The First Practice for Pursuing the Truth: Letting Go

Letting Go of the Barriers Between Oneself and God and One’s Hostility Toward God

I. Letting Go of One’s Notions and Imaginings About God: Letting Go of One’s Notions and Imaginings About God’s Work

F. God’s Work Does Not Change People’s Innate Conditions; It Aims to Change Their Corrupt Dispositions

During this period, the topic of our fellowship has involved a relatively broad scope, hasn’t it? (Yes.) It has involved some more specific issues of humanity, and it has also involved some issues of people’s lives. At the last gathering, we fellowshipped about topics involving caliber, and then we fellowshipped about how to discern innate conditions, humanity, and corrupt dispositions. Our fellowship on the topic of caliber has basically been completed; from now on, you can judge exactly how a person’s caliber is based on this content. When fellowshipping about these three aspects—innate conditions, humanity, and corrupt dispositions—we fellowshipped about some manifestations and revelations of people in daily life to judge whether these fall under their innate conditions, humanity, or corrupt dispositions. Through our fellowship about the three aspects of innate conditions, humanity, and corrupt dispositions, do you now have a concrete understanding of the basic structure of humans as created beings? (We can understand it a bit more than before.) The reason we fellowship about the three aspects of manifestations revealed in people’s lives is that created humankind is composed of innate conditions, humanity, and corrupt dispositions. No matter whether you are a man or a woman, whether you are young or old, no matter among which race of people or in which country you live, in which period you live, or in what kind of social environment and background you live—in short, no matter what your outward appearance is—as long as you are a created human being, you are composed of these three aspects: innate conditions, humanity, and corrupt dispositions. In other words, every person, who belongs to corrupt humankind, is composed of innate conditions, humanity, and the life of corrupt dispositions. That is to say, any created human being possesses innate conditions, humanity, and corrupt dispositions. Of course, a person’s innate conditions are ordained by God. Humanity is partly influenced by innate conditions, and partly conditioned and influenced by family upbringing, the social environment, and Satan’s education. Corrupt dispositions, meanwhile, are a person’s satanic dispositions and satanic nature produced by the misleading and corruption of Satan. This corrupt nature partly comes from one’s family, partly from society, and partly from the influences and conditioning that a person experiences in various environments. From this perspective, any created person is actually not any kind of mystery, because they are composed of these three aspects: innate conditions, humanity, and corrupt dispositions. Therefore, discerning what kind of person someone is should actually be easy. Setting aside the innate conditions ordained and bestowed by God, what remains is to discern what a person’s humanity is like and what corrupt dispositions they have—these determine what the essence of this person is like. Discerning in this way makes things very clear. Discerning what a person’s essence is based on these things is not a difficult matter. Discerning in this way has a basis and also has a standard of measurement.

6. Various Manifestations of Innate Conditions, Humanity, and Corrupt Dispositions

Previously, we listed some specific manifestations of innate conditions, which do not involve corrupt dispositions. Innate conditions are the foundation on which people rely for survival and are conditions that created humankind should possess. Whether it is conditions related to a person’s birth, such as the time, environment, and place of birth, or aspects such as a person’s appearance, caliber, strengths, instincts, interests and hobbies, and personality—these are all part of a person’s innate conditions. These innate conditions do not corrupt people, and of course, these innate conditions also do not contain any corrupt dispositions. Generally speaking, innate conditions are some basic conditions that a created human being must possess in order to survive and live. Humanity refers to that which is lived out involving the conscience and reason of normal humanity which is revealed from a body possessing innate conditions. As for corrupt dispositions, this is straightforward—corrupt dispositions are the result of Satan’s corruption of the life of this body that possesses innate conditions and humanity. Is this a bit abstract? Overall, created humans are created beings dominated by corrupt dispositions and possessing the basic conscience and reason of humanity. These created beings have various innate conditions ordained by God. This is the basic structure of the humankind created by God. In this, innate conditions and corrupt dispositions are easier to understand, but humanity may be relatively abstract. Simply put, humanity is a unique attribute of created humankind that differentiates them from other living beings. Created beings, who have this unique attribute, possess conscience and reason, character, and also the ability to distinguish right from wrong. These unique attributes, which differentiate humankind from other living beings, constitute humanity. This humanity of course includes the ability to express using language, the ability to distinguish right from wrong, the ability to understand, the ability to accept new things, the ability to accept the words of the Creator, and the ability to accept God’s commission and handle any matter. This is humanity. The simplest understanding of humanity is that it is an inherent attribute of created humankind that differentiates them from other living beings. The most basic characteristics of this attribute are conscience and reason. This is the simplest way to understand it. There are some details within this, such as the integrity and character that humanity should possess, the distinguishing between positive things and negative things, and the selection and carrying out of positive things. Basically, these things are what people should understand and know about the three aspects of innate conditions, humanity, and corrupt dispositions. Have you thought about these issues before? (We haven’t thought about them before.) Encountering these issues for the first time, can you understand them? Can you grasp them? (We can understand them somewhat.) Does anyone feel that this topic we are talking about is too profound and somewhat abstract, and like discussing philosophy, it is a bit incomprehensible? Based on the specific manifestations of these three aspects of innate conditions, humanity, and corrupt dispositions that we have fellowshipped about over these days, what was just spoken about should not be abstract to you. The specific manifestations of these three aspects should be understandable to you. Additionally, shouldn’t the relationships among these three aspects also be clear? Humanity is the integrity, character, conscience, and reason that a person reveals based on the foundation of having basic innate conditions. Corrupt dispositions are what is lived out within humanity through innate conditions, and they are the various dispositions lived out by people which are dominated by the life that Satan instills in them. In this way, regardless of what innate conditions a person possesses, they are merely the most basic external shell, whereas the life that can truly dominate the essence of a person is the corrupt dispositions instilled in them by Satan. That is to say, to discern what the essence of a person is, look at the dispositions they reveal. If the dispositions they reveal are the corrupt dispositions of arrogance, intransigence, deceitfulness, wickedness, or viciousness, then regardless of whether their character is kind or evil, this person is essentially of Satan, because their life is Satan’s corrupt disposition. Therefore, what a person’s attribute is depends on the life they possess within, not on what their innate conditions are. If their life is Satan’s corrupt disposition, then regardless of how noble or great their innate conditions may appear outwardly, they are essentially of Satan, and they are a member of corrupt humankind. If a person’s life is one where the truth is their life, then regardless of how ordinary, normal, or looked down upon their innate conditions may appear outwardly—and even if they exhibit some weaknesses, inadequacies, and defects of their humanity outwardly—they are still part of the humankind that has been saved. They essentially belong to God, and are not of Satan. Their essence changes. Once their essence changes, their belonging also changes—they belong to the truth and to God. Therefore, the determining factor in a person’s belonging, essence, and final outcome is not their innate conditions, and of course, it is not entirely their humanity either, but rather, what their life is. If from beginning to end, a person’s life is one where corrupt dispositions are their life, and they are of Satan, then their belonging will be with Satan; if they have the truth as their life, they belong to God, and thus their belonging will be with God, in the beautiful destination God has prepared for humankind. Based on the various manifestations and the essence of people in all aspects, what is people’s current belonging? Do people have a life where the truth is their life? (No.) Then what exactly does a person’s essence depend on? (On what they have as their life.) Exactly; whatever your life is within, that is what your essence is. If the life within you changes, and it is no longer corrupt dispositions that are your life, but the truth, then in terms of your essence, you belong to God and belong to the truth. Of course, people’s attribute of humanhood does not change—people are still humans, and in terms of their attribute, they are still created humans. However, because your life has changed, your belonging has also changed. In summary, innate conditions are basic conditions that constitute created humankind. That is to say, as long as you are called a created human, these innate conditions must exist in you—they are the basic conditions. Humanity is what is revealed from and lived out of a person’s normal humanity while they live under their innate conditions. Corrupt dispositions are the life inherent to corrupt humankind, hidden beneath innate conditions and the shell of humanity. The relationships and distinctions between these three aspects, as well as the roles they each play or the functions they each serve in created humankind, are just as described. Previously, we fellowshipped about some manifestations related to these three aspects of innate conditions, humanity, and corrupt dispositions that people reveal. However, the content involving these three aspects goes far beyond what we have fellowshipped about, so we have to continue fellowshipping on this topic today.

Stuttering and Stammering

Where did we leave off last time regarding the various revelations of innate conditions, humanity, and corrupt dispositions? Timidity and boldness, right? (Yes.) That fellowship was completed. Let’s now look at stuttering and stammering when speaking—what kind of problem is this? (An innate condition.) This is an innate condition and also a type of physical defect. Of course, the forms of stuttering differ. Some stutterers stretch out a single syllable, while others keep repeating a single syllable, taking all day without being able to utter a complete sentence. In short, this is an innate condition and of course, it is also a type of physical defect. Does this involve a corrupt disposition? (No.) It does not involve a corrupt disposition. If someone says, “You stammer when you speak; you sure are cunning!” or, “You even stutter when you talk; how can you be so arrogant?”—are such statements accurate? (No.) Stuttering, as a defect or flaw, does not relate to any aspect of a person’s corrupt dispositions. Therefore, stuttering is an innate condition and a type of physical defect. Clearly, it does not involve a person’s corrupt dispositions and has no connection to them whatsoever. There is another situation involving stuttering: Some people usually do not stammer when speaking, but when you ask them a question, they hesitate and falter; they take all day to say a single sentence, and you still cannot tell what they’re trying to say. Their speech is never specific enough, always making you guess their meaning—whatever you guess, that becomes their meaning. Otherwise, they use a smile in lieu of meaning. In short, they simply do not answer your question directly. For example, you ask them, “Where did you come from?” They say, “I … I … well, just wandered around and …” After hearing this, you still don’t know where they came from. Or you ask them, “How do you evaluate that person’s caliber?” They say, “Their … caliber, well … everyone, you know … we all … um … aren’t really … clear.” Why do they speak in such a halting and fragmented way? Is this stuttering or stammering? It doesn’t seem to be. Then why do they speak like this? If it’s not because of stuttering or stammering, what is the reason? (They are dominated by a corrupt disposition.) This is clearly a revelation of a disposition. It means that when they express something or do something, they are dominated by a disposition, which is part of their life, driving them to speak and act to achieve a certain aim. What is this aim? It is to conceal the true facts, to avoid telling you the true facts; they don’t want to explain things so clearly. Why do they act this way? It is because they believe that if they explain what’s actually going on, they will have to bear the consequences—either offending someone or causing detriment to themselves. They do not want to bear these consequences; they do not want you to know the true facts. This is a manner and style of speaking and acting under the dominance of a corrupt disposition. The life that dominates them to act this way represents their nature, and their acting this way proves that they have no truth whatsoever. They do not speak according to the truth principles. So how should one speak so as to speak according to the truth principles? To do this, one should be an honest person, just as God says: “Let your communication be, Yes, yes; No, no.” Do they do this? (No.) What do they do? They neither say yes when it is yes nor no when it is no. What method do they use? They speak ambiguously, using deceitful and wicked ways to express their meaning so as to achieve their goal of protecting themselves. They use the methods instructed to and instilled in them by Satan to handle a matter or express something. This is clearly the corrupt disposition of Satan. This is not a shallow revelation of humanity but a revelation of a way of acting under the dominance of Satan’s corrupt disposition.

Enjoying Thrills

Let’s continue with another manifestation: enjoying thrills and disliking blandness; doing all things and making every lifestyle choice for the sake of thrills. What kind of problem is this? First of all, does this fall under interests and hobbies within innate conditions? (Yes.) Does it? Think carefully—does it truly belong there? Is enjoying thrills normal in a person’s rationality? (It is not normal.) Then, is categorizing it under innate conditions appropriate? (No.) Looking at it this way, it is not appropriate. What kind of problem does this manifestation fall under? If we say that enjoying thrills is a corrupt disposition, then what kind of corrupt disposition is it? Is it arrogance, deceitfulness, or viciousness? (It is none of these.) It is unrelated to any type of corrupt disposition. Then what kind of problem is it? (It is a problem of humanity.) What kind of problem of humanity is it? Is it being somewhat out of line? (Yes.) It is conducting oneself improperly and in a way that is out of line, enjoying thrills, and being restless. Restlessness indicates a lack of normal humanity. This does not involve conscience but primarily reflects a lack of rationality in normal humanity. Such people cannot stick to one task or do their duties in a way that is rule-abiding and dutiful. They are unable to do things like adults; they lack mature thinking, a mature style of personal conduct, and a mature way of doing things. At the very least, this is a defect of their humanity. Of course, this does not rise to the level of being a problem of their character but relates to an attitude with which they conduct themselves and act. Enjoying novelty and thrills, being inconsistent in whatever they do, being unable to persevere, being restless and improper, and always wanting to seek thrills and try out fancy new things—issues of this type fall under defects of humanity. People who enjoy thrills lack the rationality of normal humanity; it is not easy for them to bear the responsibilities and work that adults should bear. Whatever job they do, as long as they do it for a long time and it loses its novelty, they find it boring, lose interest in doing it, and want to seek a sense of novelty and thrill. Without thrills, they feel things are bland and may even experience a sense of spiritual emptiness. When they feel this way, their hearts become restless, and they want to seek thrills or things that interest them. They constantly want to do something unconventional. Whenever they find the work they are doing or the affairs they are handling boring or uninteresting, they lose the desire to continue. Even if it is work they should be doing or work that is meaningful and valuable, they cannot persevere. Look at how, among nonbelievers, there are many who frequently use drugs. Regardless of the reasons behind this, they enjoy using drugs to seek a sense of thrill and to seek irrational sensations beyond what normal people possess. People who enjoy thrills are similar to those who rely on drugs for stimulation. They lack the rationality of normal people in the way they conduct themselves and always like to pursue unrealistic and transcendent sensations when choosing their lifestyle. This is very dangerous. People of this type often appear outwardly to have no major problems. If you do not discern such people or see through to their essence or the essence of this kind of problem, you might think, “These people just have unstable dispositions; they are in their thirties or forties but are still immature like children.” In actuality, deep within, people of this type continually seek thrills. No matter what they do, they lack the thoughts and awareness of adults, as well as the approach and attitude with which adults handle matters. Therefore, such people are very problematic. Maybe their humanity is not bad and their character is not particularly vile, but due to this defect of their humanity, it is very difficult for them to be competent for significant work, especially certain important items of work. When you fellowship the truth with them, they say, “I understand everything; I just can’t do it.” They cannot live or work properly and dutifully with the thoughts and attitudes of normal people. Their hearts are always restless. People with such manifestations are also very problematic. This concludes our discussion on the manifestation of enjoying thrills.