Finally, I Realize What "Notions" Are

By a Falun Gong practitioner from Dalian City

(Clearwisdom.net) In recent days, conflicts and misunderstandings arose between my husband, also a Falun Gong practitioner, and me. It was painful. I continuously recited Master's article, "The Closer to the End, the More Diligent You Should Be." I constantly searched inward.

"But as cultivation is lived out, when the suffering bears down on you and conflicts come up that hit upon the deepest part of you--and especially when it rattles the rigid notions you have--the test is really hard to pass. It can even be to the point that you know full well it's a test but still can't let go of your attachments." ("The Closer to the End, the More Diligent You Should Be")

Sometimes the attachment was released momentarily but came back right away. The attachment always occupied my mind. I could not get rid of it even while doing the sitting exercise. Although I clearly understood that it was a test and a chance to eliminate karma, I still could not let go of my attachment. Moreover, I felt greatly pained about not passing the test. However, I forced myself to quietly recite the Fa. The more I recited the Fa, the more I understood the Fa, and I was able to relax.

Master mentioned "notions" many times in the article, "The Closer to the End, the More Diligent You Should Be:" "Notions of every sort," "notions about life," "the rigid notions," and "interference from incorrect, acquired notions." Then I thought, "What exactly are 'notions?'"

As I studied "Teaching the Fa at the Western U.S. International Fa Conference," a few sentences caught my attention immediately.

"I say that because during the journey you will have hardships, tests of every sort, unforeseen ordeals, and you will have unexpected interference from all kinds of attachments and emotion. The interference will come from family, society, good friends, and even fellow cultivators. And along with this there is interference from changes in the state of human society and from human notions that were formed in society."

The word "notions" suddenly enlightened me. I understood the real meaning of the word "notions" right away. I realized that Master had given me the wisdom and let me understand the meaning of "notions" at my current cultivation level and realm.

I said to my husband, "In recent days, I felt that you hurt me. I really felt pained. Master's Fa suddenly enlightened me. Actually, rather than me, what you hurt were my acquired notions, which consisted of karma. How can you hurt the true me? Therefore, you are actually helping me eliminate karma. If I did not have karma, I would not be hurt. I should thank you." At the same time, I found my attachment. If I do not allow my human thoughts to dictate my divine side, allow the evil to take advantage of me, allow my own space to become impure, or allow bad things to grow in it, nothing can affect me. Therefore, "notions" are not ourselves. They are formed as we come to an understanding of human society. They are attachments which cultivators have to eliminate during the cultivation process. The more these bad, postnatal notions are removed, the more relaxed I feel. If all my notions were to be removed, what kind of feeling that would be! That would be the true me. How can I still be unwilling to let them go? How can I still feel pained? We feel pained when we suffer a little bit. When Master eliminates our attachments and karma for us, do we think about the pain that Master suffers for us?

After I came to this understanding, my feelings of suffering suddenly disappeared. My mind suddenly cleared up. Therefore, I felt that conflicts, pain, or tests are not bad things. The key point is how you want to deal with them. You can keep complaining or be threatened by the tribulations. Or, you can courageously search inward, steadfastly study the Fa, and treat it as "an outstanding opportunity to remove karma, be cleansed of sin, purify the body, elevate your plane of thought, and rise in level."

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2006/5/20/128190.html

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