(Minghui.org) It’s very common for people to follow along with the crowd—they judge whether something is good or bad based on what others say about it. This kind of mentality is a major problem in cultivation, especially among new practitioners. For example, when they see others practicing Falun Dafa and regaining their health, they also come to learn; when they witness the brutal persecution, they get scared and give up; when they see others not behaving by the Fa principles, they question Dafa’s teaching and may even give up practicing altogether.
Of course, we cannot blame newcomers because they have just started and are yet to gain a deep understanding of the Fa. It’s natural for them to look at what veteran practitioners are doing and learn from them.
When veteran practitioners do well, they are validating the Fa, and this behavior has the effect of clarifying the facts and saving people. I’ve heard people tell me: “Just by seeing how you act, I know that Falun Dafa is good.” Conversely, if we don’t behave well, people might associate that behavior with Dafa’s teaching and develop misunderstandings about Dafa, which would damage Dafa’s reputation and affect others’ salvation.
It’s common for some veteran practitioners to admire certain practitioners and copy how they do certain things, even when this might jeopardize their own safety or Dafa’s reputation.
For example, these practitioners might think: “I like this practitioner, and admire his words and deeds; he helped me during my tribulation, and I trust him. He’s like a family member.”
They judge things based on human emotions rather than the Fa and don’t put Dafa in its proper place in their heart. Controlled by their sentimentality, no matter what the person does, even if it’s not in line with the Fa, they would still defend him, and even agree and go along with him.
Master told us:
“In fact, it does not matter who the person is—there is only one Fa. Only by observing this Dafa can one meet the genuine standard.” (Lecture Six, Zhuan Falun)
“Zhen-Shan-Ren is the Sole Criterion to Discern Good and Bad People” (Lecture One, Zhuan Falun)
We need to remember this “sole criterion” that Master taught us. We form many notions while growing up and sometimes have a tendency to use our notions, human feelings, and experiences to judge things. But as cultivators, our standard is different; the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance have never changed and never will change. Precisely because of their eternal immutability, when lives deviate from these principles, we can see the corruption.
During Dafa cultivation, if we can truly obtain the Fa, improve xinxing, and measure everything with the standard of the Fa, then we will not be swayed by human emotions and nor will we deviate from the Fa. When the Fa is rooted in our hearts and minds, we won’t be easily influenced or swayed by others.
Cultivators should have no role models—so if we take someone as a role model, we are harming them as well as ourselves, and adding more problems to our cultivation. If we blindly admire certain practitioners, it might not be good for their cultivation either, since it could strengthen their attachments and harm them.
As Dafa cultivators, we need to build a strong rational belief and understanding of the Fa. There are no shortcuts, and we have to study the Fa attentively with a tranquil mind, and constantly rectify ourselves. Only then can we transform ourselves on a fundamental level and become true practitioners.
No matter where Dafa practitioners live, it is best to attend a Fa study group, which will promote a diligent cultivation environment where practitioners can improve together. I suggest that new practitioners, besides studying Zhuan Falun,should also systematically read Master’s other lectures in a chronological way.
Practitioners who can’t find a study group should regularly read the Minghui website. Minghui is a platform for Dafa disciples from all over the world to communicate and share their cultivation experiences, and it has been repeatedly affirmed by Master.
In my 20 years of Dafa cultivation, I have frequently seen how much Dafa disciples benefit from reading the Minghui website. The role it plays in helping Dafa disciples’ cultivation can’t be replaced by any other practitioner-run media. That is also why the evil Chinese Communist Party has used every means possible to attack or discredit Minghui in the past two decades.
Because Minghui helps form a pure field, reading it daily promotes the strong righteous energy of Dafa and clears away the karma and evil that hinder us from walking the correct cultivation path.
This is my understanding at my current level; please kindly point out anything inappropriate.
Editor’s note: This article only represents the author’s understanding in their current cultivation state meant for sharing among practitioners so that we can “Compare in studying, compare in cultivating.” (“Solid Cultivation,” Hong Yin)