A Realization of “Cultivating as Though Just Beginning”

For awhile, I've felt as though my cultivation has stagnated. I was doing the three things, and although when I studied the Fa I came to new understandings, I just felt I was always in the same realm, spreading horizontally. It was really difficult to break through to higher realms.

One day, in my heart I asked Master about my doubts. Why is my improvement so slow? Master opened my mind and replied with - Relinquish. After that, the doubt resurfaced. In these many years of cultivation there have been so many human things that I have given up, they shouldn't be bringing about any hindrances. Afterwards I continued to study the Fa of Zhuan Falun and Zhuan Falun (Volume II), then I suddenly enlightened.

When seen from higher levels, the principles that have been enlightened to at various levels are all everyday people's notions. I asked myself, having gone through all these years of cultivation, those so-called successes and that mighty virtue, the so-called “capital,” am I able to give it up? I told myself: I can give it up. At that moment, I felt that my inner realm had become more spacious. When studying the Fa I didn't have that feeling of being full again, on the contrary, I felt that my own capacity had become very large.

Next, regarding how Master talked about “cultivating as though just beginning”, it made me suddenly clear on another meaning of “cultivating as though just beginning”. It's not just the kind of diligent vigor when beginning cultivation, but also the mindset of cultivation that should be as though “just beginning”. By putting oneself in the lowest position with that kind of most sincere attitude toward Dafa and Master, and toward all people and things in one's cultivation, one is being a completely humble cultivator.

At that point I discovered that when I looked at fellow practitioners again, there wasn't any of that kind of distaste or feeling of not being convinced. Fellow practitioners are disciples of our great Master, and I look at them with respect and admiration. I use Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance to judge everything that comes before my eyes. I appear to be a good person who constantly assimilates to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I don't emphasis any more that, “I'm a lord, or, I'm a king.” I don't approach the people and matter that are around me in a condescending way any more. My strong will and power are used to eliminate the evil, to protect sentient beings, and to have firm righteous thoughts. I won't use it again to contest with fellow practitioners or other people. I discovered that Master has exposed Fa principles differently, and my way of thinking has also changed. It is the kind of feeling and attitude of having just begun cultivation from the level of ordinary people, and it is so wondrous and profound. That is my realization of another meaning of, “cultivating as though just beginning.”

The above is my personal understanding. Please point out anything inappropriate.