(Minghui.org) I was born in the 1970s and began practicing Falun Dafa in 1995. Over 30 years of cultivation, I have witnessed the wonders of Dafa and the greatness of Master Li countless times. Today, I want to share my understanding of Fa-study with practitioners.
Various Cultivation States Among Practitioners
In truth, every practitioner has faced numerous trials and tribulations on their cultivation path. Due to differences in each individual’s place of origin, unique traits, and varying amounts of karma, their cultivation journeys are intricate and complex.
Some practitioners face immense hardships; others find their path growing steadily smoother and lighter. Many remain trapped in prolonged tribulations, unable to break free. Tragically, numerous practitioners have lost their lives to the evil forces, resulting in great losses.
Are these obstacles truly so immense and insurmountable? Not at all. Master has already provided the answer in his teachings:
“The principles of the Fa can resolve all of your problems.” (“Teachings at the Conference in Switzerland”).
“The Fa can break all attachments; the Fa can destroy all evil; the Fa can shatter all lies; and the Fa can strengthen righteous thoughts.” (“Drive Out Interference,” The Essentials of Diligent Progress II)
Master’s words make the answer clear: the Fa can resolve all our problems. In other words, it is our shortcomings in studying the Fa—failing to study it well, not knowing how to study it, or not understanding the Fa properly—that allow evil beings to exploit loopholes, make the trials more severe, and make the challenges harder to overcome.
The Outcome of Our Cultivation Depends on How We Study the Fa
Some practitioners may disagree with this perspective. Many who have faced severe persecution are very diligent in studying the Fa, persist with their daily practice—some even study large volumes of the Fa—and do not neglect the three things. They appear to be highly committed.
However, during deeper discussions with them about Fa study, it becomes clear that, despite a significant amount of reading, their state of mind and the effectiveness of their study are lacking. They are merely following a format without fully immersing themselves in the Fa. Consequently, the principles of the Fa manifest less frequently in their lives.
Many years ago, while studying Master’s teachings delivered in various cities, I noticed that he emphasized the importance of studying the Fa. Since then, I have paid close attention to my Fa study and carefully read all of Master’s teachings on the topic, as well as practitioners’ articles sharing their insights, reflections, and realizations about Fa study.
Over years of studying the Fa and sharing my experiences, I have gradually formed my own understanding and insights on this subject. I have also noticed certain aspects of Fa study that some practitioners have overlooked, and which significantly impact the effectiveness of their practice. I will share these insights next.
Do Not Pursue Quantity and Speed When Studying Fa
Some practitioners evaluate their daily Fa study by the number of pages they cover. They treat it like a task to complete, setting a daily quota to finish, reading quickly, and copying or memorizing to meet a target, rather than focusing on whether the Fa genuinely enters their hearts or if they have truly immersed themselves in the Fa. Treating Fa study as just a task diminishes its significance.
Approaching the Fa with this mindset prevents one from quieting the mind, making it impossible to truly immerse oneself in the Fa. This significantly diminishes the effectiveness of one’s cultivation. Through years of observation, I have seen that practitioners who study the Fa in this way often seem unable to see problems from the perspective of the Fa. They tend to lack sufficient righteous thoughts, exhibit poor cultivation states, and harbor many human attachments.
Many Fa-study groups approach the Fa in this way. I have studied with some of them. Because the Fa study speed is so fast, I feel confused afterwards. I can’t remember much of what I just read. When I ask other practitioners, they say they experience the same feeling.
For new practitioners, this approach to studying the Fa may be acceptable. However, as their cultivation level advances, the cultivation standards also rise. Continuing to use this method will make it difficult to meet the requirements of higher-level cultivation.
However, some practitioners who use this method have not encountered significant issues in their cultivation state. They often spend six or seven hours a day studying the Fa, or even more, compensating for their learning method’s shortcomings by dedicating substantial time. This approach, however, is inefficient, producing half the results for twice the effort.
Impatience Impedes Grasping the Essence of the Fa
Impatience is another common issue that significantly impedes one’s study and understanding of the Fa. Impatient practitioners rush through everything they do, including their Fa study, where they tend to read the Fa very quickly.
The direct consequence of this speed reading is that their minds cannot fully settle during study, nor do they allow sufficient time to comprehend the essence of each sentence. When studying the Fa, they skim over it, missing its true meaning without truly grasping its core. Ultimately, they fail to assimilate themselves into the Fa, severely undermining their ability to thoroughly grasp the Fa.
I have discussed this phenomenon with fellow practitioners. Because of habits formed over many years, they find it difficult to slow down. In truth, “impatience” is also a type of attachment. The challenge these practitioners face is how to eliminate the demonic nature of impatience, slow down, and study the Fa with a calm mind.
I once met a veteran practitioner who recited the Fa with ease, yet suffered long-term severe sickness karma, which left him helpless. After discussion, we discovered he recited the Fa very quickly—far from achieving complete comprehension, let alone visualizing each character in his mind.
Master told us:
“When one chants the Buddha’s name, one must do it single-mindedly with nothing else in mind until other portions of the brain become numb and one becomes unaware of anything, with one thought replacing thousands of others, or until each word of “Buddha Amitabha” appears before one’s eyes.” (Lecture Nine, Zhuan Falun)
In contrast, practitioners who study the Fa at a slower pace, calmly, and with focused attention, generally exhibit stable cultivation states and rarely experience severe persecution or interference. I know some practitioners who, after discussing this, slowed their Fa study pace and soon noticed a change in their cultivation state: their righteous thoughts strengthened, interference decreased, and the effects were remarkable.
Do Not Study the Fa With Pursuit
Finally, another reminder for practitioners, especially those facing difficulties: do not approach Fa study with any pursuit. During tribulations, suffering can easily lead to thoughts like “I must study the Fa intensely, pass this test quickly, and escape this pain,” unconsciously fostering a “pursuing mind.” This improper approach can interfere with understanding the Fa, and extend the time needed to overcome the tribulation and pass the test.
Instead, recognize your cultivation shortcomings through these disturbances. Approach Fa study and look inward to improve your cultivation state from this point forward.
The issues mentioned earlier cause the greatest interference to fellow practitioners’ cultivation. Of course, these are not the only factors affecting one’s attainment of the Fa. Many issues have been addressed in other shared articles, so I will not repeat them here.
The above are some of my experiences and insights from studying the Fa over the years. Due to my limited understanding, I hope fellow practitioners will kindly point out any shortcomings.
Articles in which cultivators share their understandings typically reflect an individual's perception at a point in time based on their cultivation state, and they are offered in the spirit of enabling mutual elevation.
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Category: Cultivation Insights
