(Minghui.org) Two nights ago, after we studied the teachings of Falun Dafa, my daughter and I began to do the exercises. When we heard the verse from the first exercise “Shenshen Heyi” (The Mind and Body Join Together), my primordial spirit and my body became one and entered a calm state. I finished the first four exercises and wanted to do more.
When I was preparing for the fifth exercise, I noticed that my daughter was not complaining. She previously would whine when she did the second exercise, the Falun Standing Stance. The only time she was quiet was when she was “Holding the Wheel in Front of the Lower Abdomen.” She would make a lot of noise and even squatted down when she held the wheel and in other positions. I would occasionally open my eyes and could see her being very uncomfortable. Sometimes she would finish the second exercise in a painful manner. However, that evening she didn't make any noise, and she said, “I felt good when I held the wheel. I barely moved during the third exercise, and my hands moved automatically.” This was the first time she felt good doing the exercises, and I was happy for her.
The Power of Looking Inward
My daughter became a practitioner not too long ago, and like me, she does not often do the exercises. Since she has difficulty completing the second exercise, she didn't like to practice them. I can usually stay calm when I practice by myself, but when I practice with her, I'm mindful of her reactions. As a result, I cannot reach a calm state of mind. I felt very different that evening, as I only concentrated on myself and didn't pay attention to her, and as a result, she practiced with ease. That reminded me of the power of looking inward. When I concentrate on cultivating myself and reaching the standard while doing the exercises, I seem to have a positive influence on other practitioners. When my energy field is pure and I am calm, the field of the practice site is also. It feels so wonderful that words cannot describe.
Shouldn't we therefore look inward when we share and work with other practitioners? When we notice a practitioner whose state of mind is not based on the Fa, should we measure him against the Fa and criticize him, or should we rectify ourselves and send forth righteous thoughts? When we overhear practitioners talking about other practitioners behind their backs, should we agree with them, or should we rectify ourselves and suggest practitioners treat others with righteous thoughts? We often hear practitioners saying that so and so has righteous thoughts, but most of them refer to practitioners who have no fear when clarifying the truth or negating the persecution. These are standards that Fa-rectification disciples should reach. The part that is difficult to detect is whether we can think like a divine being, or look at the situation from the mindset of a human being.
After what happened two nights ago, I realized that we should cultivate ourselves whenever we encounter any situation. I think one of the reasons why the new cosmos is capable of harmonizing itself is because all lives will be able to look inward, and reach the standard of the Fa. This will lead other beings to do the same, and form a strong mechanism and righteous energy field that enables one to look inward.
Cleaning and Rectifying Our Field Through Righteous Thoughts
I remember a scene I saw while sending forth righteous thoughts. One day I sat down and recited the verse, “...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.” (Guiding the Voyage – “Teaching the Fa at the 2001 Canada Fa Conference”) However, I was not able to clear or suppress the thoughts in my head. They were things that happened during the last two days, and I looked inward to see if those thoughts were connected to my attachments. A scene then suddenly appeared, and I saw a large whirlpool (or tree rings) that were rotating inward very fast. The speed towards the center was the fastest, and it slowed down as it reached the outer layer. I found the corresponding attachments. When the rotating force reached a layer, the dirty black spots within that layer disappeared. To be more exact, the black spots were assimilated by the energy. I quickly entered a strong energy field. When the clock beeped, I realized I was supposed to send forth righteous thoughts. I raised my palm and recited the verse, and immediately felt everything within my field being rectified and cleaned. I remained in that state of mind for a period of time. I noticed that the more we look inward, the stronger the energy we emit outward.
Practitioner A often talked about practitioner B, and A wanted to get away from B but couldn't. I shared with A based on the Fa, but the situation remained the same for a period of time. I realized recently that after I heard A talking about B, I didn't look inward or treat the situation with righteous thoughts. I looked inward and noticed that I was agreeing with A. I thought that B was not cultivating well after all these years. I didn't realize that no one was able to see the side of B that was cultivated well. Therefore, what was manifested was the side that was not being cultivated. Perhaps one of the reasons why B remained in a prolonged hardship was because we didn't look at the situation with righteous thoughts, and treated B with our human notions and dirty mindset. I didn't realize that I actually enjoyed listening to A talk about B's problems. Because I acknowledged A's words, A was not able to let go of B's problems. They remained in conflict with each other over the past few years. When my state of cultivation was not good, I would comfort myself thinking that I was cultivating better than B. Didn't these dirty thoughts cause a lot of interference for B and create hindrance for Master's Fa-rectification? I felt very guilty that I didn't have a righteous effect on that practitioner.
Respecting Fellow Practitioners
Master cherishes every disciple and all lives. He said, “I have often said that during the Fa-rectification I don't hold the past faults of any sentient being against him, and that I look only at a sentient being's attitude toward Dafa during the Fa-rectification.” (“Turning the Wheel Towards the Human World”) Therefore, shouldn't we respect other practitioners? We should not admire other practitioners blindly, but should respect them because they continuously cultivate in Dafa. When we see practitioners in a poor state of cultivation, do we support them with pure righteous thoughts or do we look at them with human notions? I admit that when I sent forth righteous thoughts for other practitioners, I couldn't help but focus on their problems instead. When practitioners mentioned others whom I rarely see, I would bring up problems they used to have. I didn't realize that even if I didn't see them, they were still cultivating and thus would not remain in the same state of mind. Master said, “As long as you read Dafa, you are changing; as long as you read Dafa, you are elevating.” (“Melt Into the Fa,” Essentials for Further Advancement) If practitioners keep studying the Fa, how could they not change? I am the one who didn't change! I held onto others' mistakes for years and didn't want to let go, and I was not being tolerant nor compassionate.
Letting Go of Human Thoughts and Achieving One Body
I wrote this sharing article to expose what is not based on the Fa. I'd like to remind myself and other practitioners to maintain a righteous mind and eliminate all human notions. Master said, “Can you bring to heaven the things deep down inside that you cannot let go of?” (“True Cultivation,” Essentials for Further Advancement) Would a great enlightened being who has cultivated well think about others' shortcomings? We often talk about being one body, but being one body is not a formality. I hope we can increase our righteous thoughts, lessen our human thoughts, and not let Master worry.
These are my understandings at my current level. Please kindly point out anything that is inappropriate.
