(Minghui.org) As Dafa disciples, to truly keep our minds on the Fa and cultivate ourselves well, studying the Fa often and well is first and foremost. The content of Dafa is most profound and its power is tremendous. In nearly every lecture given at Fa conferences, Master patiently reminded us of the importance of studying the Fa. Last year, Master published the article “Dafa Disciples Must Study the Fa.” To assist Master in Fa-rectification, to do the three things well, to save more sentient beings, and to truly reach the standard of a Fa-rectification period Dafa disciple, studying the Fa and cultivating the mind are extremely important. I would like to share with you how I study the Fa.
Squeeze in Time to Study the Fa
We all cultivate in ordinary human society. Our jobs, family affairs, and other aspects of personal life all take time. Fa-validating projects require even more time. Especially now that the time field is being accelerated by Fa-rectification, an entire day can go by yet we don't feel that we have done much. Master says: “That's not necessarily interference. You just need to find time to study the Fa.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Western U.S. International Fa Conference” from Teaching the Fa at the Conference VII) . And: “...I think you still need to squeeze in time for study, even if it means for a little while only.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Meeting with Asia-Pacific Students” from Teaching the Fa at the Conference VI) .
Ever since I obtained the Fa in the winter of 1996, I have always squeezed in time for Fa study. At my workplace, I manage my time well, finishing my work quickly and utilizing every spare moment to study the Fa. At home, I do whatever I have to do first and leave the things that can wait for later so that I can study the Fa. I make a point not to watch TV, not to gossip or chat with ordinary people, not to read any newspapers or magazines influenced by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), not to read any books that are not related to or necessary for my job in ordinary human society, and instead use the time to study the Fa. I don't let any spare moment go to waste, regardless of its length. When I walk or ride a bus, and before I go to sleep, I either read, recite, or listen to the Fa. Time is also a life—if you intend to use it, it will be used. As a Dafa disciple, I can't let the fleeting moments go to waste. I try my best to utilize the little bits of time to study the Fa and do the three things well.
Quiet the Mind and Study the Fa Well
When I study the Fa, I don't rush to meet a quota, or just go through the motions. Fa-study is for truly studying the Fa. As soon as I pick up the book, I suppress my human notions and desires, don't think about the things I am working on at the moment, and especially don't think about interpersonal conflicts and conflicts of interests. I try to let go of different types of human sentimentality and desires, truly study the Fa with a quiet mind, and truly absorb the Fa.
If our minds are not clear, then we are studying the Fa with attachments—that is not cultivating. We are not only wasting time, but also descending in levels when we are supposed to upgrade ourselves. At the same time, we will attract dark low-level spirits from other dimensions (something I've seen with the celestial eye). Fa study is a part of our cultivation and is the first of the three things that Master asks us to do well. It is fundamental and essential to doing everything well. Studying the Fa is the basis for understanding the Fa's principles and how to conduct ourselves well in our cultivation. Through studying well we are guaranteed righteous thoughts in our cultivation practice; also, whether we study well or not determines whether or not we can cultivate in the Fa.
“If a person can't cultivate in the Fa, then he isn't able to truly understand the Fa. Only when a person has truly grasped the Fa can he walk the path righteously and can his being be assured a good outcome.” (“Teaching the Fa at the 2004 International Fa Conference in New York”)
Thus, I have been strict with myself in following Master's teaching, “Study the Fa steadily and solidly, and don't just go through the motions.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Western U.S. International Fa Conference” from Teaching the Fa at the Conference VII)
In “To the Australia Fa Conference,” Master said, “Don't just go through the motions when you study the Fa. You should study with a concentrated mind, and you must really be studying.”
There have been times that my mind was not clear. Master said, “Whenever there is interference of one kind or another in qigong practice, you should look for reasons within yourself and determine what you still have not let go.” (Zhuan Falun)
I looked inward and found the attachments that I had been tightly holding on to and not letting go. I eliminated them from the deep roots in the origin of my thoughts and completely got rid of them. When reading, sometimes I didn't even know what I just read after reading a section, and didn't truly understand it. I would then read the section over again. Sometimes the interfering thoughts are like overturning rivers and seas; it is like a balloon in the water—you push it into the water over here, it pops right out over there. In situations like this, I would send forth righteous thoughts, “...thinking about eliminating the bad thoughts, karma, bad notions, and external interference in their minds. As you’re like this, think that they die, and then they will be eliminated.” (“Teaching the Fa at the 2001 Canada Fa Conference” from Guiding the Voyage) .
I request myself to have “A Clear and Clean Mind” (Zhuan Falun) . Like Master said, “Your Mind Must be Right” (Zhuan Falun) , and “one righteous mind can subdue one hundred evils” (Zhuan Falun) .
Sometimes I recite “Washing away all wrong thought” (“Nothing Kept” from Hong Yin (Translation Version A)) out loud over and over again and quickly suppress various interfering thoughts and eliminate them. Then, with a clear mind, I enter the appropriate state for Fa study and truly focus. At that moment, I feel my body becoming very warm and enveloped by a strong field.
Sometimes I see certain manifestations of the Fa. If you really think about it, whether or not we study the Fa with a clear and clean mind is also an issue of respecting Master and Dafa, because behind every character there is Master's fashen and layers and layers of Buddhas, D aos, and Gods from various levels. They are all watching us. “One’s gong level is as high as one’s xinxing level...” (Zhuan Falun)
They see the level where our xinxing is and will give us hints on the meanings of the Fa at different levels. If our xinxing is not upgraded, we will be restricted by the characteristic of the universe. How can we improve xinxing and ascent to higher realm? We should study the Fa proactively, in depth, and thoroughly. In order to assimilate to the Fa, we need to study the Fa often so we can frequently enlighten to new meanings of the Fa. Master specifically pointed out,
“But when you squeeze in time for study there's a problem that's apt to come up: you can't calm your mind, and if you can't calm your mind, you're in fact studying in vain and wasting time. If you're going to study, you need to set aside everything else that's on your mind, keep your mind steady, quiet your mind, and truly study. Even if you just study a few paragraphs [this way], it's better than reading the entire book with a restless mind. When you study the Fa, you have to absorb it.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Meeting with Asia-Pacific Students” from Teaching the Fa at the Conference VI)
Write about your experiences
Through studying the Fa, I have become clear on some principles of the Fa. While overcoming hardships and tribulations, there were times that I did well and times that I did poorly. At times I couldn't maintain my xinxing well and other times I became muddle-headed and turned aside from Dafa. Whether it was an experience or a lesson, I have to write it down, even if it's only a few sentences. It shouldn't be a short effort that is quickly forgotten—then our experiences will not be deeply remembered. We have to avoid the situation in which we stay clear headed when we study the Fa yet start to do whatever we want once amongst everyday people in society. Master says, “With anything Dafa disciples do, they should do it based on the Fa and think about things in terms of the Fa.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Meeting with Asia-Pacific Students” from Teaching the Fa at the Conference VI)
Writing down our experiences will help us become more clear-minded. We will be able to correct our every thought with Fa, take the most righteous path, walk our path righteously, and gradually become mature in cultivation practice. In fact, the writing process is also a process of upgrading ourselves. As I am writing this article, Master gave me hints, gave me wisdom, and helped me write fluently.
Becoming self-motivated in studying the Fa
In order to help each Dafa disciple in their cultivation practice and their eventual completion of cultivation, Master installed Falun and many energy systems and mechanisms for us, internally and externally, so that the Fa cultivates us practitioners. Also, Master's fashen is protecting us—anytime, anywhere—and watching us in our cultivation practice, constantly giving us hints to make us cultivate well so that we can reach the highest level we can possibly reach. “Cultivation depends on the efforts of the individual while transforming gong is done by the master.” (Zhuan Falun)
We have such a master and we are lives who came here for the Fa—what reasons do we have to not study the Fa well? To what degree do we trust Master and the Fa? Only by studying the Fa well can we strengthen our righteous thoughts, trust Master and the Fa, and remember that we are Dafa disciples in any situation at any time. “Therefore, you must truly follow our xinxing requirements—only then are you a genuine practitioner.” (Zhuan Falun)
I put my heart and all my effort into studying the Fa and am self-motivated in studying the Fa. Every spare moment I have, I use it to study the Fa. Even when I don't have the time, I squeeze in time so I can study the Fa. Regardless of how much pressure I am under or how serious the situation is, nothing can change my mind about studying the Fa. We do not seek what everyday people have, we only wish to cultivate in Dafa. As a Dafa disciple, how wonderful is it to substantiate our everything with Fa? There is nothing better than this! What is validating the Fa? What is assisting Master in Fa-rectification? What is a true Dafa disciple? There is only one path, and we must walk the path righteously. Master told us in “Be Clearheaded,” “Only when you follow Master's requirements are you validating the Fa and cultivating yourself as a Dafa disciple, and only then are you a true Dafa disciple.”
In short, I utilize my time to study the Fa often and quiet my mind to study the Fa well. I strive to understand the principles of the Fa and always keep my mind on the Fa. I compare my every action to the Fa, try to stay in the course of Fa, and share my understandings and experiences with fellow practitioners to have a better understanding of the Fa. My righteous thoughts and wisdom in clarifying the truth and saving sentient beings originate from the Fa. My goal is to truly assimilate to the Fa and become a small particle of the Fa. “Dafa is what you carry everywhere, Zhen Shan Ren, rooted in the mind; A great Arhat walks the earth, Gods and demons fear with awe.” (“Benevolent Might” from Hong Yin (Translation Version A))
I ask fellow practitioners to kindly point out anything that is inappropriate.
