The Hard Lessons of Not Taking Cultivation Seriously

(Minghui.org) Five Falun Dafa practitioners in our area were arrested in 2020 and four of them were sentenced. While most of the practitioners have been actively involved in doing things to save people, they have failed to prioritize Fa study and cultivation, which I believe may have given the old forces reasons to target them. As our cultivation journey is approaching the final stage, we all need to take it very seriously and never take doing things as cultivating. 

Below are the details I knew about the five practitioners’ situations and I believe we can all learn some lessons from them. All names are aliases.

Hua has been good to everyone, including relatives, friends, neighbors or fellow practitioners. He never turned down any request for help. Sometimes fellow practitioners didn’t want to bother him because they knew he was very busy. But as soon as he learned of their situation, he would try his best to help. He also actively participated in the Dafa projects. He made a living by working in a vegetable field, rendering him even less time to study the Fa. During the pandemic, he went to distribute truth-clarification materials at night. He was arrested one night and later sentenced to four and a half years.

Bei, also a kindhearted person, always offered help to anyone in need. Practitioners around her developed a strong attachment of relying on her. They wanted to seek her opinions for everything, and she never refused to talk to them. Just like that, day by day, her time for studying the Fa became less and less. When she did sit down at night to study the Fa and send forth righteous thoughts, she said she often felt sleepy. She was arrested while distributing truth-clarification materials, which she was very actively involved in. She was sentenced to five years. Since her arrest, some fellow practitioners have stopped doing the three things because they no longer had her support.

Yang took up Falun Dafa for health improvement after the persecution had started in 1999. All of her diseases disappeared. In recent years, she had been drowsy while studying the Fa and sending forth righteous thoughts. Sometimes she even snored during Fa study. She was unable to break through this state for a long time. She didn’t go out often to distribute materials to save people. After she was arrested, all her Dafa books were confiscated. She was sentenced to four and a half years.

Deng was released on bail following her arrest, after the local detention center refused to admit her due to her sickness symptoms. After returning home, she got occupied by her family chores and had no time to study the Fa. She was deceived by the 610 Office agents into admitting guilt to the evidence fabricated against her and was sentenced to three and a half years.

Like Deng, Kang also started practicing Dafa after the persecution began in 1999. She had always been lacking in doing the three things. She wasn’t able to study the Fa with a focused mind. After she was arrested, the local detention center refused to accept her due to her high blood pressure, and she was released on bail. She heard that the 610 Office agents might be coming to force her to sign some statements, so she decided to leave home to avoid further persecution. During the following five months, with the help of fellow practitioners, she studied the Fa more and strengthened her righteous thoughts. When it was time for her to stand trial, she made up her mind to negate the path arranged by the old forces and only follow the path arranged by Master. Under the protection of Master, her trial was cancelled and she was cleared of prosecution.

We all understand that cultivation is serious. In Fa-rectification cultivation, to validate the Fa and save sentient beings, we all have things to accomplish. However, doing things is not the same as cultivation, nor can it replace cultivation. Studying the Fa, comprehending the principles of the Fa, assimilating to the Fa, and elevating our realm in the Fa are the foundation of doing things and should be our top priority. Furthermore, it is normal for Dafa disciples to understand and trust each other while doing the three things together. But when anyone strongly depends on others for something, this is a reflection of human notions and sentimentality. 

Although we knew the seriousness of cultivation, to some extent, we sometimes still failed to take cultivation seriously. Master is merciful and patiently waiting for us to improve ourselves. The old forces are watching every Dafa disciple. We must pay attention to cultivating our own thoughts, words and actions, and take every step righteously, so we can go home with Master.

Please point out anything inappropriate.

Editor’s note: This article only represents the author’s understanding in their current cultivation state meant for sharing among practitioners so that we can “Compare in studying, compare in cultivating.” (“Solid Cultivation,” Hong Yin)