Through Study of the Falun Gong Teachings My Misunderstandings Became Clear

Master emphasised the importance of studying the Fa, the Falun Gong teachings, once again in his new article "To the Australian Fa Conference." I was encouraged by this article to make the best use of my time to study and memorise the Fa. I thought that I had already tried my best, but after fulfilling my tight Fa-study schedule, somehow my heart was still uneasy... I started to look inwards and suddenly I realised that my heart was not pure while I was studying. On the surface I was reading the books every day, and reading Master's recent lectures. I thought I was very diligent, but behind this diligence there was an attachment of protecting myself. I realised that I kept telling myself: as long as I am studying the Fa, no evil will dare to touch me; as long as I am studying the Fa, all the tribulations will vanish; as long as I keep studying the Fa, I am walking towards consummation. What I was seeking was merely the form of Fa-study, just as Master stated:

"A monk or a nun tries hard to chant the scriptures, and he or she regards a person's knowledge of scripture as the means for reaching Consummation."

"Why do I tell you to study, read, and memorise Zhuan Falun? To guide your cultivation!" ("What Is Cultivation Practice" from Essentials for Further Advancement, 2001 Updated Translation)

What Master wants is for us to cultivate ourselves in real life, as only when our hearts truly change can we improve. I didn't study the Fa with a pure and clean heart, I didn't study the Fa with a clear mind, so no wonder my heart didn't feel steady and sure, and my mind was not at rest. So, not only should we have the outward form of Fa study, but more importantly we must have the essence of Fa study. Just as Master said:

"In practising cultivation, you are not making real, solid progress on your own, which would effect great, fundamental changes internally. Instead, you rely on my power and take advantage of powerful external factors. This can never transform your human nature into Buddha-nature." ("Cautionary Advice" from Essentials for Further Advancement, 2001 Updated Translation)

Only with a pure heart will we be worthy to study this sacred Fa, and the magnificence of the Fa will then be revealed to us.