Replacing Human Notions with Divine Thoughts and Truly Walking the Path toward Godhood

By a practitioner from China

(Clearwisdom.net) Human beings possess demon-nature and Buddha-nature at the same time. How can we eliminate demon-nature? By using righteous thoughts cultivated during Fa-rectification, instead of human thoughts, the old forces factors that deviated from the Fa are repeatedly negated.

In cultivation we should suppress demon nature and enable Buddha nature to come into full play and improve the xinxing of every cultivator. Because of Fa-rectification, we have this rare and exceptional opportunity where we can reposition ourselves in the new cosmos. It's also the only opportunity Master left for sentient beings in different realms. Therefore, we must cherish it and never miss it.

When we do things that don't conform to the standard of Dafa, what manifests after we deviate from the Fa is an impure state. There may be many things that are not righteous, along with various forms of interference. All these are closely related to the xinxing of each practitioner, and it's very crucial for us to assimilate to Dafa at every moment and with every thought.

In a tribulation, if we treat everything with righteous thoughts and act according to the requirements of the Fa at different levels, then we can successfully pass tests. Aren't we validating the Fa with our original nature? Our original nature consists of the righteous thoughts cultivated by assimilating to Dafa, and it's free of human thoughts. As soon as this layer of the Fa is assimilated, a human shell is removed. As layer upon layer of the Fa is assimilated to, then layer upon layer of human shell is removed, until all attachments are abandoned without omission and the bondage of human notions are broken away. We can then elevate in cultivation and become genuine gods.

During cultivation we often encounter worries, troubles, sadness, discomfort, depression, loneliness, and conflicts. No matter what happens, it's important how we think about these situations. Whether a cultivator is divine or human can be determined by a single thought, depending on whether or not that thought is based on the Fa principles. If we think about these situations using human notions then they are bad, but if we think about them based on the Fa, then all they are good.

In cultivation, to eliminate human notions and act according to the principles from higher levels is assimilating to the Fa. The manifestation of this is steadfast, fulfilled, positive, magnanimous, and powerful righteous thoughts, bad things being turned into good things, and the ability to protect ourselves. Otherwise, if we act or react using human thoughts and notions based on being careful, overcautious, fearful, weak, passive, and non-magnanimous, then we cannot protect ourselves. Instead we may encouter interference and different mindsets that manifest different results.

The old forces don't dare to oppose truth clarification or saving sentient beings. However, the gaps in one's mental state when doing things can be taken advantage by the old forces. If we have pure states of mind and righteous thoughts, we can protect ourselves. This is why when we have righteous thoughts and righteous actions, Master surely will protect us. A fellow practitioner placed a copy of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party inside a police car that appeared to be empty, but suddenly a police officer sat up and asked, "What are you doing?" The practitioner was not scared and said calmly, "If I find a lost item, should I give it to the police?" The officer answered, "Yes." The practitioner said, "Then here is this book I found." The policeman did not ask anymore questions. He accepted the book and read it. The practitioner left. If the practitioner had been nervous and walked away hurriedly, he would have appeared suspicious. Therefore, different states of mind will bring about different outcomes. A good state of mind is cultivated from the process of always doing the three things well, and is the result of righteous thoughts and righteous actions. It is the inevitable manifestation of studying the Fa well.

After another practitioner discovered that he was being followed, he did not panic. He turned around and clarified the truth of Falun Gong to the person who was tailing him. The kind action of the practitioner moved the follower, and he gave up the thought of persecuting the Dafa disciple. In the meantime it also gave him a chance for a good future. After still another practitioner found he was being tailed, he turned around and scolded the agent with cruel words. As a result the agent called for back up and the practitioner was arrested. The agent committed a crime against the practitioner. Our kind and not so kind behaviors have corresponding results in saving sentient beings. Assimilating to Dafa is not merely for personal cultivation to consummation but also to save sentient beings.

I have also experienced that different states of mind bring about different outcomes. One evening when I was taking some materials home, I was followed by a police car. I hid on a dead end street and sent forth righteous thoughts to eliminate the interference, and I asked Master for help. Although I felt restless, I never had a thought of being arrested. I thought that I must walk away and tell fellow practitioners about this. The police car stopped at the entrance of the street for a long time, but as soon as I approached the entrance, the police car left. With Master's protection, I successfully returned.

One time when I was clarifying the truth I was reported by a person who was unaware of the truth. After the police arrived, they wanted to take me away. I calmly and firmly told them that I would not go with them. In the meantime I clarified the truth to them and told them about the current movement around the world to quit the CCP. I told them that I was saving people and that I did not do anything wrong, so I would not go with them. The heavy police officer saw that I did not intend to cooperate, so he said viciously, "How about this: if you don't get in the car, I will call my backups, and we will drag you into the car?" I replied, "Well, I know you can, but you wouldn't do that to me. I can tell from your appearance that you are good men. Do you honor or ignore the heavenly principle that 'Good is rewarded with good and evil begets retribution?' Hopefully you will learn to distinguish between good and evil and know that treating Dafa disciples kindly is treating yourself kindly. And please do not aid and abet those who persecute Dafa practitioners." When I finished speaking, the atmosphere became harmonious and peaceful again. And then, instead of ordering me, they begged me to get in the police car. They said that after the car drove out of sight of the witnesses surrounding us, they would let me go. I refused again. Eventually, in order to save face, they begged me to allow the young policeman to walk with me to the corner,with the police vehicle just following us. They said they would let me go once we disappeared from the view of the crowd. This time I agreed. The young policeman walked by my side as I clarified the truths of Falun Gong to him and encouraged him to quit the CCP. He agreed. I told him that what they did today had ensured them a splendid future, and I emphasized once more to please not capture practitioners, and that they must set them free if they encounter them in the future. After we had walked together for a short while, they said to me, "You can go now. Please take care of yourself in the future." I thanked them and watched them leave.

Reflecting on the whole process, I found that I had no fear and I did not have the human notion that I would be taken away if a police car arrived. My state of mind was stable and I was only thinking of saving people. I did not worry about myself. This was the reason that I could successfully walk away in front of the police car, and I really felt the inner meaning of Master's words,

"When disciples have ample righteous thoughts
Master has the power to turn back the tide"

("The Master-Disciple Bond" from Hong Yin II)

When we are selfless and have ample righteous thoughts, Master will not allow the old forces to persecute us, and we will feel that Master is always around us. I also understand that although Master is near us, when we lack righteous thoughts and have strong human notions, then Master cannot do anything. Master could not destroy other beings, including the old forces, for a person who regards himself as an everyday person, since Master is compassionate towards all sentient beings.

In cultivation we will gradually use divine thoughts instead of human thoughts. We will "join the mind and body together," let go of all post natal human notions, always act based on the Fa, and follow the righteous Fa. To achieve that, the only way is to study the Fa diligently with calm hearts and maintain our thoughts in the pure state of melting into the Fa. Although on the surface we are maximally conforming to the way of ordinary society, what our own minds contain is the ultimate Great Fa of the cosmos, and we will gradually remove all human notions left in our minds, replace them with divine thoughts and truly walk the path to godhood.

A person is whatever his mind contains, and he will act accordingly. He's not forced to be and won't pretend to be someone superficially. He can easily change what he does, but his mind cannot be changed so easily. If one can't change his mind at the root completely, he cannot be a god at all.

May 12, 2008

Chinese version available at http://minghui.org/mh/articles/2008/5/13/178363.html

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