(Clearwisdom.net) Reading Zhuan Falun and Master's lectures, the inner meanings of the Fa often manifest themselves to me. A seemingly ordinary sentence in the book, as soon as its inner meaning is revealed, is extremely sacred and profound. It was not until now that I realize that every word in Zhuan Falun has boundless radiance and is filled with wonder. Every sentence speaks about matters of immeasurable significance.
For example, in the past, I thought “no second cultivation way” meant not reading or studying other qigong books or religions. But one day, I suddenly came to understand a deeper meaning of “no second cultivation way,” which is that our faith to the Lord Buddha must be exclusive, absolutely serious and sacred, and we must completely let go of all notions and thoughts related to the attachment to self, because it concerns the arrangements and structures of the new cosmos in the future.
For another example, when I read the sentence, “If there is a phone call or someone knocks at the door, you may go ahead and take care of it right away without having to finish the practice” (“Lecture One” from Zhuan Falun) I used to pay little attention to it. But when I studied the Fa with a calm mind, an inner meaning of the sentence revealed itself to me, and I suddenly came to understand that the great Fa of the cosmos is simply inconceivably immense and ingeniously intricate, and everything is under Master's macro, and nevertheless precise, arrangement and control.
Upon understanding these principles, I realized that my past Fa-study and so-called “steadfast belief” were in fact all based on selfishness. For example, I studied the Fa in order to become “more righteous” and therefore could better protect myself and avoid being persecuted in China's harsh environment. As soon as I understood some Fa principles, I found myself in a subtle pleasure and thought myself “remarkable.” In my truth-clarification and persuading people to quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations, because the environment seems to have loosened up, I found myself feeling a sense of achievement, and I even slacked off as if I had “retired”... Over the years, because Dafa has given me extraordinary wisdom, all my peers have respected and admired me, seemingly thinking that I'm capable of doing anything, and I'm also tolerant and kind to others. In the beginning, I accepted their respect and admiration, thinking I deserved it. I was trying to save them by clarifying the facts and persuading them to quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations. I talked about justice and good deeds in their trainings, and I planned corporate culture and arranged activities based on traditional culture. Don't these things I do help them stay away from the evil Party culture? And if they understand the truth and quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations, isn't it normal for them to respect me?
But I have now realized that this was wrong. My heart of validating myself has played a negative role in Fa-rectification -- just like Master taught in Zhuan Falun,
“They reached the state of Unlocking Gong and became enlightened at different levels. They saw some principles, but they were far from the enlightened beings who can save people. They were at very low levels, and they discovered some principles. They realized that some things among everyday people were wrong, and they would also tell people how to do good deeds. At the beginning, they were not against other religions. But people would eventually believe in them, thinking what they said was sensible; in turn, people trusted them more and more. As a result, people would be devoted to them instead of to religions.” (“Lecture Three” from Zhuan Falun)
I found myself in this terrible state. I repented in time and started removing the demonic interference from my own mind.
I felt like I just started to truly understand the meaning of “Respect Master and the Fa.” Through Fa study, I discovered more and more that the great cosmic Fa has inconceivably immense meanings, and is boundless no matter how hard one studies. I feel truly trivial in front of the cosmic Dafa, and I really have to have a humble heart toward the Tao.
Also through Fa-study, I gradually came to understand that all sentient beings came for the Fa, and that all the people around me had also given up their glory of God and followed Master to this dangerous dimension. In the essence of life, what they respect is Master and Dafa. Therefore I think that if an everyday person says “Falun Dafa is good” or respects our Master very much after learning the truth, can this be regarded as normal?! It was after I understood that I need to validate the “Fa” instead of my “self” that I figured out how to clarify the facts more thoroughly - to truly help people understand the truth about Falun Gong.
In the past, when I understood some principles through studying the Fa, my routine was to use the Fa to judge others instead of looking at myself. I regarded being able to read others' minds as an ability, and deep down felt I was superior to others. I always complained about others' shortcomings and whined about my “circumstances,” and I even engaged in conflicts with others.
But think about it, Master has endured unimaginably huge tribulations for us and for sentient beings, and all that Master has imparted and given to us is magnificent and wonderful! Since all sentient beings came for the Fa, fundamentally there isn't any conflict at all between us and our fellow practitioners, nor is there any between us and sentient beings! Reading “Troubles” in Hong Yin III,
“Neither heaven nor earth can
block my road of Fa-rectification
But disciples' human hearts can”
I felt guilty for my poor performance that has caused Master more trouble.
In my understanding, one's greatest compassion is respecting Master and the Fa. “Selflessness” means one's entire being respects Master, trusts Master, completely follows Master's arrangements, and bears Master's wishes and the requirements of Fa-rectification as the first thing in mind, regardless of the time and circumstances, as well as harmonizes everything that Master wants and follows Master's words completely. And this applies to every thought. If one fails to practice true cultivation or fails to understand the deeper meanings of Dafa and the requirements of Master's Fa-rectification, then one will have a hard time properly dealing with the relationship between oneself and Fa-rectification, transcending tribulations imposed by the old forces, truly validating the Fa, assisting Master in Fa-rectification, and saving sentient beings.