(Clearwisdom.net)
I. Understanding the Fa principles and genuinely cultivating ourselves
Every practitioner, at different levels of genuine cultivation, is conscientiously studying the Fa, cultivating himself, correcting himself and doing things that are related to the validation of Dafa, truth-clarification and rescuing sentient beings. We all know that the ultimate goal of cultivation practice is Consummation. However, I noticed that some practitioners have entered into a kind of erroneous zone with their thoughts and behavior in that they tend to become less diligent in their personal cultivation, ignore the strict xinxing requirement and refuse to look inside or cultivate their minds when conflicts arise and when things that irritate their hearts take place.
Master said in "Teaching the Fa at the Washington, D.C. International Fa Conference,"
"There's absolutely no way a person can reach Consummation if he doesn't go through arduous cultivation to get rid of every kind of attachment he's developed among everyday people." (Guiding the Voyage)
You have all seen that in human society, the rotten demons and meddling deities have completely controlled people's living environment. They are the cause for people being driven by material interests. Chinese people are soaked in the evil Communist Party's culture and poisonous elements and they are unknowingly sinking down to hell. Dafa disciple's human side is also in this environment. If we do not understand the Fa principles clearly, or, although we might understand the Fa principles, yet don't genuinely cultivate ourselves and instead let human thoughts prevail, then material interests and the desire for emotions will affect us. This is indeed very dangerous.
Some practitioners are too busy with their daily lives to cultivate solidly. Since 2000, some practitioners have accepted other practitioners' financial support for their personal use, which should have been used for making truth-clarification materials. These people lead the lives of common people, justifying their lifestyle by excusing their homelessness as a result of the persecution. Certain practitioners are caught up in emotional attachments with their spouses and children. Other practitioners even married again after divorcing their previous spouse, all the while calling themselves Dafa practitioners but not cultivating themselves.
I am not criticizing anyone but was only pointing out some things I have seen. Dafa has never lowered the standard for any of us, either during the era of personal cultivation, nor right now during the Fa-rectification period. Moreover, the closer to the end we come, the more stringent the requirements.
Certain practitioners live in the homes of other practitioners. I don't think practitioners should take advantage of free room and board. We have read Zhuan Falun so many times where Master has pointed out "No loss, no gain," and "To gain, one must lose." Besides, Master has also taught us that
"Some people with good inborn quality exchange their inborn quality with others for karma." ("Lecture Two, Zhuan Falun, 2000 translation version)
I think the main reason these practitioners continue to do this is due to selfishness, a characteristic of the old cosmos. Their thoughts are nothing more than, "I can save my money by eating free at other practitioners' homes." Those practitioners have forgotten Master's Fa,
'Money is something external to this physical body.' Everyone knows it, yet everyone pursues it." ("Wealth with Virtue," Essentials for Further Advancement)
Genuine cultivators who truly want to advance to godhood will not pursue money. Those who pursue it are at the human level, at least in this regard. Master's article, "A Heavy Blow" (Essentials for Further Advancement) has pointed out this serious problem. I hope that practitioners who are still enticed by money will carefully read the article, "A Heavy Blow" and pay back any money they owe for living expenses and other financial support in full. Some may ask, "What if the practitioner doesn't want it back?" Then I suggest you use it for projects that validate Dafa, and understand that the virtue is due the other practitioner. In the meantime, all those who have succumbed to this lifestyle should remove the interference by the demon of emotion, because it is not your true self. Your attachment had created a loophole which the evil elements have taken advantage of. Master said in "Pass the Deadly Test,"
"Dafa disciples and I will not regard students who have gone down the wrong path in their cultivation the way ordinary people would."
According to my understanding, practitioners who had used the money intended for making truth-clarification materials for their personal use are included in this. My fellow practitioners: please correct yourself promptly!
II. Advance diligently in cultivation practice and walk the final path well and righteously
Among our fellow practitioners there are those who are busy making a living although they are not poor; some are too occupied with running a business, although although they are successful; some are overly concerned about their children and some are even considering their children's future college education, for they want to guarantee that their children have a good job and a good income; some are considering leaving some money for their children.
In my opinion, for Dafa practitioners, it's fine as long as our money is enough for our daily needs. However, wouldn't our being busy in everyday life and business affect the three things that we're supposed to do? Why did we come to this human world? What was our grand pre-historic vow? What's the consequence of not fulfilling our grand vows?
We can take nothing of the human world with us. Let's not forget what we should do.
All sentient beings have come for the Fa, and the three realms were created for the Fa-rectification today. It yielded father, mother, brother, wife and children, so as to ensure the multiplying of human beings. We have obtained the Fa and are cultivating ourselves, to return to our true selves according to the Fa; then why don't we remove our human surface shell and present the best thing: the great law of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. If we become preoccupied with what humans think to be most important and make it difficult for those beings who came for the Fa to obtain the Fa, then what serious crime would we have committed? Our main consciousness must be clear regarding what we should do and should not do. Some practitioners have indeed read the Fa a lot, but didn't get the Fa into their minds. After putting down the books, they go and do whatever they please. In my opinion, only when one's true self genuinely obtains the Fa and is wholeheartedly willing to conduct oneself according to the requirements that Master taught in the Fa, can one be regarded as a genuine Dafa disciple.
This concludes my personal understandings at my current stage.
June 7, 2007
