(Clearwisdom.net) While sharing experiences with fellow practitioners several days ago, I realized the importance of group Fa study and reading articles on the Minghui website.
Two years ago, one particular practitioner was still very clear about the Fa principles and did the three things well. Having been arrested twice, he was eventually released and returned home safely. Later, some of his relatives, also practitioners, were similarly persecuted. Other practitioners did not dare to contact him for fear of persecution. He did not want to add mental burden to fellow practitioners, and he gradually broke away from the group environment. For lack of computer skills, he seldom logged onto the Minghui website. Currently, he even refuses to accept truth-clarifying materials. Despite this, he still thinks that he is more diligent than his fellow practitioners.
Another practitioner had much fear and many other attachments. He could not bear the persecution and was transformed while in detention. After he was released, he studied the Fa at home but strong thought-karma interfered with him. However, he was very active in group Fa study and learned to log on to the Minghui website. In the Fa study group, he often said that he had many attachments and was afraid to clarify the truth to people face to face. Now he is doing much better. He is able to produce truth-clarifying materials independently. Sometimes he persuades people to quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations in person.
It was no coincidence that I heard about the current state of these two practitioners. Comparing their experiences, I realized the following points:
1. Whenever conditions permit, practitioners should try to participate in group Fa study because it motivates them to be more diligent. If we lose this environment, we will lose the chance to compare ourselves with fellow practitioners. We may not even become aware of a serious problem such as going astray. The most important thing is to keep studying the Fa. Since Teacher is here and the Fa is here, our cultivation is assured. The environment of Fa-study groups helps us to be more diligent. Group Fa study is the cultivation practice form that Teacher has given us. Teacher said,
"Fa-study groups, practice sites, and experience-sharing conferences--these are what I have given to you, and I have always supported their use." (Fa Teaching Given at the Fa Conference Marking the Tenth Anniversary of the Minghui Website's Founding )
Teacher also said,
"The cultivation practice form that I have left for Dafa disciples ensures that disciples can truly improve themselves. For example, I ask you to do the exercises as a group in parks in order to form an environment. This environment is the best way to change the surface of a person. The lofty conduct that Dafa disciples have established in this environment--including every word and every deed--can make people recognize their own weaknesses and identify their shortcomings; it can move their hearts, refine their conduct, and enable them to make progress more rapidly. Therefore, new students or self-taught disciples have to go to the practice sites to do the exercises." ("Environment" from Essentials for Further Advancement)
2. The Minghui website is an environment where practitioners share their cultivation experiences. Whenever conditions permit it, practitioners should not lose sight of this. Some of the Minghui articles mention that practitioners who had temporarily lost contact with their local fellow practitioners were reconnected after reading articles on the Minghui website every day. As a result, they were able to catch up, and to do the three things quite well. Teacher said,
Students everywhere--be it in the mainland, outside China, or wherever it may be--can share experiences via the Minghui website. By giving Dafa disciples a channel such as this in their cultivation, each is able to promptly learn the overall situation of Dafa disciples' cultivation; and the site serves as an indirect means of communication as well. This is excellent. (Fa Teaching Given at the Fa Conference Marking the Tenth Anniversary of the Minghui Website's Founding )
3. On the path of cultivation, it is not enough to do well at the beginning or to save a few people. We should not be satisfied with our current situation. We should be diligent and persistent. We should do better and save more sentient beings.
4. We should look within, be modest and identify our shortcomings. We cannot think highly of ourselves just because we have done well. Being pleased with ourselves will prevent us from making improvements. If we are too sure of ourselves, we will be unlikely to take other people's advice and resistant to looking within.
