Understandings and Reflections about Walking a Straight Path

Master¹ emphasised in the article "Walk Straight Your Path" published on September 25th, 2005, that "only walking straight your path amounts to validating the Fa." Master also pointed out that "it is walking straight your path that is most important."

We must walk a straight path, but how can we achieve this? This is not just lip service. Actually the path of cultivation that Master leaves for us is "very narrow". If we are a little bit careless, problems will arise. We should not only have a great goal, but also need to mind the details. Only by improving our characters can we walk a straight path.

Master has clearly pointed out in Zhuan Falun that xinxing:

"Includes de (a type of matter), tolerance, enlightenment quality, sacrifice, giving up ordinary people's different desires and attachments, being able to suffer hardships, and so on. It encompasses various things. Every aspect of xinxing must be upgraded for you to make real progress. This is a crucial factor in improving gong potency (gongli). "

Master has taught us to do the three things well, and that each of the three things is equally important. Studying the Fa (teachings in Falun Gong) well is the key to improving xinxing, increasing gong potency and elevating our level; sending forth righteous thought is to eliminate all the negative elements which interfere with the Fa-rectification; and clarifying the truth is the way to save sentient beings. None of the three things should be excluded. However, some practitioners only focus on sending forth righteous thoughts and handing out materials exposing the persecution, but ignore Fa study. So they did not improve their xinxing and the gap with other practitioners has become wider. My understanding is that Master often reminds us to do more Fa study. We need to keep studying the Fa and practising the exercises, improving our xinxing from many aspects. Only then can we improve our gong potency, our righteous thoughts will be more powerful, we will have more energy when clarifying the truth, and our objective of saving more sentient beings will be achieved.

Two fellow practitioners recently went to other cities to hand out materials exposing the persecution and were interfered with by evil. They were arrested, and this has brought a negative effect to Falun Dafa and caused problems to fellow practitioners. I felt very uneasy. After calming down, studying the Fa and looking within, I understood that this is not accidental, and I also hold some responsibility. It has been quite a while since we had good communication among fellow practitioners. We got angry over little things, became irritated about the human notions others' held, and failed to coordinate well on significant matters. During Fa study, we often kept talking about non-practitioners' topics, and some practitioners were even angry or felt disappointed with the non-practitioners. We talked again and again and achieved nothing. In the end, we did not improve our understanding of the Fa, nor did we improve our xinxing. These phenomena have puzzled me for a long time, but I did not have the courage to write about it. Furthermore, these did not seem to attract fellow practitioners' attention.

Master has long ago clearly pointed out in Zhuan Falun:

"As practitioners, you will suddenly come across conflicts. What should you do? You should always maintain a heart of compassion and kindness. Then, when you run into a problem, you will be able to do well because it gives you room to buffer the confrontation. You should always be benevolent and kind to others, and consider others when doing anything. Whenever you encounter a problem, you should first consider whether others can put up with this matter or if it will hurt anyone. In doing so, there will not be any problems. Therefore, in cultivation practise you should follow a higher and higher standard for yourself."

Compared to Master's tireless teaching, I really feel ashamed. Most of us practitioners have been cultivating for six or seven years, and how much have we improved? Have we let go of human notions? Those attachments of jealousy, fighting, showing off and zealotry and others still keep appearing, so why didn't we pay attention? The phenomenon of practitioners criticising and blaming each other is common, and if this continues, how can we improve and elevate as one body? Recently a few practitioners have become careless when emphasising letting go of the attachment of fear, and have put aside the safety of the Fa and fellow practitioners.

Fellow practitioners, let us be vigilant! Letting go of the attachment of fear is in no way the same as acting recklessly. We need to be aware that we are Fa-rectification Falun Dafa practitioners and need to save sentient beings. We must first walk straight our path. In order to save non-practitioners, we must do well in our cultivation. Otherwise, we will face the danger of being dragged down. Under Master's benevolent protection, let us coordinate well as a one body and walk straight each step in our path.

Note:

1. Master/Teacher: Respectfully referring to the founder of Falun Gong, Mr. Li Hongzhi.