On Pursuing and Cultivating

By a Falun Gong practitioner in China

(Clearwisdom.net) During the Fa-rectification cultivation period, if we stepped forward for the purpose of doing something significant, pursuing mighty virtue, getting to a higher level or pursuing Consummation, or if we did the three things [study the Fa, clarify the truth and send righteous thoughts] merely as a formality without paying attention to the actual results, then we are not truly cultivating. Some fellow practitioners treat Dafa work like completing assignments for others, thinking that cultivating merely means doing the work. Other practitioners spend lots of effort gaining a name for themselves or do things to show off, instead of actually focusing on the task at hand. Some practitioners did some righteous deeds with righteous thoughts in the past, but could not get rid of the attachments to fear and human emotions; yet they often validate themselves by referring to their past deeds.

These are all forms of pursuit, not cultivation! Without a righteous starting point and a pure purpose, a practitioner will not improve his xinxing [heart or mind nature, moral character], no matter how much work he does. Instead, it adds on new attachments or strengthens existing attachments. If such practitioners do not wake up soon, their cultivation will lead them nowhere.

The above is my personal understanding. Please kindly point out any errors.

November 14, 2004

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