Changing My Notions and Improving My Character

(Minghui.org) Why does the phenomenon of ‘not being diligent and slacking in one’s cultivation’ happen to true cultivators of Falun Dafa? The main manifestations are the attachment to comfort, being afraid to take hardship, not having enough determination, and being easily confused or disturbed by external elements.

During the first half of 2020, for a period of time when I did the meditation or sent forth righteous thoughts, my knees became very painful when I sat in the full lotus position. I would then think about what Master Li (Falun Dafa’s founder) has told us about this.

Master said,

“I just said that the principles of cultivators and those of ordinary people are opposite. Human beings believe that a life of comfort is a good thing, while Dafa disciples believe that having everything be easy is a bad thing when it comes to their improvement and that discomfort is conducive to improvement. (Applause) Have you managed to turn around your fundamental concepts?” (Teachings at the 2005 Conference in San Francisco)

This tribulation provided me with a good opportunity to improve my xinxing further. I needed to change my notions. I persisted in sitting in the full lotus position when meditating or sending forth righteous thoughts and my mind eventually calmed down. This was especially true when sending forth righteous thoughts. My whole body was so hot that I perspired and I felt very strong energy within my body.

In January 2020, both sides of my right calf became red and swollen. My skin was so itchy that I kept wanting to keep scratching at it, and the red swollen patch on the left side kept expanding. I treated it as a body-cleansing phenomenon.

I am a teacher so during that period of time we had online classes due to the pandemic. This gave me more time at home to strengthen my Fa study and watch Master’s lecture videos. After a while, the red and swollen symptoms on both sides of the calf gradually faded away and were no longer itchy. Towards the end, only an outline of the red and swollen skin was left and finally, everything returned to normal.

If an everyday person was to experience this skin condition he would understand it as happening due to disease or illnesses. But for a cultivator, this is not only the cleansing of our bodies, but it is also the release of our karma. This is really as Master said,

“...And human notions change,The degenerate things purged,...” (“Born Anew,” Hong Yin)

Recently, situations around the world changed very quickly and very greatly. As a Dafa practitioner, my understanding is that we need to cultivate ourselves well as we have a significant role to play in this world. We should focus on how to do better in the three things and save more sentient beings.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) makes use of the big outreach system that is under its control. They confuse the right and wrong of matters, trying all means to hide their crime of harming the whole human race. The CCP-controlled media sings praises of itself to influence other countries. This results in many people not being able to see the truth of its evil nature and leads political parties, companies, and organizations overseas to continue to stand on the side of communism. So many people in China only hear and see fake news and information. Therefore they are still very resistant when Falun Dafa practitioners try to clarify the truth to them.

The harm that the Wuhan virus [COVID] caused did not manage to awaken many people in China. Influenced by the lies of the CCP, the people in China are still thinking that the CCP is doing well in controlling the pandemic, etc. These factors obstruct Dafa practitioners from saving sentient beings. The old forces want to make use of this complicated environment to stop Dafa practitioners from saving people. The CCP specter wants to control the world and annihilate the human race.

As a Dafa practitioner, in the face of such a state, we must progress despite knowing how difficult it is. We cannot back off. Every Dafa practitioner knows that believing in Master and the Fa is the fundamental guarantee of us doing well on our path of cultivation. So how do we attain believing in Master and the Fa one hundred percent? We need to study the Fa well, study the Fa more and treat the Fa as our sole guide in cultivation. Only then can we improve ourselves and guide ourselves with the Fa and not veer off-track.

Recently, I’ve been a bit slack in my Fa study. The main reason is that I am paying too much attention to the situation of the current society such that I have veered off the main track. The thought of relying on sentient beings to change and push forward the state of the Fa-rectification seemed to be growing in my head. Realizing that, I immediately got rid of it and did not let it grow or spread further. Slacking and being attached to comfort often creeps up too. My attachment to wealth is also growing. There are many attachments that will appear and start to grow deeper and heavier when you do not become aware of them, making you gradually lose your direction.

In ordinary society, people nowadays talk about earning money and pursuing a blissful life. In late May 2020, the pandemic became less serious and schools everywhere gradually started to hold classes again. People thought the world was finally returning to its peaceful days and they resumed life as usual, oblivious to the impending danger. When Dafa practitioners clarify the truth to them, their rate of acceptance is slow and it is still quite difficult to awaken them. Of course, although it is difficult, we still have to carry on doing it. We know that sentient beings today did not come from a simple background. No matter what tribulations we face or how messy the world becomes, Dafa practitioners should still awaken sentient beings with a compassionate heart based on our steadfast belief in Master and Dafa.

When school reopened, I noticed that some students kept falling asleep during class and did not pay attention to the lessons, despite many reminders. I often lost my temper with this behavior. This indicated that my state of mind was still not calm and stable enough. Looking within I recognized other attachments, such as only wanting to hear people say good things about me, nothing critical or negative. These are the things that I still need to work on in my cultivation. Our Teacher, Master Li Hongzhi, tells us that whatever matters a cultivator meets with is not without a reason. Only with sufficient righteous thoughts can we handle these matters of cultivation successfully.