Lessons Learned from Not Being Diligent

(Minghui.org) I have noticed that some practitioners are not aware of the seriousness of cultivation practice. Here I would like to share my own lessons in this regard. 

My construction jobs were often away from my home. Although I did tell people the facts of Dafa, I was lacking in my study of the Dafa teachings, doing the exercises, and sending forth righteous thoughts. One day while resting in bed, I saw a dark shadow rush toward me and then hold my neck tightly, trying to suffocate me. Not knowing what to do, I called out, “Master, please save me!” The shadow disappeared instantly. I was very grateful to Master Li (the founder of Falun Dafa) for saving me. But even after this incident, I did not fully recognize the seriousness of cultivation practice, nor did I look within to check for loopholes. 

While working at construction sites, I often took some Dafa materials and distributed them in nearby residential buildings. Every time, it went smoothly and I was safe. One day, I went to a building to distribute some materials before work as usual. Right after entering the building, I saw several people standing there and they appeared to be security personnel. One of them yelled at me, “What’s in your bag?!”

I did not know how to respond, so I asked Master for help. Their attitude immediately changed and one of them asked, “Which apartment complex are you working at?” I answered his question and the man said, “This is the wrong building.” I was very thankful that Master Li helped me again. As far as I know, police in this area are closely involved in the persecution. One young man from Inner Mongolia was arrested here for distributing Falun Dafa materials, and he was tortured to death the same day. Had I been arrested, the consequences would be unimaginable. Still, after this incident, I failed to look inward to improve myself. 

Not long after that, I suddenly felt weak one day at work. My legs were stiff and I also suffered from incontinence. That night I had a dream of being left unattended on the top of a minivan. The following day, I was weaker and a coworker sent me home. The situation got worse and it was too painful for me to read Dafa books. Within five days I was unable to walk and I also lost feeling in my limbs. When I warmed my feet over a fire, blisters developed but I was not even aware of it. Later, my son cleaned my feet and legs with rubbing alcohol, and many red dots appeared. 

We went to a well known Chinese medicine doctor in the area. He said my case was too severe for treatment and recommended I go to the county hospital. The doctors over there could not reach a conclusion but started an IV anyway. The pain was beyond description but my mind was clear the whole time: only Falun Dafa could save my life. So I asked the doctor what medicine was being given to me through the IV. He was hesitant and did not answer. I stopped the IV and said to my son resolutely, “Staying here won’t help. Let’s go home!”

My son suggested another trip to the provincial hospital, but I said no. So we went home and I told my wife I would do all five sets of exercises. She was surprised and said, “How will you do them since you cannot even stand yet?” I tried anyway and somehow was able to stand next to the bed. With my wife watching over me, I managed to finish all five sets of exercises despite the difficulty. My clothes were soaked in sweat. The next day, I still did the exercises this way but no longer needed my wife to watch over me. On the third day, I could do the exercises without using the wall for support. 

Looking back at these three tests within a month, I realized that by going to other places for temporary jobs, I was too attached to money and forgot I was a Falun Dafa disciple who needs to fulfill my mission. The first two times, I asked Master for help and was saved. But I did not understand that Master also gave me these opportunities for me to look within and improve myself. 

With these new understandings, I decided to stay in my hometown instead of traveling to other towns to make money; otherwise, I would have difficulty keeping up with my cultivation. This way, I was able to spend more time reading Zhuan Falun (the main teachings of Falun Dafa) along with Master's other lectures. I also memorized many articles in Essentials for Further Advancement, which allowed me to maintain righteous thoughts and do the three things well. 

Some practitioners are very busy with everyday matters and lack the momentum of remaining diligent. They feel pained, but are unwilling to put in the effort to study the Dafa teachings or do the exercises. Even when doing things that help people understand the facts of Dafa, they do not put their heart in it. I am worried about them because, in such a cultivation state, how can they eliminate karma and avoid the old forces’ interference? When things accumulate like that, as in my case, one may not pass the test and it could be too late for regrets. 

Master wrote, 

“Those who do not succeed in their self-cultivation, violate their vows, or sin against the Great Way will have to meet with the consequence that accords with the promise they made with their souls! But I have mercifully kept giving them more chances. They don’t even realize they should be grateful for that, though, and have stubbornly held on to their attachments.” (“Dafa Spiritual Practice Is Serious”)

Here I sincerely hope that such practitioners will study Dafa well from now on and that we all fulfill our vows of validating Dafa and saving people. 

Above are my limited understandings. Please point it out if anything I have said is inconsistent with Dafa’s teachings.