(Minghui.org) What's the best way to study the Fa? It's not so simple, and it's not about trying to dig into the surface meaning of the words. Below are some misunderstandings that some practitioners have developed about this issue.
Ignoring Master's Articles and Lectures
Some practitioners only read Zhuan Falun and never touch Master's other articles and lectures. They say stuff like, “Master told us that we could still consummate through studying Zhuan Falun.” Actually, when a practitioner ignores Master's other articles and lectures, it is a sign that he/she does not truly believe in Master and the Fa.
Some other practitioners read all of Master's books, articles and lectures, but seldom do things to clarify the truth, send forth righteous thoughts or practice the exercises. They are able to finish Zhuan Falun within one or two days and thus think that they study the Fa better than other practitioners. This is similar to what Master mentioned before; when some monks only read the Buddhist scriptures but ignore their cultivation, they are not true cultivators.
Master warned us,
“If a Dafa disciple cannot validate the Fa, then he is not a Dafa disciple.” (“On 'The Dignity of Dafa'” from Essentials for Further Advancement II)
Master also told us:
“These people who only want to take from Dafa and not give for Dafa are, in the eyes of Gods, the worst beings. Moreover, this Fa is what’s fundamental in the cosmos, so those people who are still unable to step forward today will be weeded out after this tribulation is over.” (“A Suggestion” from Essentials for Further Advancement II)
Only Focused on Doing Things
Some practitioners only devote themselves to doing things. They mistake how many things they have finished for how well they cultivate. They mistakenly think that since they have already studied the Fa so many times, they don't not need to study the Fa anymore.
Like everyday people doing Dafa work, they cannot save humans beings effectively, even if they do a lot of things. Moreover, since they do not do things based on the Fa, they can become easy targets for the persecution by the evil.
Never Reading Experience-Sharing Articles on the Minghui Website
Once, an elderly female practitioner told me that she never reads any experience-sharing articles on the Minghui website. She only wanted to understand the Fa from her own experiences. I explained that we are able to find our shortcomings and improve quickly through reading other practitioners' experience-sharing articles. This form of sharing our understandings of the Fa is necessary and approved by Master.
Stubbornly Insisting on Understandings of the Fa Before July 20, 1999
Some practitioners stubbornly insist on holding on to their understandings of the Fa obtained before July 20, 1999, and do not agree with Dafa practitioners getting involved in activities to clarify the truth during the Fa-Rectification period. Since they cannot realize the difference between cultivation during the Fa-rectification period and individual cultivation, they cannot break through the personal cultivation state.
Making a Hasty Generalization in Understanding the Fa
Some practitioners regard their own understandings as the whole Fa and reject all that they disagree with. If we can understand that different people can understand the Fa differently at their own levels, and take a humble attitude to learn from sharing experiences with others, we may improve rapidly.
Looking at Things with Human Thoughts
When Master's article was published on the Minghui website about Chinese Dafa disciples using television to let people know the truth in 2002, I thought I figured out why Master named this article, “Look at Things with Righteous Thoughts.” Later I realized that we should look at things with righteous thoughts instead of human ones when we meet any issues during our cultivation.
Since then, I've tried to judge all my ideas with righteous thoughts. It's easier said than done.
Whenever an everyday person meets with difficulty, his/her first thought is to judge it and solve it according to his own human notions and ideas. At that moment, his attachments of fighting, jealousy, and seeking fame and profit are aroused.
For an everyday person, it is too difficult to change his/her conventional mentality. But as Dafa disciples, we should not stick to a human way of doing things.
Master said:
“The most difficult things for people to abandon are their notions. Some people cannot change, even if they have to give up their lives for fake principles. Yet notions are themselves acquired postnatally. People always believe that these unshakable ideas—ideas that can make them pay any price without a second thought—are their own thoughts. Even when they see the truth they reject it. In fact, other than a person’s innate purity and innocence, all notions are acquired postnatally and are not a person’s actual self.” (“For Whom do You Exist” from Essentials for Further Advancement)
Going to Extremes
When others cannot accept a practitioner's advice or opinion, the practitioner may feel it's unfair: “I am helping you to improve your xinxing. Why did you misunderstand me? Fine! I won't care about your situation anymore!” This practitioner has failed to look inside and realize that his tone was not nice and that he lacked tolerance towards fellow practitioners. This is one example of going to extremes.
Please kindly point out anything inappropriate.
