(Minghui.org) We all have "hardships." Hardships can be divided into two groups, physical and mental. Let's first discuss physical hardships. Humans are made of flesh cells, and as a result they are unable to see the truth of the universe beyond their current levels. Hence the saying, “Humans are lost in a maze.” So this physical body does not like being cold, hot, thirsty, hungry or in pain, etc. The physical body can cause many hardships.
Mental hardships are caused by one's notions formed in the human dimension. While living in the human world, people develop many attachments, such as to fame, benefits, sentimentality, etc. This leads people to feeling very good about themselves and better than others, if they are doing well in these regards. But if someone is not doing well, they feel that life is unfair. They feel sad and miserable, and sometimes even angry.
When someone is in pursuit of fame or sentimentality, it is inevitable that others will be harmed, which generates karma. Higher lives utilize the hardships to pay back one's debts. Every hardship and tribulation is the result of cause and effect, or karmic retribution.
As a Falun Dafa practitioner cultivating in the human world, one eliminates karma through these hardships as well. One should use the Fa as the standard to measure up, and to improve one's xinxing and level. How do cultivators handle the physical and mental hardships? My understanding at my level is as follows:
During cultivation, one wants to improve and elevate. Enduring physical hardships can also improve and eliminate karma. But it is limited. Master taught us in Zhuan Falun:
“One’s gong level is as high as one’s xinxing level, and this is an absolute truth.”
Cultivators should mainly pay attention to their xinxing elevation, improving through enduring mental hardships.
Master mentioned in Zhuan Falun:
“Our school of practice does not proceed primarily this way, though a part of it also plays a role in this regard. In most cases, one transforms karma through xinxing conflicts among one another, and this is where it manifests itself. While one is in a conflict, the clashes between each other even surpass the physical pains. I would say that the physical pains are the easiest thing to endure, as they can be overcome by biting the teeth tightly. When a conflict takes place between one another, the mind is the hardest thing to control.”
Mental hardship is caused by one's notions. Humans live in a maze, and cannot see the truth of the universe. Fame, power, and sentimentality are viewed as necessary and something that they cannot live without. These notions can then cause endless mental anguish when lost, and the person can feel defeated.
Why did the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) use “ruin one's reputation” in all its various campaigns persecuting sentient beings? Because it knew what humans attach themselves to, and it can persecute people through their attachments. The CCP also used the same tactics in persecuting Dafa. Despite the overwhelming campaign against Falun Dafa, and attempts to frame, discredit, and ruin practitioners, it could not. Why is this? Because what practitioners cultivate is the law of the universe. They give up the attachments to fame, benefit, and sentimentality, and assimilate themselves to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
On the contrary, a non-cultivator is attached to fame, benefits, and sentimentality. These are his foundation, and if others frame, discredit, ruin his reputation, or completely strip him of his fame and other benefits, he will feel defeated, ruined by his own attachments.
Master directly told us to give up the attachments to fame, benefits, and sentimentality in Zhuan Falun:
“To tell you the truth, the entire cultivation process for a practitioner is one of constantly giving up human attachments.”
When a cultivator has no attachments, the evil cannot move him. In history, numerous enlightened beings in a righteous cultivation all went through countless trials and tribulations, established their mighty virtue through the process, and reached their fruit status.
The CCP has tried to ruin the reputation of Falun Dafa practitioners for 15 years. Facing the most brutal trials and tribulations, those who can let go of the attachments are able to break through these huge tests, utilize well this rare cultivation environment, and establish their mighty virtue.
What is hardship? It is human feeling, and it is caused by human attachments. When cultivators are able to let go of the human heart, they free themselves from hardship, extract themselves from trials and tribulations, and are indeed beyond the “abyss of misery.”