Reflecting on My Cultivation

(Minghui.org) As a Falun Dafa practitioner I have a responsibility to hold myself to the Fa principles. However, I occasionally meet with interference from the old forces as well as my own human notions. I'm still trying to overcome these obstacles and become a more steadfast and diligent practitioner.

Attachment to Showing Off

Cultivating oneself means that attachments need to be given up. For me, one such attachment is showing off. I did not realize that I had this attachment before I started practicing Falun Dafa, but now I know I have to truly eliminate it.

I need to look within to find the root cause of my show-off mentality. When I realize that everything was given to me by Master, what do I have to show off? When we hold onto our attachments, we do not respect Master.

Jealousy Is the Root of All Evil

Former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin started the persecution against Falun Dafa out of jealousy. Some 80 million people were practicing Dafa when the persecution began in 1999. There were more people practicing Falun Dafa than there were members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Master said:

“A wicked person is born of jealousy.Out of selfishness and anger he complains about unfairness towards himself.”(“Realms” from Essentials for Further Advancement).

“If jealousy isn’t eliminated, all the thoughts you’ve cultivated become fragile. There’s a rule: a person who doesn’t get rid of jealousy while cultivating cannot achieve a True Fruition—he definitely won’t achieve a True Fruition.”(Zhuan Falun)

I had to become more thoughtful of others to be able to let go of my selfishness. I had to become more kind and open-minded.

If I cannot let go of jealousy, I cannot have a calm mind and be merciful. This is a large obstacle that prevents me from progressing in my cultivation.

When we are closer to our true selves, we will reach a state of benevolence and be in harmony with Dafa's principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

Interference by the Old Forces and Human Notions

Sometimes I say things without thinking, or my tone is too strong and lacks compassion. Sometimes, my show-off mentality surfaces and even a bit of jealousy is involved too. I might think that I am better than others, or that I have cultivated better than other practitioners. However, I later regret this behavior very much.

If I do not look within and correct my every thought and action, the old forces will have an excuse to interfere with me.

We develop human notions as we grow up and gain various life experiences. If we do not study the Fa well, these notions become obstacles that interfere with us.

When I say something without thinking, it lacks kindness and is not the real me. I must study the Fa more and truly let go of these attachments, only then will I be able to reach the cultivation state Master wants us to reach.