(Minghui.org) I had been studying the Fa online for five years and used three overseas software programs over the years. I have a certain understanding of the situation of online Fa study.
Since I couldn’t organize a local Fa study group and I couldn’t discipline myself enough to study the Fa regularly on my own, I joined an online study group in 2016. I felt that I became more diligent with online Fa-study than in the past, so I never bothered to stop even though I saw that Minghui had published an article before about stopping online Fa study.
It wasn’t until I saw this recent article with Master’s comment, “Practitioners in Mainland China, Please Stop Online Fa Study (With a Comment from Master),” that I paid great attention to it. It was because of Master’s comment on this article that it became clear to me that I must stop my wrongdoing of studying the Fa online.
In order to better understand Master’s Fa, I looked up all of Minghui’s articles on stopping online Fa study and read them again several times. This made me understand better the gaps and shortcomings in my understanding of the Fa, and strengthened my determination to give up online Fa study.
I would like to summarize what I observed and came across while studying the Fa online:
Complicated Background of Online Fa-study Attendees
There are many groups formed using those overseas software. Each group’s organizer and host all started their group on their own initiative, and yet they may do it with various mindsets. Some truly have good xinxing level and like to help others; some like to take charge or seek to validate themselves; some like to show off their capabilities and attract the attention of others; some cannot resist the temptation of fame and reputation.
There is a perception among practitioners that groups with many members must be good and well managed by their organizers. Some of those organizers get carried away when their group gets larger. They think they study the Fa well, their management skill is excellent, and their reputation is superb. Some organizers started their groups originally out of agood intention to help everyone improve together, but they developed attachments when their groups attracted more attendees. They became arrogant, domineering, rigid, and unable to accept any suggestions. Some organizers will pull people from everywhere to join their groups, using various means.
The group members do not really know each other because they only meet online. Some come in the name of learning the Fa, but have indecent motives. There have been instances from time to time of people (non-practitioners) defrauding others or seeking romantic or sexual relationships. Some people who were practitioners but who had enlightened on a deviated path also joined the groups and it was not easy to identify them.
The Scale of Online Study and Sharing
There’s one popular software boasting five to six large groups, each having hundreds of people. It also has some smaller-scale groups. The large groups all follow the same daily operation pattern: there are exercise music and music for sending forth righteous thoughts playing at set times; Minghui radio programs are broadcast at noon and at 6:30 p.m; the rest of the time is for Fa study. There are various Fa-study rooms too, some for fast-readers while others for slow-readers. There are also Fa-study rooms that start Fa-study at different times during the day.
There is usually a weekly experience-sharing in each large group. Everyone can share, including those who have enlightened along a deviated path. Every year there is also an online celebration with singing and reciting on World Falun Dafa Day (May 13). There is also a notification area, where the group organizers post notifications when Master’s new lecture is published or if there are any major events. There are also technical sharing groups. Many fellow practitioners enjoy the various online activities besides the Fa study.
There are some fellow practitioners who have pointed out that the online activities are not the format Master wants for his disciples, but most of the organizers and attendees disagree. So even if objections are raised, nobody pays attention to them.
Now, even after the abovementioned article with Master’s comment was published, many organizers are still clinging totheir groups. Some argued that the software mentioned in this article is not the software they use; some argued that the situation in China is different, and they do this for those practitioners who cultivate by themselves; others argued that they did not have those bad phenomena mentioned in the article – they used various excuses not to disband the groups and persuaded those hesitant practitioners to stay. So even today, only a few people have left the groups. It is painful to see people behaving like this.
Master said in the comment, “These software programs cannot be used among practitioners.”
I was shocked that people still did not stop using such software programs and continued online group study after reading Master’s comment. I could see just how big the demonic nature that studying Fa online has brought to some practitioners, and how much of an obsession and demonic nature one has to have to be able to ignore Master’s Fa!
If Master did not comment on this issue, how many people would still use that software under those organizers and deviated from the Fa? I am scared just thinking about it. The group organizers and practitioners seem fine on the surface, but only through this incident did their demonic nature and strong attachments reveal themselves. This makes me appreciate the reason why Master did not allow the use of this software.
Regarding the format of how to spread the Fa, Master told us:
“Fa-study groups, practice sites, and experience-sharing conferences—these are what I have given to you...” (“Fa Teaching Given at the Fa Conference Marking the Tenth Anniversary of Minghui’s Founding,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. X)
Regarding software using and sharing, Master answered questions for overseas disciples:
“Indeed that’s not right. Except for little disciples, you shouldn't do that. But that’s not to rule out using it occasionally when you’re very busy, just don’t make a habit of it. That isn’t something I want to pass down. There’s no problem with you studying the Fa in person as a group, and studying the Fa and exchanging thoughts in person. You can take advantage of [such software] when you’re busy, but you can’t all do that, and you can’t do it frequently.” (“Teaching the Fa at the 2004 Western U.S. Fa Conference,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. V)
My understanding is that these electronic products made people more dependent and addicted to them, and strengthen people’s demon nature. At the same time, frequent use also seriously interferes with Master’s requirement to study the Fa and share experiences face to face.
Finally, I would like to advise my fellow practitioners in China who have not yet quit the online Fa study groups: listen to Master’s words, and only then will we take the right path in our own cultivation. Those who cultivate alone and cannot study the Fa well need to pay more attention to cultivate their hearts. Do not seek shortcuts. As long as we can get on the Minghui website and as long as we solidly cultivate our xinxing, we will not be left out. Those who are attached to setting up an online Fa study group, think about it, is this the path Master arranged for us? Can we do things that stray from the Fa teachings? Cherish Dafa. Cultivation is serious.
This is my understanding at my level, and please kindly point out shortcomings.
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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Category: Improving Oneself
