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My Understanding Regarding "Respect Our Teacher, Respect the Fa" By a Chinese practitioner
(Clearwisdom.net) For a long time I have been in the following state: I can stay focused when reading Teacher's new
articles and new Clearwisdom stories, yet I often lose my concentration, skip over words or phrases,
and become stymied without remaining alert when reading Zhuan Falun. I have tried to
strengthen my concentration, purge the evil that interferes with my Fa study, even practiced
"reading out loud" as recommended by fellow practitioners. Each of these methods helped
for only a short while, and then I would revert back to my old condition. I felt really miserable
and became distressed in my failure to improve my understanding of the Fa, and I did not know how to
break through this state. One day another practitioner recited what Teacher said in his article "Fa Lecture at the
Conference in Florida, U.S.A.": "When you study the Fa and your mind isn't on the Fa, it's
not only a problem of just going through the motions, but also that the person studying the Fa is
actually not being very respectful of the Fa. How could the Fa reveal itself, then?" This was
really a wake up call for me. I remembered reading Teacher's "Fa-Lecture During the 2003
Lantern Festival at the U.S. West Fa Conference." Teacher deeply regretted those practitioners
who fit the category as "some people are already half way out into thin air," as well as
those practitioners who did not respect Teacher. I was startled, this section of the Fa was sounding
the same alarm to me. How could I detach myself from this issue? Teacher said, "Usually your
Master doesn't teach you the Fa on an individual basis. That's because if I were to point out
someone's problem to him individually, his mind would be hit really hard, and this might in fact
affect him. That's why I rarely speak to someone individually that way. But when I bring up these
problems in a large forum, don't think I'm not referring to you." ("Teaching the Fa at the
2002 Fa Conference in Boston") We usually maintain eye contact with others during a conversation to show our courtesy and
respect. When we are reading Zhuan Falun, we are facing the Fa of the universe and our
compassionate Teacher, who provides salvation to all; what kind of mentality should we have? Teacher
had stated over and over that we must study the Fa with a rational and sober mind. Teacher also told
us, "If you don't even listen to what I say, then why do you still call me Master?"
("Lecture at the Australia Fa Conference") Wasn't the state that I was in when reading Zhuan
Falun a serious manifestation of not respecting Teacher? How dangerous, serious, and solemn it
is? I could feel a shock in my heart as I thought about this, and suddenly my body felt as light as
air. I was no longer muddled when reading, and I could calm down when sending forth righteous
thoughts. Previously I had merely copied Fa study approaches from others because of my attachment to
seeking new things, but I ignored and overlooked the connotation behind the methodology -- truly
seek from within our heart, sincerely respect and solemnly face Teacher and Fa from the deepest part
of our life. What I said earlier was only my own understanding and I hope it will be of value to my fellow
practitioners. Because I am limited by my understanding, please kindly point out anything
inappropriate. Posting date: 4/27/2003 |