(Minghui.org) My cultivation had reached a bottleneck and I did not know what to do. Whether it was actual cultivation, a project to rescue detained practitioners, or my family life, everything seemed to be difficult, challenging, and overwhelming. I went out to take a walk and tried to settle down.

I suddenly heard a voice say, “Cultivators are carefree, cultivators are carefree.” I realized Master was enlightening me because I was stuck.

Yes, we are cultivators of Falun Dafa. We are not tempted when facing gains or losses, and we remain unmoved in the face of humiliation. Master’s teachings have guided us on how to handle all kinds of situations like a cultivator.

How could I have so much trouble? Was I still trapped in human notions? Was I still attached to material things or reputation? How could those troubles still bother me if I was able to let go of these attachments?

I remembered an old saying: “Given life’s ups and downs, I calmly watch the flowers bloom and fall; Intending neither to stay nor to leave, I view the clouds as they unfold and scroll by.” When I was young, I did not understand what this verse meant. 

Thinking about it now, however, I understand that it reflects one’s level and realm. Even the ancients could take it easy—no matter what happened, they wouldn’t let themselves get carried away by emotions. As cultivators, we have Master and Dafa to strengthen us, and we should do much better. 

Walking alone down a deserted street in the evening, surrounded by silence, I took a moment to look inward. Where had I gone wrong? Finally, I realized the root cause—impatience and sentimentality.

It is understandable that I wanted to rescue the practitioners detained and end their tribulation sooner, but I could not rush something like this. Ji (急), the Chinese character for “impatience,” has a heart at the bottom. When human sentimentality is the basis of our actions, one tends to easily get impatient, upset, and frustrated; it is not compassion and does not have the power of Dafa. 

By going beyond sentimentality to look at things, we will not be disturbed by emotion, and we will be able to look at things with righteous thoughts and resolve problems more efficiently.

I have recently memorized something Master said:

“The truth is, when you feel pained by things that hurt your prestige, your worldly interests, or your feelings, that very fact indicates that human attachments haven’t been let go.” (“True Cultivation,” Zhuan Falun Volume II)

If I let go of all these, they will no longer hurt me or disturb me. I need to focus on doing what I should do to the best of my knowledge and ability, follow the course of nature, not be too attached to the results but pay attention to the process, and cultivate myself well.

I felt relaxed and was no longer frustrated when I returned home. I felt the power when sending forth righteous thoughts, my mind was much clearer when I studied the Dafa teachings, and I also figured out how to deal with the current problem.

Master told us:

“Gong cultivation has a way, the heart is the path Dafa has no bounds, hardship serves as the ferry ” (“Falun Dafa,” Hong Yin)

Hardship is a ferry that can carry us to our destination. Since it is all good, how can cultivators have trouble? Dafa cultivators are carefree.