(Clearwisdom.net) I agree very much with the viewpoint presented in the article "'Immediate Retribution in This Lifetime Occurrences on a Large Scale Are an Important Step toward Ending the Persecution" (http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2007/9/21/89732.html) written by a fellow practitioner. However, I would like to add some of my understanding on this issue.

Many practitioners have reservations about focusing retribution on a particular person. This is because they feel that it is a kind of punishment for the evildoer. As a cultivator is still in the maze of things, the interwoven relationships of cause and effect between people are a mystery. They feel that if we give punishment of our own accord, it will be against the teachings of the Fa. This kind of understanding is not wrong during the personal cultivation period; however, during the Fa-rectification period this understanding is not in accordance with the teachings of the Fa.

Firstly, Master does not acknowledge this persecution. Thus, the Fa-rectification period disciples should not be persecuted at all. The old, evil forces are not worthy of testing practitioners. Even if they use the excuse of karmic retribution during the different lifetimes and other relationships of cause and effect, it is not acceptable. Thus, every form of persecution is a sin, a big sin. Furthermore, all those who have participated in the persecution are persecuting the heavenly law of the new cosmos; thus, they should be punished according to the rules.

Secondly, it is not a bad thing that the evildoer is punished. A small punishment is a warning to him. A heavy punishment is a way of letting the evildoer make amends. If the evildoer dies as a result of immediate retribution, it is because his sins are too big. This is the evil fruit that the evildoer has planted for himself. This is because all is measured by the heavenly law. Furthermore, the beings that should really be saved will see this. From this angle, the person who experiences retribution in this current lifetime could be saved as a result.

Lastly, when we send forth righteous thoughts and focus on a particular person (as long as we do not have hatred and vengeance in our hearts and we do not specify what kind of retribution he will get), the evildoer will get the retribution that he deserves. If our purpose is for more people to be saved, then we want the evildoer to experience immediate retribution--and not wait till the last stages as arranged by the old, evil forces. This is a way of not acknowledging the old, evil forces. Moreover, this is in accordance with the principles of Dafa.

This is my personal understanding. If there is anything inappropriate, I would appreciate it if fellow practitioners would point it out.