(Minghui.org) In the articles about practitioners' cultivation experiences on Minghui.org, the terms “validating the Fa” and “validating self” can be seen often. What has been frequently mentioned is that some practitioners validate themselves rather than the Fa. I would like to share my thoughts on this matter with fellow practitioners.
As a Falun Dafa practitioner, the primary thing is to study the Fa and study it well. It is also of primary importance how we position Dafa. If you position Dafa in the first place and your every word and action meets the requirements of the Fa, then your behavior is in line with validating the Fa—and in the meantime validating yourself, too, as a particle of Dafa. The key lies in whether you have righteous thoughts and righteous actions.
When we exchange views with one another, we may reference Teacher's lectures. If we can memorize and recite the Fa, it will help everyone participating in the exchange. Everybody's understanding of the Fa can be strengthened more and more. This kind of an exchange is ideal, as nobody has any notions attached to it, except for studying the Fa and memorizing the Fa.
Such an environment is also a form of cultivation that Teacher has left for Dafa practitioners in mainland China. Fa study, exchange of views, comprehension, cultivation, grasp and realization of the Fa principles, and actions in accordance with the Fa's requirements: if a practitioner does all these, he is already in line with validating the Fa and he will be striving forward more and more diligently.
When a practitioner recites Teacher's Fa and others praise him by saying that he is at a high level and has studied the Fa so well, however, it may arouse an attachment in this practitioner. Gradually, when he talks about the Fa, he will not aim to share based on the understanding of the Fa, but instead will expect to hear praise.
Then, his Fa study and memorization are not for obtaining the Fa, but for showing himself off. In this case, he is not validating the Fa, but validating himself. As time goes by, he will deviate from the true purpose of cultivation. He may take accumulating the knowledge of the Fa as cultivation and go astray.
As mentioned in the article “Giving Speeches Amounts to Disrupting the Fa” published by the Minghui Editorial Board, some people form the behavior of disrupting the Fa, as they gradually develop zealotry in such an environment. This is a grave lesson learned.
So, what is the relationship between validating the Fa and validating self? Since what we cultivate is Dafa, if we can do well in every aspect according to the requirements of the Fa, we are validating the Fa. If we do not do well, how can we say that we are validating the Fa? If we develop human attachments, it will turn to validating ourselves. This process forms unknowingly, and the cultivator himself may not notice the change.
Teacher said:
“Study the Fa and gain the Fa, Focus on how you study and cultivate, Let each and every thing be measured against the Fa. Only then, with that, is it actually cultivation.” (“Solid Cultivation” from Hong Yin)
Each of the words in this poem carries a great deal of weight. Have we done what is mentioned in this poem? It requires us to measure each and every thing against the Fa. If we have done this according to the requirements of the Fa, then we have done well in our cultivation; otherwise, we have not done well, or in other words, we are not validating the Fa but validating ourselves.
In the evil brainwashing center in Heilongjiang Province where I was detained several years ago, there was a fellow practitioner who used to be an assistant. He appeared to be very firm in practicing Falun Dafa, but he had never memorized the Fa. One morning, this practitioner wrote a statement to renounce his faith. The head of the brainwashing center announced in front of all practitioners that this practitioner had been “transformed.”
On the same day, we had a serious discussion about Fa principles with this fellow practitioner, pointing out that his “transformation” was based on his false understanding of the Fa. After the sharing, he realized the seriousness of his action and shed tears of regret.
The next day, this practitioner wrote a solemn declaration to negate his “transformation.” When I asked him why he had written the “statement of transformation” in the first place, he answered that it seemed “so easy.”
In fact, this indicates that there was no Fa in his heart. Cultivation is a serious matter. A Dafa disciple should validate the Fa no matter where he is. In order to validate the Fa, he should first study the Fa well. Only when there is Fa in his heart can he validate the Fa. If there is no Fa in his heart, he cannot validate the Fa, and moreover, he will be bewildered and think that cultivation is too easy.
After this practitioner wrote the solemn declaration, the head of the brainwashing center was so exasperated that he sent him to the local detention center. Because he refused to be “transformed,” this practitioner was beaten to death in the detention center by the thugs instigated by the evil guards.
To validate the Fa, the thing first is to study the Fa well. When a practitioner cherishes the Fa in his heart, understands the principles of the Fa and does things according to the Fa, then he is validating the Fa. If he does not study the Fa well and does not understand the principles of the Fa, how could we say that he is validating the Fa? He will only be validating himself.
Gradually and unknowingly, he will deviate from his cultivation path, go astray, or more seriously, walk on the evil path. This is why Teacher repeatedly urges disciples to study the Fa more, as this is the only guarantee for going towards consummation.
Teacher said in “Teaching the Fa at the Meeting on Writing Music”:
“If you can maintain righteous thoughts and righteous actions while under the pressure from the evil, that is validating the Fa and proving yourself.”
So, a genuine cultivator must study and comprehend the Fa well, so that he can have righteous thoughts and righteous actions. This way, he can truly accomplish the job of validating the Fa—and validating himself because he is part of Dafa.
The above is my current understanding. Please compassionately point out anything inappropriate.
Category: Improving Oneself
