(Minghui.org) While studying the Fa teachings recently, I had an insight that the righteous thoughts of a practitioner seem to relate to abandoning attachments.
Master Li, the founder of Falun Dafa, said,
“A person is like a container, and he is whatever he contains.” (“Melt Into the Fa,” Essentials For Further Advancement)
“As a student, if his mind is filled with nothing but Dafa, this person is definitely a genuine cultivator.” (“Melt Into the Fa,” Essentials For Further Advancement)
From Master’s teachings, I realized that a practitioner is like a container, from the microcosm through to the macrocosm. In this dimension one has Buddha-nature that assimilates to the characteristics of the universe (Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance), as well as unrighteous factors yet to be rectified. As a practitioner one constantly enhances one’s Buddha-nature, inhibiting or dissolving demon nature. Cultivation is a process of weakening our attachments and strengthening our Buddha-nature so that we become more compassionate and the container holds purer energy.
When I read articles written by fellow practitioners, I see that, grounded in their belief in Master and Dafa, they really have righteous thoughts and righteous actions. While saving people, they do amazing things to assist Master Li, Dafa’s founder, in the Fa-rectification. In comparison, I feel I do not have such strong righteous thoughts. For example, I know that practitioners are doing the most upright thing by saving people, so no one can interfere. But when I clarified the truth or distributed pamphlets, negative thoughts appeared in my mind, such as, “Will this person report me to the police? Will I be spotted now that monitoring devices are everywhere?” I knew this was the “false self” interfering with my thoughts, but these thoughts persisted.
One day I was wondering why my righteous thoughts were not strong enough and what caused this mental state. At that moment, a substance appeared in my mind, and this substance was something I couldn’t let go of. I realized the reason my righteous thoughts weren't strong was that I valued ordinary things—just like a container that holds all the factors of a person. Dafa practitioners are required to constantly remove demon nature and enrich Buddha nature in their cultivation. While removing the demon nature, that is, the bad substance, Buddha-nature will be enriched and this will be reflected as stronger righteous thoughts.
After I realized this, I went on to dig out why I was so attached to material things. I found out that it was “greed” that caused it. This “greed” is a clear manifestation of attachment to personal interest. Because of this “greed,” one can’t be satisfied with the status quo. Driven by the attachment to self-interest, the mind will think about personal gain, and this will increase thought karma. At that time if one can’t keep up with Fa study, or can’t improve xinxing, he or she will be controlled by this invisible negative substance. Just like a person is having a nightmare, when the main spirit relaxes, that negative substance will come out and cause trouble.
Master taught us Falun Dafa so that our main consciousness can obtain gong. If our main spirit relaxes, one could be following an evil path. Sometimes I think, “I have been practicing for more than 20 years and Master’s Fa is so clear, so why do I still take human things so seriously?” I know that I slack off. But why am I slacking off? It is because I did not really study the Fa well.
Master said,
“Only with the Fa’s guidance will you know how to do better, and only with the Fa’s guidance will you manage to avoid going wrong. At the same time, the Fa is molding you into an extraordinary being.” (“To the Fa Conference in Germany”)
Studying the Fa well is the key to diligent improvement. Studying the Fa well is also a manifestation of faith in Master and the Fa. The more human things are removed, the more Fa is installed and the more factors of life will assimilate to the Fa.
Editor’s note: This article only represents the author’s understanding in their current cultivation state meant for sharing among practitioners so that we can “Compare with one another in study, in cultivation.” (“Solid Cultivation,” Hong Yin)
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