(Clearwisdom.net)
Teacher pointed out very clearly practitioners' shortcomings:
"And yet a small number of students--veteran students, even--have to differing degrees exhibited a despondent state and slackened in their resolve to be diligent. They haven't realized that this is an attachment to the duration of Fa-rectification, or is caused by interference from incorrect, acquired notions, which results in their gaps being exploited by interfering factors that the old forces left behind early on in the surface of the human dimension, wicked specters, or rotten demons--things that have magnified and strengthened those attachments and human notions--all of which has brought about this despondent state." ("The Closer to the End, the More Diligent You Should Be")
When studying this article, it is as if Teacher, at the last stage of our Fa-rectification cultivation, has told us how to walk our last path well. At the same time, to prevent losses, teacher gives Dafa disciples this opportunity, which is hard to come by. Teacher also gives earnest advice to fellow practitioners who are in a despondent state and have slacked off instead of being diligent.
I want to share the process of our Fa-study group on how we improved as a whole during the past year. My goal is two-fold: we would like to share our experience with Teacher and with fellow practitioners.
Our Fa-study group was established in 2003. At the beginning, we were four practitioners who studied the Fa, did the exercises, and clarified the truth as a group. During the progress of the Fa-rectification, and with the guidance of Teacher regarding doing the Three Things well, we cooperated well with each other. We printed materials and made banners. Some made the banners, while others hung the banners. Inspired by our efforts, other practitioners began to step forward. We began with one practice site, and there are now five practice sites. For studying the Fa and doing the exercises we are open to the public. With the situation of Fa-rectification moving forward, participation at our exercise sites has increased.
In the past, the local village committee was deceived by the lies of the Chinese Communist Party. It reported on us and helped the evil authorities monitor practitioners. Now it is just the opposite. Since the committee members have come to understand the truth, they have provided protection for practitioners. With Teacher's help, we have done many things with righteous thoughts and righteous actions, and saved many sentient beings.
Teacher said,
"Only the energy field from cultivation practice in a righteous way can produce this effect. Therefore, in the past there was this saying in Buddhism: 'The Buddha-light illuminates everywhere and rectifies all abnormalities.' This is what it means." (Zhuan Falun)
Because of Falun Dafa's grace, many sentiment beings have been saved at our exercise sites. These miracles have occurred over and over again. One villager developed inflammation of his blood vessels and became paralyzed. He was bedridden, could not move, and suffered tremendously. He was given injections daily for a dozen days and spent over 1,000 yuan at our village hospital, but there was no improvement. He was then transferred to a larger hospital, where he was diagnosed with cancer. The doctor wanted to amputate his legs, suggesting that the alternative would be life threatening. When he was in pain, two practitioners went to his home to clarify the truth, and told him to recite, "Falun Dafa is Good" from deep within his heart. They also gave him Dafa books. This villager accepted the books immediately. After studying the Fa continuously, his legs became a lot better, and after a while, he recovered totally. His doctors considered his recovery a miracle. We know that Teacher saved him and gave him a new life. His wife said cheerfully, "Falun Dafa is so good." Now his entire family understands the truth and all of them quit every organization of the evil Party.
There is an elderly lady, 87-years-old, who suffered from many illnesses. Her leg hurt constantly. She suffered from headaches, heart disease and many more illnesses. She had lost all interest in life. She contemplated suicide many times, as she did not want to be a burden on her children. She was in extreme pain for a long time. When her children realized that no medicine could help their mother, they felt very sad. At that time, a few fellow practitioners went to her home to clarify the truth, and to persuade her to quit the Party. They told her to quietly recite, "Falun Dafa is good." Because of her advanced age and as she had lost part of hearing, it took a while for her to be able to recite these words. She began to quietly recite it daily. Suddenly one day she realized she had recovered from her illnesses. She felt great relief and got rid of her cane, which she had needed for many years. She became a healthy person. One day when she went out, her daughter followed her with the cane, fearing that she might fall. The elderly lady saw her daughter and said, "You don't have to follow me. I am all right." When her daughter asked her to take medicine, she said, "I don't have any illness. Why do I have to take medicine? I'd rather you read the Dafa book to me!" Then a fellow practitioner gave her a small-sized Hong Yin. Even though she is illiterate, she put it into her pocket and keeps it with her at all times. Once in a while she takes it out, touches it, then puts it back. She has done this many times. Her pure heart towards Dafa and Teacher is very touching. Her returning to health is another miracle of Dafa, which benefited her entire family. They all quit every organization of the evil Party. Her recovery helped many people understand the truth. Her story was retold in her neighborhood, the village and surrounding towns. Now her daughter practices Falun Dafa.
There are many similar stories. With the progress of Fa-rectification, our Fa-study group has achieved great results in clarifying the truth because of Dafa's power.
Just as Teacher said,
"For Dafa disciples as a whole, in the process of validating the Fa, when you work together in concert, the Fa power is great." ("Explaining the Fa During the 2003 Lantern Festival at the U.S. West Fa Conference")
Our Fa-study group members also were able to understand the Fa from the Fa's perspective and follow closely the requirements of the Fa-rectification. At first we lacked courage to produce Dafa materials, but gradually all of us helped. We began with producing a few copies, then 80 and then a hundred copies. With the spreading of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and due to the wave of "Quitting the Three Organizations under the CCP," we shared our understandings a few times and then divided into a few groups. We decided to go to every household to clarify the truth and try to persuade people to quit the Party. On public market days, we also went to the markets, where we clarified the truth, and therefore even more people quit the Party.
Teacher said,
"Without that environment, then... think about it, it's the same with today's Dafa disciples: when you go back out there into ordinary society, you are in the environment of ordinary society. If you don't seize the day [to cultivate], then today you might feel like reading and so you read a little, but tomorrow you might get lazy and read less... so without that environment it's hard to stay diligent. After all, it's human beings who are cultivating. So with human laziness and all kinds of disturbances affecting people in this world, it's very hard for you to see on your own where you fall short. And in particular, if on top of that you aren't diligent, you don't read the book a lot, or you don't comprehend the Fa very well, you won't be able to see your attachments at all. That's why you have to participate in group study and exercises." ("Teaching the Fa at the 2004 International Fa Conference in New York")
Therefore, I would like to suggest that fellow practitioners set up Fa-study groups as quickly as possible, but they should not neglect their safety. We believe that for group Fa-study and doing the exercises this requires negating the old evil forces arrangements, walking well on the path arranged by Teacher, and breaking through barriers set up by the old forces. Through group Fa-study, fellow practitioners can communicate with each other, improve together, solve their dilemmas in a timely manner, cooperate with each other, harmonize with each other, and do the three things (study the Fa, send forth righteous thoughts, and clarify the truth to people) that Dafa practitioners are required to do well. This way they can save more sentient beings.
Diligent practitioners, please reach out your hands to all fellow practitioners around you! Let us form a harmonized and unbreakable body and return to the heavens together!
Please kindly help me understand any shortcomings I may have.