January 5, 2004
(Clearwisdom.net) When we study the Fa, what we are studying is the Fa, not an ordinary book. When ordinary people read a book, with their own knowledge and perceptions, they often analyze and measure whether the surface meaning of the words in the book is reasonable or right, whether it conforms with their knowledge, and whether the book is consistent from beginning to the end, etc.
Studying the Fa is a process of purifying ourselves, assimilating into the Fa of the new universe. The purpose of studying the Fa is not to enlighten to higher level truth. When practitioners encourage each other to learn and cultivate, it does not mean competing with each other to enlighten to higher-level truths. Good comprehension means not being deluded by the false picture of things and getting lost in the midst of ordinary people, and also means doing everything according to the requirements of the Fa.
The cultivation process is a process of letting go of attachments. Enlightening is not solving a riddle on the surface of words. Higher levels of truth are not something enlightened to by us. It is Master, the Fa and all the Buddhas, Taos, and Gods behind the Fa who will point them out for us when we let go of our attachments and improve our xinxing. If we do not elevate our thinking and don't meet the standards of a certain level, the Buddhas, Taos, and Gods behind the Fa will never point out the truth of that level to us. We will only gain when we don't try to gain. If we want to purposely enlighten to something, it will cause omissions that could be utilized by the evil and lead us to enlighten along an evil path.
If a practitioner does not let go of the attachment of wanting to reach higher levels, he often will not realize that he is on the wrong path. It is very hard for these practitioners who enlightened along an evil path to acknowledge their mistakes, just like it is hard for a drunken person to acknowledge he is drunk.
Looking back to our cultivation path, the attachment of unlimited exploration made lots "diligent and eager learning" cultivators lose their direction; they did not even realize that they were on a wrong path, thinking they enlightened higher and better than others. We should wake up and learn from these serious lessons and their huge costs.
