(Clearwisdom.net) I have come to the understanding recently that along with the deepening of our cultivation, a Dafa disciple should truly become a particle in Fa-rectification, a being in the new universe created by Dafa. If we at all times check every single one of our thoughts, words and actions with a calm mind, we would find a lot of impurities and degeneration. If we do not fundamentally rectify the degeneration, it is very hard to relinquish many of our attachments, because if the root cause is not removed, the attachments can only be suppressed or partially removed one layer at a time, and they reappear at a later date when the opportunity arises. These degenerate notions severely interfere with our assimilation to the Fa.
For instance, I find deep down in myself there exists a mentality, which is manifested by being disrespectful and arrogant towards others. This mentality is entangled with unkind and intolerant demonic nature and jealousy, and it is rather difficult to eliminate. However, when we thoroughly recognize it and see through it, the elimination becomes more direct and easier. This degeneration is very bad, and it is part of the old forces. Only by respecting Master and the Fa, having a rock-solid belief in the Fa, are we be able to continually see the deeper meanings of the Fa.
There are some practitioners who have not been diligent. Apart from the fact that they have not been studying the Fa well and don't have enough understanding about the Fa, there also exists a degeneration of being unserious and careless with everything. This degeneration is very harmful. Cultivation in Dafa is magnificent and is a very serious matter. Because our goal is to become a great indestructible god through cultivation, to reach our goal, we must first of all study the Fa. If we do not have god-like thoughts and we do not know what the state of a god is like, then how can we possibly become a god? If we want to become gods at various levels, then we must know the Fa principles of various levels.
We should also solidly cultivate ourselves,
"Following [the Fa] in everything,
Compliance is cultivation."
("Solid Cultivation" from Hongyin, unofficial translation)
Some people study the Fa quite a lot, but they do not study with their heart, and whenever they come across a problem they often think like everyday people, with everyday people's logic. In fact their study of the Fa is no more than studying the Fa as if learning some theory.
"If you do not change the human logic that you, as an ordinary human, have formed deep in your bones over thousands of years, you will be unable to break away from this superficial human shell and reach Consummation. You cannot always count on me to eliminate karma for you while you fail to truly progress in comprehending the Fa and rise above human understandings and notions." ("Cautionary Advice" from Essentials for Further Advancement)
Cultivation is cultivating the heart, and it mainly involves the improvement of xinxing. Unless one changes from within and improves one's xinxing, nothing can be achieved.
When I saw that even practitioners who were doing well in the Fa-rectification or who could share much understanding of Fa principles were also taken advantage of by the evil, I felt unsteady in my heart. In fact, this unsteadiness is caused by human notions. "Even he had become like this, what could I become like?" Isn't this notion itself a reasoning of everyday people? Besides, how would you know how well a person is doing in cultivation? Who would have known his state of mind when he was taken advantage of by the evil? How could his state of mind be in keeping with the Fa? If it had been completely in keeping with the Fa, then how could it have been possible for the evil to take advantage of? Isn't this itself an attachment-- worrying about what would happen to me if I could not do well? Think about it, why would one not do well? How can one not do well if he or she actively looks inward and studies the Fa more and checks oneself with the Fa all the time? If one keeps worrying about oneself, then there is a problem. One should ask oneself if he or she has the indestructible righteous thoughts towards the Fa. If we want to have strong righteous thoughts, we must first of all overcome our fears and strengthen our will. Once our strong will is based on the Fa, we will have strong righteous thoughts. In the superficial human dimension we should also pay attention to the issue of security, then the evil will have no loopholes to take advantage of.
In fact, when we are completely melted into the Fa, the evil cannot move us at all, because we are already part of the Fa and we are particles of the Fa. How can the evil possibly move the Fa? When the evil has a handle on us, it is because we have loopholes. What is difficult is that when we do not study the Fa well and do not solidly cultivate ourselves, when our thoughts and actions become deviated from the Fa, we do not even realize it, and sometimes we even unwittingly acknowledge the old forces. Isn't this giving the evil a loophole?
We will melt into the Fa eventually, because we will cultivate to become a pure particle of the Fa, not because we do not leave any loopholes for the evil to take advantage of. A god does not have everyday people's attachments, and does not have fears, partly because he does not have such things in his life, and partly because he is not in the maze, yet everyday people in the maze cannot help having attachments and fears. These are the very things we need to give up in our cultivation.
