My Understanding of "Be Diligent Without Slacking Off"

One day, when I opened Hong Yin 2 (a collection of Master Li's poems), I saw the following line in the first poem "Be Steadfast": "Be diligent without slacking off" (Unofficial translation). It touched me profoundly.

I am a coordinator for many Falun Dafa projects. Many practitioners felt that I was doing a good job in coordinating, and that my understanding of the Fa(1) is generally good. But I felt that I was not elevating in my understanding and was stuck in my current state. Although I had been persistently doing the three things: Studying the Fa, sending forth righteous thoughts and clarifying the truth, in addition to the busy schedule in coordinating, everything seemed to be going smoothly, and I was able to maintain my xinxing(2). Because I was feeling stuck, I started to look inward. Where was I stuck? When I read the line "Be diligent without slacking off," I realised my problem and that I was lacking in my sense of diligence.

Although I studied Master Li's new articles every day, I was not as diligent in reading Zhuan Falun(3) as I had been in the first few years. It is not the number of times that I have read the book that matters; it is the fact that I had slacked off inadvertently. Although there is a lot more work to do now than there was five years ago, the requirements of the Fa are higher, and I should not have slacked off in my Fa study. This shows that I was not very diligent.

Doing the exercises is also part of the Fa, but I am not practicing as often as I used to. Sometimes even when I was practicing, I was thinking about Dafa work, which is not the right state of mind for a practitioner to be in. When I was sending forth righteous thoughts, I was absent-minded, thinking about the projects at hand. Once, my husband, whose Celestial Eye is open, told me that when he was sitting with me to send forth righteous thoughts, some substance flew out from me because of my wild thoughts. He was distracted by it and did not do a good job sending forth righteous thoughts. I realised that my shortcoming was also affecting my fellow practitioners. When it comes to truth clarification, I usually do a good job talking to people from different walks of life because most of them felt that I was kind and very clear in expressing myself. But, I wonder if I have truly tried my very best to save all those that should be saved. I realised that I was lacking in some ways.

When I realised that I was not as diligent as I should have been and that I had slacked off in my cultivation, I felt very bad. I started to set a higher standard for myself. I said to Master Li in my heart that in order to save more people, no matter how busy I am, I should be more diligent and maintain a higher xinxing. No matter how busy I was, I would require myself to read more articles and at least one chapter of Zhuan Falun every day. If I didn't read it well, I would do it again. Soon, I was able to make a breakthrough in my cultivation. I was calmer when I practiced the exercises, and I could feel guanding (pouring energy into the top of one's head) very often. Now, my energy level is high and my understanding of the Fa has elevated, resulting in more ideas for Dafa work.

For example, Master Li said in Explaining the Fa During the 2003 Lantern Festival at the U.S. West Fa Conference

"Dafa disciples should pay attention to that. On the other hand, is it possible that it's caused by the concept of being so-called refined, having an even keel, and not being rushed that ordinary people have developed? Is it because they don't think well of doing things too quickly? The evil is persecuting us, and people are dying. We aren't in the mood to do things in such a leisurely manner. But at the same time, you should try your best to observe social etiquette. Our Dafa disciples are hustling to and fro saving sentient beings, yet those people are still being picky. In any case, Dafa disciples, you should do your best to conform even more! People are sliding downward while we're rising upward, so we have to do things that way if we're going to save them."

I had the privilege of listening to Master Li in person a few times this year at the experience sharing conferences and felt the urgency of many things. But, I was not very clear-headed. I looked inward and felt that I had done well and was very efficient. When Master Li reminded us about the urgency of things, what does it mean to me?

Recently, I set higher standards for myself. My knowing side has become more clear-headed, and I have taken on more responsibilities. My human side seems to be able to do things faster and in a solid manner. With more work to do, the xinxing requirements are higher, and I feel that I am elevating much faster as a result. I know that Master Li is encouraging me when I want to do better in saving lives during the Fa-rectification.

I would like to end my article with Master's poem, "Be Steadfast," to share with those veteran practitioners who have been very involved in Dafa work.

Enlightened beings' ultimate goal is to elevate beyond this world
Diligent cultivators consummate with a faithful heart
Be Steadfast in tremendous Tribulations
Be diligent without slacking

August 27, 2004
(Unofficial translation)

Notes:

1. Fa: Law and principles; the teachings of Falun Dafa.
2. Xinxing: mind-heart nature, moral character.
3. The book, Zhuan Falun, comprises the principal teachings of Falun Dafa.