(Clearwisdom.net) I have noticed that many fellow practitioners don't take studying the Fa seriously. Among the three things Master has asked us us to do, I have noticed that studying the Fa is the part that practitioners do least diligently. Perhaps we should not discern which one is most important and which is less important. But I still think that Fa-study plays a major role in our cultivation. Only by assimilating to the Fa can we validate the Fa using high-level principles. In each of Teacher's lectures, he has told us to study the Fa more. Studying the Fa is something Teacher has addressed to us more than any other issue. Studying the Fa fundamentally guarantees our improvement.
After practicing cultivation for so many years, we actually all understand the importance of Fa-study. Practitioners constantly remind each other to study the Fa more. Why do some practitioners still not study the Fa diligently? Different notions and thought karma we have formed in this lifetime, along with as bad attachments, try to stop us from studying the Fa and fear our Fa-study. It is because when we study the Fa, there is truly a battle between good and evil in our brains and in every cell of our bodies. This is because we are putting the Fa into ourselves. Teacher says,
"The Fa can break all attachments, the Fa can destroy all evil, the Fa can shatter all lies, and the Fa can strengthen righteous thoughts." ("Drive Out Interference" from Essentials for Further Advancement II)
With righteous thoughts we are able to handle everything with a cultivator's mindset. If we don't study the Fa diligently, those post-natal notions of ours will be very pleased and very active. It will seem like we have strong attachments as this is reflected on the surface, and we will be easily affected by human notions. When we want to study the Fa, these notions will do anything to stop us. We are busy doing this or that, are drowsy, or we cannot calm our minds because we feel unwell while studying the Fa. When this kind of interference happens, we should persist no matter what, because those notions suffer when we suffer, and they are destroyed when we persist and pull through it. Our bodies will then feel light and every word become bigger when we study the Fa again. The same things happen the next time we study the Fa, but it absolutely has nothing to do with the notions we dealt with the previous time, because they have indeed been destroyed. If you can persist in studying the Fa like this, you'll notice that you have fewer notions and you are able calm your mind when you send forth righteous thoughts.
Studying the Fa well doesn't depend on how long you study, but that your mind is calm. You are assimilating to the Fa if you truly absorb the Fa. Meanwhile, the Fa will cultivate you. As the progress of Fa-rectification escalates, there's not much time left for us to study the Fa. I know Fa-rectification will end some day, and then so will our ability to study the Fa. I don't look forward to the time when we can no longer study the Fa. I sincerely hope fellow practitioners will study the Fa more, because we are the most fortunate beings in the universe.