I Finally Understood How to Truly Cultivate

(Minghui.org) I began practicing Falun Dafa in July 1997, and I’m now 74 years old. Master Li resolved my illnesses and I’m healthy. Being able to practice Falun Dafa is the greatest blessing in my life and I deeply treasure this opportunity.

My understanding of cultivation was superficial and I only recently understood what it meant to truly cultivate. I thought I was cultivating as long as I did the three things practitioners are supposed to do. When I read experience-sharing articles on Minghui.org I noticed that several practitioners discussed the importance of solid cultivation. I’ve practiced Falun Dafa for 28 years, but I never felt I had a divine side. I felt I hadn’t cultivated well and I sincerely wished to improve.

I asked myself why I progressed so slowly. I studied the Fa every day, so why wasn’t I improving? I began reading more experience-sharing articles on Minghui.org, and they inspired me.

One practitioner wrote that if one is not focused while studying the Fa, one cannot truly obtain guidance from the Fa. That immediately awakened me. Sometimes my mind wandered while I read the Fa, and sometimes I wasn’t focused at all.

I finally realized why I hadn’t improved: I hadn’t studied the Fa well. The Fa is the foundation of everything. No wonder my understanding of Falun Dafa’s principles wasn’t clear. My xinxing didn’t improve because I wasn’t truly assimilating to the Fa when I read.

I strengthened my main consciousness and I read the Fa diligently. I examined myself to see if I truly followed Master’s requirements. Whether reading or memorizing the Fa, I focused intently and prevented my mind from wandering. Whenever I noticed my thoughts drifting, I reread the passage and strengthened my main consciousness. Gradually, things improved.

I now understand that to truly cultivate means measuring oneself with the universal principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance at all times. It means looking inward unconditionally, cultivating one’s speech and heart, letting go of attachments and desires related to the human world, improving oneself, and having unwavering faith in Master and the Fa.

After more than 20 years, I finally understand what it means to truly cultivate.

Eliminating My Fundamental Attachment

I enjoy reading Minghui articles. Many practitioners wrote about identifying their fundamental attachments, which deeply moved me. I realized I needed to identify my fundamental attachment.

I used to be plagued with illnesses. I had three children, and my husband earned very little money. Life was extremely difficult. Combined with my poor health, our financial hardships left me feeling hopeless.

A friend suggested I practice Falun Dafa and said it is a cultivation practice of the Buddha School that improved health, taught people to be good, and elevated one’s moral character.

As soon as I heard that it is a Buddha School cultivation practice and could improve one’s health, I happily accompanied her to a practice site. After doing the exercises for only a few days, I felt wonderful. My whole body felt light and comfortable.

The practice-site assistant suggested that I read Falun Dafa’s main book Zhuan Falun. When I opened the book and saw Master’s photograph, I immediately felt a sense of warmth and familiarity.

I understood Master adjusted my body, and I was overjoyed. I always wanted to cultivate, and now Master was guiding me. I began cultivating, and in less than two months all my illnesses disappeared. My life improved, and I felt hopeful about the future.

When I first started practicing Falun Dafa, it felt as though an unstoppable force was propelling me forward. At that time, however, my understanding of Dafa was still based largely on emotion, and I did not yet know how to truly improve my xinxing.

As time went on, I gradually slacked off and I was less diligent. I became lax and complacent. Once the suffering caused by illness was gone, I slowly relaxed. Hope returned to my life, but so did my attachment to living an ordinary life. Although I continued doing the three things, I was unable to make breakthroughs in my cultivation.

My longing for a comfortable, ordinary life may be my fundamental attachment. I pursued the fame, sentimentality, gains, and losses valued by ordinary people. Master purified my body so that I could cultivate, not for me to pursue an ordinary life. I failed to regard hardship as joy, and I did not truly cultivate my heart and mind. Instead, I became attached to worldly comfort and enjoyment.

I do not want these things. I want to eliminate this fundamental attachment, distinguish my true self from my acquired notions, advance diligently, and keep pace with Master’s Fa-rectification.

Validating the Fa or Validating Myself

Our responsibility as practitioners during the Fa-rectification period is to validate Master’s greatness and the extraordinary nature of Dafa. Dafa is the fundamental law of the universe, the truth of the cosmos, and a practice that benefits society in countless ways. Falun Dafa is here to offer people salvation.

However, if we haven’t eliminated our attachments, such as fear, the desire to show off, zealotry, or attachment to self, we may unknowingly end up validating ourselves instead of validating the Fa.

I rode a bicycle for years but no one ever commented on it. Beginning in August of last year, however, people started asking me how old I was. When I tell them I’m in my 70s, they generally say, “You’re over 70 and still riding a bicycle? That’s impressive! Your health must be excellent!”

“I don’t have any illnesses. I’ve been riding my bicycle for years.” That was always my response.

Later, I felt that something wasn’t right. Why hadn’t anyone mentioned this before? I asked myself: “Had I developed an attachment to showing off? Was there something in my cultivation that needed to be corrected?” After I studied the Fa and gained a clearer understanding of the principles, I knew what I should do.

The next time I rode my bicycle, I saw a woman who appeared to be in her 50s. I stopped and greeted her. She said, “It’s great that you’re still riding a bicycle like a young person!” I told her I practice Falun Dafa, and my Master protected me, to the point of being free of illness.

She responded, “Falun Dafa is very good. My aunt practices it, and she’s doing very well.” I asked if her aunt told her about withdrawing from the Chinese Communist Party’s organizations to ensure her safety. She said she already had.

I congratulated her and said, “That’s wonderful. You’ve chosen a good future.”

Interestingly, after that conversation, no one made similar comments to me again. I realized that this happened because I now understood the difference between validating the Fa and validating myself. Once I recognized the issue and corrected myself these situations no longer occurred.

Everything we encounter is related to cultivation. Master is so compassionate. He helped me finally understand that practitioners are here to validate the Fa, not themselves. I am writing this experience down as a reminder to myself that I must do better in validating the Fa.

I am deeply grateful to Master for allowing me to practice Falun Dafa. I feel I am among the most fortunate and happiest people in the world.

During this precious time that Master extended for us through his immense sacrifice and endurance, I will constantly rectify myself with the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I will strive to eliminate my desires and attachments, do the three things well, and truly cultivate.

I hope to fulfill my vows and follow Master home.

If there is anything that is not in accordance with the Fa, please compassionately point it out.

Thank you, revered Master!