(Clearwisdom.net) I'd like to talk about strengthening my belief in Teacher and the Fa over the past year. Previously during my cultivation, I wrongly thought that I didn't have a problem with believing in Teacher and the Fa. From the beginning of my cultivation, I knew that I had waited for the Fa over many lifetimes. Since I began cultivation on January 20, 1999, I have never had the slightest wavering in my belief in Dafa, and despite the evil's overwhelming suppression, I firmly believe that Dafa is good, that Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good, and that our Teacher is being wrongly slandered.
Early on, I thought that this was what Teacher's teaching about the test of faith meant. Therefore, when I saw some veteran practitioners give up their practice, I felt very sorry for them. Because of my jealousy, I gloated at their misfortune. This is an attachment that a cultivator should eliminate, but I did not realize that for a long time. At that time, my belief in Teacher and the Fa wasn't coming from my firm righteous faith in the most fundamental way, and I didn't fully understand the fundamental principles of the Fa. Now, through several experiences, I have realized that truly believing in Teacher and the Fa does not stop at having no doubt about Dafa and knowing that Dafa is good. Let me give an example.
This spring, we had snow that we had not seen in 50 years. My family and I live on the top floor, and the accumulated snow led to leaks in our roof. One day, the roof suddenly started leaking a lot. I thought to myself: “What is going on? A cultivator should always look inward! I must have a loophole.” I sat down to send forth righteous thoughts. I suddenly thought of what had happened during Fa study the day before. A fellow practitioner had been illegally arrested while he distributed the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party. A practitioner at the study group suggested that we send forth righteous thoughts for him, but I was reluctant. I questioned how the arrested practitioner could have been so careless and thought that he must have had a loophole. The practitioner at the study group said that regardless of what had happened, he had done great and we should help him. She also said that my thinking was flawed, but I disagreed.
Soon thereafter, I realized I had been wrong. Even though fellow practitioners have loopholes, we should not allow the evil to persecute them. We have Teacher to take care of us, and we should not complain about fellow practitioners. I questioned whether my previous indifference was caused by selfishness. Even when ordinary people see others in trouble, they feel sorry for them, but I was indifferent and refused to help this arrested practitioner.
Teacher said,
“The next person's things are your things, and your things are his things.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Washington, D.C. Fa Conference,” 2002)
How could I have forgotten what Teacher said and not followed it! I felt really disappointed in myself. I behaved worse than an ordinary person, even though I have been cultivating for a while. I behaved like the old version of myself, prior to cultivation. Isn't this the rationale of the old universe? Aren't we supposed to cultivate to be unselfish and awaken to the truth? When I thought of this, tears of remorse flowed uncontrollably down my face. I thanked Teacher in my mind, saying: “Teacher, I know I was wrong. I found a big loophole, and I must improve through cultivation. This behavior was not me; it was an acquired notion and not my true self.” Then, I went up to the roof and discovered that it wasn't leaking anymore. I knew I had found my attachment.
What followed is the key point. I went up to the roof to remove the pot under the leak and drain the water. At the same time I was thinking: “The weather forecast said it would rain tomorrow, so I better put the pot back to where it was, just in case it starts leaking again.” I then put the pot back on its original spot.
Teacher said,
“Good or evil comes from a person’s spontaneous thought, and the thought at that moment can bring about different consequences.” (Zhuan Falun)
My thought was a human notion. Sure enough, the roof leaked again the next day. This time, I suddenly realized that I had practically asked for the roof to leak. Why? Because I didn't really believe in Teacher and the Fa. It was just like what Teacher had described in Zhuan Falun about someone who was told that he had spirit or animal possession—upon removing the possessing entity from him, his mind still worried about it and always thought that the condition still existed; it is an attachment of suspicion, as a result of which this person may bring it upon himself again. Isn't this a problem of believing? Through this roof leakage, I thereby found that I didn't firmly believe in Teacher and the Fa. I removed the pot without hesitation, and the roof didn't leak again. When we fall short in believing in Teacher and the Fa, our improving and being diligent is impossible.
Once another practitioner and I were waiting for a late-night bus. She said to me that because it was so late, she was afraid that there would be no more buses. I said that this could not be possible. How could there not be any buses? In just a few minutes, a bus arrived.
Fellow practitioners, please remember that we are Dafa disciples and Teacher is taking care of us. How lucky we are! We are always under Teacher's care. Teacher will never give up on us. When we are not diligent, we don't feel Teacher's care because we have not studied the Fa and done the three things well. When one studies the Fa well, has the Fa in mind all the time, continuously cultivates and has strict standards for oneself, one will find that one is closer to Teacher and the Fa. Otherwise, one will feel further away from Teacher and the Fa.
When I realized this, I shouted from the bottom of my heart: “I have Teacher! I have Teacher! I am so happy!”
I am the most fortunate life in the universe. When I think of ordinary people, I feel sorry for them. When will they be saved by Teacher? Only by cultivating ourselves well and saving more sentient beings can we live up to Teacher's compassion. Thank you, Teacher!
