(Minghui.org) Ever since the persecution of Falun Gong began, I had been haunted by an uncontrollable fear of being arrested and detained. As a result, I lagged behind in my cultivation and was afraid of going out to tell people what Falun Gong was really about and how the regime was violating practitioners' basic human rights.
The past few years in particular saw me paralyzed by such fear, and numerous times I woke up from the same nightmare in which I was chased by ferocious animals.
Only recently did I come to the realization that "my" fear was indeed an arrangement by the old forces and was nothing Master wanted for me. Since the “fear” was not me, why did I have to submit to its control? This new understanding finally helped me break free from the shackles of fear.
In the meantime, fellow practitioners' experience sharing articles published on Minghui further strengthened my righteous belief in Master and Dafa.
Only what Master says counts in this universe, and I will not recognize anything not arranged for me by Master. I have no doubt that there is no place for fear in my cultivation.
A recurring nightmare
I got lost in a vast wilderness and had to feel my way around in the darkness. I almost fell into a ditch, so I turned around, only to be startled by all kinds of gigantic, ferocious creatures that looked like tigers and lions in the human world but were much faster and more aggressive.
I had this dream over and over again during the past few years. I knew that it was my fear at work, but somehow just couldn't make any breakthroughs. I felt extremely frustrated as a result.
A renewed understanding of Master's teaching
I decided to read Dafa books more often to lessen my fear. One day I came across the following passage of the Fa:
“Even each Dafa disciple's every move, every action, every word, and even the questions you ponder, none of it is that simple. In the future you'll see that everything was very carefully arranged. But it's not me who arranged this, it's the old forces who did.” ("Fa-Lecture at the Conference in Florida, U.S.A.")
I had a renewed understanding that if the old forces could arrange every move, every action, every word and even every thought of ours, then such arrangements could eventually develop into whatever thoughts, notions, and attachments the old forces intended for us to have.
It suddenly dawned on me that I was never a brave person to begin with. If so, such inborn quality of mine must have come from my previous lives and it must be the arrangement by the old forces.
I came to see that the stubborn fear that bothered me for so long was indeed a huge tribulation set up by the old forces.
Master said, “Fear is a death trap on a human being's journey toward divinity.” (“Pass the Deadly Test”) I knew I must break free from such fear; otherwise there was no way for me to elevate my cultivation levels.
Inspiration from experience sharing articles
In addition to more intensive Fa-study, I also read many experience sharing articles published on the Minghui website during the past two years.
I was often moved by my fellow practitioners' stories recounting their plights and reaffirming their steadfast faith in Master and Dafa. I was amazed that such articles kept appearing on Minghui and seemed endless, which displayed practitioners' unwavering efforts in ending the persecution. I felt the greatness of Dafa disciples and was immensely grateful to Master for allowing us to have a website like Minghui so that we could encourage each other.
These experience sharing articles also helped me better understand what it really means to validate Dafa. One recent article in particular greatly inspired me.
The author talked about how her righteous belief in Master froze the two guards interrogating her and got her released the very next day. When the guards threatened to teach her a lesson by torturing her, she suddenly had a clear thought that nobody could touch her since she was surrounded by Falun and mechanisms installed by Master.
The guards suddenly softened their attitude but still insisted she provide information about her fellow practitioners. She just replied with one sentence, “I'll cultivate Falun Dafa to the very end.” As soon as she said that, the guards quickly stood up and said, “We just can't handle her anymore. Let's get her out of here.” She was set free the very next day.
I was deeply touched by her experience, because it reinforced the following quote:
“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. And whoever can hold firm that righteous thought and go the distance will become a magnificent god forged by Dafa. (Long applause) ” (“Teaching the Fa at the Western U.S. International Fa Conference”)
In the past I had read the above passage of the Fa many times yet never had a good grasp of its meaning. That practitioner's experience, however, enabled me to gain a deeper comprehension of this Fa-teaching. I no longer had any doubts about the power of righteous thoughts.
After that I made sure to recite this specific passage of the Fa several times every day. As time went by, my fear became less and less.
A totally different outcome
Not long ago, I had the same dream again but was delighted to see a totally different outcome. When those ferocious creatures charged at me, I was not afraid at all, albeit a bit nervous. I pointed at them and shouted, “Remember that Falun Dafa is good.” They were taken aback but retreated and crouched down. The change in their attitude was written clearly on their faces. I was in awe of Dafa's power!
After I woke up this time, I no longer felt frightened and frustrated like before. Instead, I was clearheaded and filled with joy. The dream was so vivid that I had no doubt that my primordial spirit had indeed traveled to a certain lowly dimension and Master was using those animals to give me a hint to get rid of my fear.
I felt great relief that I finally broke free from my fear.
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