(Clearwisdom.net)
On November 5, 2005, Minghui.net (the Chinese version of Clearwisdom.net) announced that all of Master's comments on disciples' articles had been moved to the "Master Li's Recent Articles" column so that practitioners would study them more. In particular, comments on the following five articles have been revised:
- Do Not Differentiate Between Fa-Rectification Projects; "A Great Way Has No form" But Exists As a Whole
(http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2003/2/17/32250.html)
- Singing the Praises of Master and Dafa
(http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2003/8/30/39707.html)
- Expose the Evil Happening Locally to the Local People
(http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2003/11/17/42315.html)
- Stop Collecting Signatures from Among Practitioners
(English translation of this article is not available)
- Cultivators Should Not Form Attachments to the Fourth Plenary Meeting
(http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2004/9/28/52908.html)
Having carefully read through Master's comments on the five articles several times and after sharing my thoughts with the others in our Fa study group, I found out that a few of the practitioners, like me, did not take much notice of Master's comments when they were first published. After reviewing Teacher's comments on these articles again, I have finally understood more of the meanings behind the comments, all of which are actually aimed at our own cultivation issues, either as individuals, or as a group.
1. My understanding of Master's comment on "Do Not Differentiate Between Fa-Rectification Projects; 'A Great Way Has No Form' But Exists As a Whole"
I know that Dafa practitioners are one whole body. I also know that regardless of what task a Dafa practitioner undertakes during the Fa-rectification period, whether the person works as a coordinator, technical implementer, a truth clarification flyer distributor, or is responsible for interfacing directly with the public, the person is still doing Fa-validation work. There should be no distinction among all our work, but under the influence of human concepts, there is still a "class distinction" embedded in our thoughts. These thoughts have led us to believe that certain tasks are more important than others, or that the more a person does, the greater the end effect in Fa rectification.
"Each person's cultivation path is different, the way in which each validates the Fa is different, their social statuses are different, their occupations are different, and their -surroundings are different, but they can all cultivate nevertheless. This is the path Dafa presents to its cultivators." (Excerpt of Master's comment on the article)
On reading Master's comment and using it as a mirror to look at my personal cultivation state, I realised that I still have a deep-rooted unremoved notion, which I often use to evaluate other practitioners. For example, I noticed that one practitioner was not performing to my expectations, and not fully putting himself in the Fa-rectification work like I was. I concluded that the practitioner still had fear, was unable to step out, was not diligent, and still had serious problems in his personal cultivation practice.
Now, I realise that I was the one who had a problem, not the others. Actually, every Dafa practitioner is doing Fa-validation delimited by his cultivation environment. Some of the work is visible to us, while other work is not. Hence we cannot evaluate someone simply by looking at what he does. In fact, we should not make any comments at all, as what we see may only be superficial and not necessary the true facts. Hence, allowing those human notions to stay with us will only create divisions in our teamwork, and will, with varying degrees, affect our Fa-validation work of saving sentient beings.
Why do we have this "work distinction" notion? It is because we are not clear on the Fa. We have the impression that the more important the task we undertake, the greater the contribution we give. We consider the people who work on important tasks to be better cultivators, and they generate a greater effect on bringing us together as one body. However, looking from the Fa's perspective, this reasoning cannot be considered correct. Tasks undertaken by Dafa practitioners are of equal weight. All of their work is for validating Fa. There are no distinctions between tasks undertaken and their levels of importance. It is possible that this human notion of ours has hindered us from rescuing our fellow practitioners who are still imprisoned, and affected our truth clarifying work as well as the salvation of sentient beings.
This notion can also cause undue duress for the fellow practitioners whose performance we try to evaluate. Indirectly, our work distribution and co-ordination will be affected. In fact, whenever we run into conflicts with each other, or strongly hold on to our own opinions during Fa validation work, it is time for us to upgrade our understanding of the Fa. When our understanding of the Fa differs, or when we look at issues from diverging perspectives, then we need to comprehend, accommodate and reconcile with each other. Each one of us has a different cultivation path, but we can all validate the Fa and are all able to cultivate. Even if we notice that our fellow practitioners are having problems and making mistakes, we must not judge whether they will succeed and take the matter too seriously. We should help, not reprimand. Master has said that all Dafa practitioners will fulfil their mission. Trusting in Dafa will change each of us, help us to upgrade, and finally attain the level required to consummate.
Actually, we now have the opportunity to cultivate ourselves in the midst of Fa rectification and in the process of saving sentient beings. If we can also unconditionally look into ourselves, find our own faults, accommodate and understand each other, and treat everything as part of cultivation, then an enormous field of righteousness will be generated among us practitioners. At the same time, the mighty collective power of Dafa will manifest, which will help save even more sentient beings.
2. My understanding of Master's comment on "Singing the Praises of Master and Dafa"
Since I started Dafa cultivation, some of my basic attachments have remained hidden and buried. I thought I had already gotten rid of a lot of my attachments to the material gains of this world, but when it comes to notability in the Dafa circle, I still adored certain people or districts that had done well. From time to time, a feeling of adoration, which was more than simple respect for a certain person or a district for their Dafa achievements, rose from within. I treated that to be my concern and caring for Dafa as a whole unit.
Having read Master's comment on "Singing the Praises of Master and Dafa," I suddenly woke up to it. My first impression was that a person who could write such a beautiful article must have attained a very high level in his cultivation. Today, I feel that my thinking was incorrect. When a practitioner does well, it is Dafa that bestows the wisdom upon him. Therefore, we must not overemphasize the human part of the person. Besides, a practitioner will not remain unchanged forever. The only thing that remains unchanged is Dafa. When a person leaves Dafa, he becomes a non-entity. Since it is Dafa that bestows wisdom on a diligent practitioner, his every expression is but a small part in the manifestation of Dafa's wisdom at different levels.
My personal understanding is this: Every Dafa particle is like a drop in the ocean. As long as he integrates with the ocean, he will not dry up. We, as Dafa practitioners, must truly integrate with the Fa to be able to recognize the solemnity, holiness and greatness of Dafa. When we perceive that everything actually comes from Dafa, who will still adore another human?
Blind adoration in the last few years has brought us many painful lessons. When we adore a certain person, and do not take the Fa as the guide, we lose the clearheadedness of a cultivator. It is possible that this action will drive the practitioner whom we adore into a blind alley as well. As he may be complacent with himself, the old forces may magnify his attachments and seize every opportunity to ruin him. In some areas where the persecution has been the most oppressive, the local practitioners are seen to be pursuing human heroic bravery; they are not steadfast in their cultivation practice, and do not walk every step right. By the time the whole group suffers persecution, the negative result will bring irreparable damage to Fa validation and the salvation of sentient beings.
Standing before this unforgettable lesson, we should wake up. We must not neglect Fa study. When we see the seriousness of this issue, we should, starting with ourselves, take the Fa as our Teacher. When we do not give opportunities to non-righteous elements, and when everyone rectifies everything improper while upholding the Fa's perspective, we will avoid a lot of unnecessary damage.
3. My understanding of Master's comment on "Expose the Evil Happening Locally to the Local People"
Having read Master's comments on this article in November 2003, Dafa practitioners from our district became more aware of the importance of exposing the local officers' evil deeds. Following several rounds of opinion sharing, all of the practitioners are now actively participating in the campaign to expose the evil doings of the local officials. These activities have had stunning results. All of the atrocities of the local police officers have come to light, and more and more people have gotten to know the abomination of the evil deeds of the officers as well.
On reading the comments again, we realize that the activity should not stop. We should continue with our campaign to expose their crimes.
4. My understanding of Master's comment on "Stop Collecting Signatures from Among Practitioners"
With regard to the safety issues, Mainland China Dafa practitioners debated quite a lot in the last few years. Some of them overemphasized environmental safety, and neglected the righteous thoughts and actions of a practitioner. Others put more stress on using righteous thoughts, and have not paid attention to the general environmental and security issues. Personally, I feel that both sides have gone to extremes.
I feel that when a person is in the proper cultivation state of a practitioner, he should have not only the righteous thoughts of a practitioner, but also a constant awareness of the surrounding security. By not going to extremes, a practitioner gives the others a feeling of reliability, confidence and clearheadedness. That person should not be muddleheaded, worrying only about the human concept of safety.
Why do we have to observe our personal safety? Actually, Dafa practitioners' existence has created an element of righteousness. If we cannot guarantee our own personal safety, how can we help save sentient beings? The observation of safety is also a demonstration of our care and concern for fellow practitioners. When we are aware of our own personal safety, and at the same time consider the safety of other practitioners as one body, more practitioners will be attracted to participate in our group Fa-validation work.
5. My understanding of Master's comment on "Cultivators Should Not Form Attachments to the Fourth Plenary Meeting"
While confronting the fast flow of Fa rectification and the advent of the fall of the Chinese Communist Party, evil elements in other dimensions are fast being destroyed. In the moment of their final struggle, they are still persecuting Dafa and Dafa practitioners. Under such circumstances, we must not be enchanted by any illusive images staged by the demons, but stand firm from a righteous perspective to look at the issue.
"This article is excellent. Its understanding of why Dafa disciples validate the Fa is lucid, the righteous thoughts behind it are strong, and it is logical and clear. I hope the Dafa disciples in Mainland China will all read it. Dafa disciples are validating the Great Law, and they should not be attached to the outcome of the vile Party's meeting. This is because everything in human society exists for Dafa and for Dafa disciples' cultivation. Whether something be upright or wicked, all the same it can only act in accordance with the needs of Dafa." (Master's comment on the article)
We understand that everything in human society exists for Dafa. Whatever happens in human society is based on what Dafa needs. The path we are taking today in Fa validation will be left as a reference for the future. The demons will be eliminated during Fa rectification, and humankind will be saved. Dafa practitioners are the only hope for humankind to enter the future. All of the changes that happen today in human society are a result of Dafa practitioners' efforts. We are the main body. When Dafa practitioners do well in their truth clarification and in the salvation of sentient beings, everything in the future will change accordingly.
Let us take a look at the present unwholesome conditions of our practitioners. The practitioners are divided among themselves, they lack coordination, and there is still severe persecution of practitioners in many districts. Aren't these the result of our failing to advance in the Fa, not acting righteously, and not keeping pace with Master's Fa rectification?
The above is my present understanding of Master's comments on the five articles, which I would like to share with you. In this special period of history, how to walk our paths well, how to save more people, and at the same time, meet the requirements for consummation, are our main goals.
Views expressed in this article represent the author's own opinions or understandings. All content published on this website are copyrighted by Minghui.org. Minghui will produce compilations of its online content regularly and on special occasions.
