(Minghui.org) There are no small things in cultivation. As Falun Dafa practitioners, we must pay attention to our every thought. Otherwise, we may experience difficulties in our cultivation.
Not Paying Attention
Very late one night, I was riding my bike home with a few practitioners. I stopped at a red light but they ignored the traffic signal and continued to ride through the intersection. I remembered a line from one of Master’s poems,
“... he is full of great aspirations while minding minor details.”(“Sage,” Falun Dafa Essentials for Further Advancement)
After catching up with them, I said, that as cultivators, we should follow Master’s teaching that says to mind the details. We should not run a red light, even though it is late at night and very few people are on the road. They just smiled but didn’t say anything. I felt they ignored what I said.
Another time, a practitioner was giving me a ride on an electric bike. When we arrived at an intersection, to my surprise, she ran a red light in broad daylight. I asked her, “Why did you run the red light?” She smiled and replied, “It’s okay. I’m used to it. I don’t want to wait for the light because it is a waste of time.” On the way back, she ran another red light. I told her, “I didn’t expect you to run another red light.” She just smiled and didn’t take my words seriously.
I felt helpless and thought that, “it was just a passing thought.” However, my inadvertent thought was tantamount to thinking that it was okay for her to run a red light. Afterward, I also ran a few red lights when there was no one around. However, I knew I was wrong and the gods in heaven were watching. But I found excuses from the thought of “it was just a passing thought.” Sometimes I run through a red light without giving it any thought.
When I calmed down and reviewed the changes in my behavior, I recalled the idea that “it was just a passing thought.” In this situation, I inadvertently agreed with an idea that passed in a flash. Other life forms in another dimension behind this type of thought can control those who agree with the idea.
In our daily life, such quick thoughts and inadvertently agreeing with something that is not right have formed many unrighteous things in other dimensions, and interfered with, and caused difficulties in our cultivation. Gradually, we become sloppy in cultivation, unable to be strict with ourselves, unconsciously drifting with the flow to a point of no return, and finally, destroying ourselves. There are many such examples in cultivation when troubles started by ignoring our own thoughts, and not being strict with ourselves. The entire society is our cultivation environment. We are constantly cultivating. We live in it, and we practice in it.
A casual remark almost cost me my life. The incident made me realize the seriousness of cultivation even more. During dinner, I said to my husband, “Actually, death is not terrible. It would be a kind of relief for me.” After saying this, and before I finished the meal, I could not hold the chopsticks and my head felt very heavy. I lay on the sofa, and barely remained conscious. I could not move or talk.
The incident happened so suddenly. I felt no pressure on my body, had no worries, and felt light and comfortable. In my dim awareness, I thought that this was death. But I knew I couldn’t die and cause a loss to Dafa. I called out to Master Li in my mind, “Master, help me. I can’t die. I have to correct my mistakes.” I kept thinking firmly that after walking into my bedroom, I will be fine when I wake up at 7 a.m.
I didn’t even know how I got into the bedroom. I just fell asleep on the bed and woke up at exactly 7 a.m. It was as if nothing bad happened. I thanked Master in my heart: “Thank you, Master, for saving me.” My husband said that he was terrified by what happened to me. The problem came so suddenly that he could not understand what was going on. Afterward, I looked inward and thought that the old forces took advantage of my casual remark to take my life.
Master said,
“... one’s speech is dictated by one’s thinking.” (Lecture Eight, Zhuan Falun)
What kind of thinking made me make that casual remark? When I searched inward to review the issue deeper, I found that I had not let go of life and death in cultivation. My casual comment was to escape the hardships of life. However, I did not let go of life and unintentionally asked for death.
Therefore, practitioners must be constantly aware and truly cultivate our hearts. Cultivation is not a child’s play. Maybe a casual thought will let the Old Forces find excuses to persecute practitioners, and cause difficulties in their cultivation. We must keep in mind the seriousness of cultivation.
The process of sharing this experience is also cultivating my mind and uplifting myself. My confusion was resolved and I was enlightened to the principles of the Fa that I could perceive at my current level. The Fa continues to show and expand more to me. I felt so surprised and wonderful. Of course, everything we do cannot be done without Master’s care and protection.
Master said:
“Cultivation depends on the efforts of the individual while transforming gong is done by the master.” (Lecture Eight, Zhuan Falun)
I also hope that fellow practitioners who have never written about their cultivation experiences will give it a try. This is not just a process of recording our experiences. Master enlightens us by granting us wisdom, and we gain rational improvement based on the Fa. Let us work diligently together and hope to repay the Master’s compassion.
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