PureInsight | December 24, 2001
The imagination of humans in previous civilizations was oftentimes in higher realms than that of contemporary people. The images were frequently noble, kind, graceful and magnificent. Ancient art, music and poetry were full of what modern people call fairy tales or legends. We are amazed by their imagination. Actually, those were simply their impressions and experiences of different time-space environments. Those were reality for ancient people. Modern people do not understand this.
Modern people regard imagination very highly and emphasize it in literature and art. However, it seems that the minds of many modern people consist of distorted and degenerate thoughts. These thoughts are controlled by external sources because our original, true nature has been lost. These thoughts are from a low level. For instance, movies with images of aliens, music that sounds like the crying of demons, vulgar literature and language fill a person’s mind with bad thoughts and experiences. This leads to a lack of restraint and causes confusion, moving one further from one’s original nature.
Distorted imagination helps to strengthen cultivators’ attachments, and can be used by demons to interfere with Fa-rectification.
In the past, I could neither study the Fa nor do the exercises calmly. What was I thinking of at that time? Memories of things I had done in the past, not as they occurred, but much worse. This caused me to feel discouraged, disappointed and sad. Initially, I didn’t pay much attention to this. Later, this problem became more severe. I became lax and lazy. I was behind in many projects. When I needed encouragement, why didn’t I think about the things that I had done well, and the times when my state of cultivation was good? Why didn’t I think about diligent cultivation stories of Buddha Sakyamuni and Milarepa? Deviated imagination interferes with Fa-rectification. It co-operates with the old evil forces and tries to undermine cultivators’ determination. When I saw through their true nature, and my main consciousness realized the damage of distorted imagination, I sent forth righteous thoughts to eliminate the deviated imagination that interfered with my Fa-study. I eliminated an obstacle in my cultivation.
Distorted imagination can only restrain humans, but not gods. If it intensifies our bad side and damages Fa-rectification, we must eliminate it right away. Don’t allow anything unrighteous to exist. Purifying ourselves and assisting Master to purify the universe is our responsibility. Rectifying our imagination with righteous thoughts is also Fa-rectification.
This is my understanding. Please point out any errors.
Translated from:
http://www.zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2001/11/14/12463.html
