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True Cultivation, Persistent Exercise, and Reflection After Reading an Experience Sharing Article Written by a Falun Dafa practitioner in China
1) True Cultivation When I first started cultivation, a practitioner sincerely told me that
Teacher has especially emphasized "true cultivation." Later I
gradually realized the preciousness of the words "true cultivation."
It's not easy to "truly cultivate". Actually sometimes it is extremely
difficult. This kind of difficulty is not something that can be endured by an
average person. Therefore it is destined that some people will quit cultivation
sooner or later, as it is impossible for everyone to truly cultivate. When
talking about the issue of killing, Teacher says, "I am teaching the Fa to practitioners instead of casually telling
everyday people how to live. With regard to how one should deal with specific
issues, you should make a judgment according to Dafa. You should do things
however you see fit. Everyday people will do whatever they want to, and that
is their business; it is not possible for everyone to truly practice
cultivation. As a practitioner, however, one should follow a higher standard,
so I am hereby putting forward the requirements for practitioners."(Zhuan
Falun, March 2000 translation) In my opinion, "truly cultivating" means following a higher
standard. It is an extremely difficult and very serious issue, so it is
important for cultivators to be persistent and consistent in cultivation.
Teacher has taught the Fa [law, principles] to the students. However,
only true cultivators enlighten when they constantly improve themselves. I once roughly counted and I was surprised to find out that the word
"true" or "truly" appeared more than thirty times in Lecture
One of Zhuan Falun. How much does our benevolent Teacher wants us to pay
attention to this word? I ask my fellow practitioners to study the Falun Dafa
teachings when you have a clear and calm mind, so as to truly understand the
principles . Then we will be able to rationally understand the requirements for
cultivators of Falun Dafa. We will then understand what we should do and what we
should not do as cultivators, and be strict with our every single thought. In
fact, a true cultivator believes that "there are spiritual beings three
feet above one's head." Even when no person is watching him, he restrains
his thoughts and his behavior by the standard of the Falun Dafa principles, and
strictly searches inside himself to correct his thoughts and upgrade his
character. We must walk the path of cultivation one step at a time until
the end. There is no shortcut. Modesty, honesty and kindness are honorable moral characteristics of human
beings. They are also basic qualities that cultivators possess. Cultivators
should constantly improve their thoughts. Even the ordinary people who value
morality will gladly listen to others pointing out their shortcomings, treat
people with kindness and humbly accept criticism. If we cultivators still avoid
taking responsibility when we come across a problem, refuse to search inside
ourselves, and are not able to look inside and admit our mistakes, then we
really should reconsider if we are truly cultivating. We should not lose the Fa
easily just because we have obtained it easily. We cannot conduct ourselves our
own way and slack off any more. Let's treasure this opportunity, which does not
come along in thousands of years, make the best use of our time to truly
cultivate, and fulfill our grand vows that we made before history! 2) Persistent Exercises I have been cultivating for a few years, but I have been quite lazy about
practicing the exercises. When I was attached to my narrow-minded thinking that
the exercises were just a supplementary means of cultivation, I even found good
reasons and excuses to justify my laziness. One day I read an experience-sharing
article. In the article, the practitioner wrote that, cultivators needed to
study the Fa and practice the exercises just like we needed food and water. I
suddenly realized that I had done so poorly. Actually, the Fa has taught us
everything, but my strong notions had hindered me. Teacher has told us, "Falun Dafa is also a cultivation practice of mind and body, and it
requires exercises. On the one hand, the exercises are used to strengthen
supernormal abilities. What is "strengthening?" It is the
reinforcement of your supernormal abilities by your powerful gong potency,
thus making them progressively stronger. On the other hand, many living beings
need to be developed in your body. In high-level cultivation practice, the Tao
School requires the birth of the Immortal Infant (yuanying), while the
Buddha School requires the Vajra's indestructible body. Furthermore, many
supernatural abilities must be developed. These things need to be developed
through the physical exercises, and they are what our exercises cultivate. A
complete cultivation practice of mind and body requires both cultivation and
practice." (Zhuan Falun) I had obtained such a good cultivation way, but I had not been persistent in
practicing the exercises. I was being irresponsible to myself. I decided to practice the exercises. I rearranged my daily schedule and made
use of every little piece of time to exercise. I took a short nap when I felt
extremely sleepy at night. Whenever I was awake, I seized the time to study the
Fa and practice the exercises. I continued to do so for a year, and I
experienced obvious changes in myself. My face became radiant with health, and
my body became strong and energetic. I used to feel distracted in my mind and
had never achieved a tranquil mind before. Now I truly experienced the calmness
and happiness with a clear and clean mind. I also have much better results when
I study Fa. I learned from this experience that we can truly understand the Fa only if we
let go of our conventional thinking. We keep going in our own ignorance if we
don't let go of our attachments. I also realized the importance of experience
sharing among practitioners. Sometimes, we may be stuck on a certain principle
for years, and suddenly be enlightened by a remark from a fellow practitioner.
Many of the things shared are lessons from practitioners from their own
experiences. We will benefit from them and avoid unnecessary losses. 3) A Reflection after Reading an Experience Sharing Article I recently read two articles entitled "Golden
Buddha" (http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2003/11/2/41918.html)
and "Not
Fully Cooked Iron Eggplant" (http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2003/9/28/40767.html).
I thought deeply afterwards. I realized that if a cultivator does not set a
righteous goal, he would not be able to achieve it, regardless of who he was.
The leading characters in both stories thought they were cultivating, but I
didn't think they were truly cultivating. They didn't give up their selfishness,
so they were not steadfastly cultivating, nor were they compassionate. In
addition, their pursuit of Consummation was a strong attachment in and of
itself. It is wrong for cultivators to cultivate with attachments. Cultivation means ignoring superficial formalities and only looking at one's
heart. It stresses the heart instead of formalities, and absolutely can't be
turned into a formality. You should not think that Buddhas will take care of you
and give you Righteous Attainment just because you have studied Fa, practiced
the exercises and done something. Actually Buddhas have not asked you to worship
them. The hardships you have suffered are to repay your own karmic debts.
Buddhas just silently help you and protect you unconditionally. The only thing
that Buddhas look for is the goodness in your heart. A practitioner's
cultivation realm comes from the gradual upward growth through diligent, solid
cultivation. Consummation does not come from worshiping or pursuing; instead, it
comes from cultivation. I would like to remind everyone that we should do things
with a pure mentality. We save beings with such benevolent compassion from our
hearts that we give unconditionally. Please remember, "pursue nothing and
gain naturally". The butcher in "Golden
Buddha" once took lives. The thieves in "Not
Fully Cooked Iron Eggplant" had done many bad things. These were
all ordinary people's behaviors when they didn't distinguish between wrong and
right. However they thoroughly rectified their wrongdoings and abandoned
wickedness for goodness once they heard the Buddha Fa and began cultivation.
Teacher says, "one's Buddha-nature is Shan (compassion), and it
manifests itself as compassion, thinking of others before acting, and the
ability to endure suffering." ("Buddha-Nature and Demon-Nature"
in "Falun Dafa Essentials for Further Advancement") The butcher and
the thieves could give without complaint even when they were in extremely
difficult situations. This manifested the realm of true cultivators. The
benevolent compassion of Buddhas is immeasurable. Buddhas disregard our past
wrongs, and we will achieve Consummation as long as we reach the standard. Just
like what some people have said, "Those who strive to keep their lives, end
up losing their lives, and those who sacrifice their lives to save others, end
up obtaining eternal life." March 27, 2004 Posting date: 4/17/2004 |