(Minghui.org) Time passes with surprising speed and before I knew it, I had wasted many years by not taking up cultivation in Falun Dafa. I only started living by Falun Dafa's principles 15 years after first learning about the practice.

How many 15-year periods can a person have in one lifetime? The first two years I cultivated, I felt I was pretty diligent and could sense Master Li Hongzhi's help and encouragement.

This year, however, I didn't feel diligent, but I did enlighten to something new from time to time. Looking back over the past few years, I fluctuated between periods of diligence and periods of slacking off. I went back and forth without really committing myself. I couldn’t remember a time that I was consistently diligent in studying the Fa and doing the exercises.

When I was very young I remembered a principle from an ancient story that said being “constant” is critical. When I was younger, I think I had more perseverance and could more easily complete a task from beginning to end. It felt like my willpower became weaker and weaker as I got older.

The good thing was that Dafa’s seed was planted in my heart. I have increasingly felt the preciousness of Dafa over the last two years. In the beginning, the feeling of joy was strong, but I didn’t savor the true meaning of cultivation.

In looking at practitioners who can maintain a steady cultivation state for dozens of years, I know it’s because they study the Fa well and validate Dafa through their own experiences. When I studied the Fa with a calm mind without any pursuit, I also maintained a diligent state.

Studying the Fa well happens in the state of being diligent and is fundamental to cultivation. When you study the Fa well, your mind is clear, and you can modify yourself using Dafa principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance; you know what to do, as your thinking is logical and natural.

When a person isn't being diligent, it seems to start with studying the Fa less often. On the surface, there are many things to do and one is very busy: So one wants to skip Fa study one day or skip the exercises the next. However, this causes other things to fall into a bad cycle as well.

It could manifest as a very slightly different state of mind. For example, it’s late in the day, and one is very tired. If you think, “Let me rest” and follow this thought, the whole day just passes by and is wasted. If instead you think, “I am so tired because I haven't studied the Fa or done the exercises. Now I will catch up,” you will gain a lot of energy and feel that time is on your side.

In most situations, the outcome is the result of a single thought. Maybe this is the difference between being human and being divine.

Master said:

“I don't like it when you blame yourselves, it's completely pointless.” (Fa-Lecture During the 2003 Lantern Festival at the U.S. West Fa Conference)

A few days ago, when I was burning incense, I felt ashamed and ran away from Master Li's photo. Later, I remembered Master’s words and realized that I was being silly. I still wasn't facing my cultivation with righteous thinking.

It’s near the end of the year, and time seems to be moving faster and faster. Nothing can describe the preciousness of becoming Master’s disciple. I must be constantly diligent to adequately deserve the title of Dafa disciple.