(Clearwisdom.net) After the persecution began on July 20, 1999, we lost the group Fa-study environment. This severely impacted our improvement, our working as one-body, our stepping forward to validate the Fa and save people, and our keeping up with Fa-rectification.

The persecution of Dafa has lasted for 10 years. The old forces have interfered with Fa-rectification and contributed to practitioners' tribulations. However, all these are transient, and all elements of the old forces are being constantly eliminated during Fa-rectification. From the overall picture, the evil persecution is doomed to end soon. Nowadays as practitioners are becoming gradually more mature, some practitioners are still studying the Fa at home alone instead of stepping forward to join group Fa-study.

I have identified several reasons why only a limited number of group Fa-study sites have been established.

First, many practitioners have not realized the importance and urgency of group Fa-study. As a result, they have not put much attention on it and even consider it a waste of time to walk somewhere to join group study. Second, some practitioners get pressure from family members, such as children or a spouse. Without good Fa-study, these practitioners do not have strong righteous thoughts and the family environment has not been rectified. Third, these practitioners have the attachment of seeking comfort. They think individual Fa-study at home allows more freedom and makes it more convenient to do chores. In a word, these practitioners are not placing Fa-study as the highest priority. Master said,

"If you are still unclear about what a Fa-rectification disciple is, you won't be able to step forward in the current tribulation, and you will be led by the human world's pursuit of comfort to 'enlighten' along an evil path." ("Fa-Rectification Period Dafa Disciples" in Essentials for Further Advancement II)

The fourth reason is that some practitioners consider themselves highly educated and that it is a waste of time to join Fa-study since others have not studied the Fa as well as they have. Fifth, it is hard to find a place for group Fa-study. An ideal place is one that is safe and without interference, but this is hard to find. Some practitioners can offer places, but they have excuses, including avoiding conflicts with family members.

Master said,

"Studying the Fa with attachments is not true cultivation. Yet during the course of cultivation a person may gradually become aware of his fundamental attachments, rid himself of them, and thus meet the standard for a cultivator." ("Towards Consummation" in Essentials for Further Advancement II)

An everyday person has many human notions and is attached to many things. However, as a genuine Dafa disciple, we cannot just seek to benefit from the Fa without sacrificing anything.

Group Fa-study is a very effective way for one to improve xinxing. Group discussions after Fa-study also allow practitioners to share understandings and experiences so as to identify shortcomings and to improve. All of these are hard to achieve when one studies the Fa alone at home. I know two practitioners who have been unable to step forward and, as a result, they have encountered sickness karma for a long time. They are also worried about being unable to break through interference from the old forces.

Group Fa-study is a process of cultivation through which we can improve as one body. Group study helps us to regard the Fa as Teacher, to be more strict with ourselves, and to be more diligent. In this way, we will be able to let go of human notions like fear or seeking comfort. I think if more group Fa-study sites can be established, it will help many practitioners to improve as one body and do the three things well.

June 18, 2009