eliminated immediately.

We also have to distinguish the true from the false self in the other party, so as to treat the other person with rationality. On one occasion my husband shouted at me. I stayed calm and said to him with a smile, “Look, a big demon behind your back is manipulating you.” He became clear-headed instantly. 

I read a Minghui article many years ago. A little practitioner sent forth righteous thoughts with his grandparents. After they were sending righteous thoughts for a while, the little practitioner saw a demon jump onto his grandmother’s head and instruct her to fight with his grandfather. His grandmother gave up her righteous thoughts at that moment, didn’t recognize her false self and regarded the demon as herself. She put down her crossed legs and dashed over to her husband. Actually, when practitioners have righteous thoughts, the evil is destroyed and cannot win the fight. But the evil elements use all kinds of means to interfere with practitioners. If practitioners give up their own thoughts, the evil will control them, cancel the positive energy between practitioners, and undermine their ability to conquer the evil as one body. 

If practitioners are able to discern the real self from the false self on more occasions, and watch our every thought, we will produce huge and powerful positive energy. 

Of course it is easy to say but not easy to do. When our cultivation is not up to par, our notions and attachments play the leading role. But we cultivate our main consciousness and knowingly suffer losses among ordinary people so as to let the main consciousness obtain the gong [energy]. However difficult it is, we have to cultivate in that direction. 

To achieve this, we must be strict with ourselves. Master said,

“When I practiced cultivation in the past, many great masters told me these words, and they said: "When it’s difficult to endure, you can endure it. When it’s impossible to do, you can do it." In fact, that is how it is. Why don’t you give it a try when you return home. When you are overcoming a real hardship or tribulation, you try it. When it is difficult to endure, try to endure it. When it looks impossible and is said to be impossible, give it a try and see if it is possible. If you can actually do it, you will indeed find: "After passing the shady willow trees, there will be bright flowers and another village ahead!"” (Lecture Nine, Zhuan Falun)

I am writing this article to remind practitioners, myself included, that we should be strict with ourselves, discern the true self from the false self, cultivate diligently on our path to divinity and return to our original positions. 

This is my limited understanding. Please point out anything inappropriate.

Editor’s note: This article represents the author’s understanding at their current cultivation level, meant for sharing among practitioners to “Compare with one another in study, in cultivation.” (“Solid Cultivation,” Hong Yin)