(Minghui.org) After reading an experience sharing article about Master suffering on behalf of Dafa practitioners, I would like to share my own understanding.
A fellow practitioner with the ability to see things in other dimensions, mentioned various situations in which Master suffers for practitioners. As Dafa disciples, we should understand how much Master suffers and sacrifices for us.
In a Minghui Editor's article, “Editorial: Our Compassionate and Venerable Master” (http://en.minghui.org/emh/articles/2000/7/19/7647.html), I noticed in a paragraph the following: “In the face of this kind of vicious and dangerous situation, Master gathered together all of this karma and the huge physical elements composed of evil. Master used his own body to bear them, and, at the same time, to destroy these huge evil elements. Because these evil beings had gathered such an enormous amount of karma and venomous elements, it took Master nine months to destroy it using his powerful energy potency. However, because the evil elements and the karma were so immense, they also caused serious damage to Master's body. Master's hair has turned gray; this is something we can see. As for the other harm that has been done to Master's body, Master doesn't mention it out of concern that it would cause his students to have hatred toward the evil beings and subsequently affect the students' cultivation. Such a compassionate and venerable Master -- in the course of rectification of the Fa, Master has exhausted everything for sentient beings.”
Master said in Zhuan Falun:
“My fashen will protect you until you are able to protect yourself. At that time, you will practice cultivation in Beyond-Triple-World-Fa, and you will have already achieved the Tao. But you must treat yourself as a true practitioner, and then you can make it.”
Master said in “Fa-Rectification Period Dafa Disciples”:
“If everything in history were not borne for you, it would be fundamentally impossible for you to do cultivation practice; if everything were not borne for sentient beings in the cosmos, they would disintegrate with the passing of history; if everything were not borne for the people of the world, they would not have the opportunity to still live in this world today.” (Essentials for Further Advancement II)
The following is my personal understanding. During the Fa-rectification period, Master has suffered a lot for Dafa disciples. He has endured their karma on top of the interference of different kinds from the old forces. Without Master suffering for us, it would be incredibly difficult or even impossible for many practitioners to overcome their obstacles. Those who have been through vicious persecution will understand this more deeply.
A few years ago, practitioners had discussions about “Who suffers to pay off karma?” At that time, some fellow practitioners often wrote in their articles that “Master suffers for me.” An example can be found in an experience sharing article written by a commander of the armed forces. The author shared: “When evil police beat me brutally, I did not feel badly hurt, so I knew that Master suffered for me.” I personally think that I should not correct or disbelieve the understanding of fellow practitioners, because under some specific circumstances, maybe they were right. Yet in some of the articles, I detected some hidden attachments and notions regarding the concept of “Master suffers for me.” It seems to be a logical and natural statement. However, I think this thought renders oneself prone to the attachment to the feeling of relief from difficulties, along with the feeling of assurance and joy for receiving special treatment. The attachment to “self” seems dominant when expressing “self's” understanding of “it is Master who suffered for me.” Is our understanding limited to the words: “When evil beings beat me, I don't feel pain, because Master suffers for me”? Do we think because Master is omnipotent, Master doesn't feel the pain when suffering for us? Should Dafa disciples take for granted that Master is suffering for us? Shouldn't we feel humbled by this, rather than pleased?
Practitioners are aware that Master does not recognize the existence of the old forces. However, even though many practitioners say that they do not acknowledge the old forces, when facing real cultivation difficulties and sicknesses, their actual words and deeds often acknowledge the old forces. We should abandon such human thinking and cultivate ourselves in order to be like guardians and warriors of a Buddha.
Master said:
“If upon encountering trying circumstances your thinking can be truly righteous, then, when faced with the evil’s persecution and when faced with interference, just one sentence of yours fortified with steadfast righteous thoughts can instantly make the evil disintegrate (applause), and it will make those who are being used by the evil turn and flee, it will make the evil’s persecution of you dissolve, and it will make the evil’s interfering with you disappear without a trace. One thought born of righteous faith is all it takes.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Western U.S. International Fa Conference”)
We should be determined to cultivate ourselves well so that Master will not worry or suffer for us.
Fellow practitioners, please kindly anything incorrect in my understanding.