(Minghui.org) I was upset recently because my mother, who is also a Falun Dafa practitioner, has been very ill. I was deeply concerned about her. My feelings reflected my attachments to family as well as my incorrect understanding of sickness karma and being treated in a hospital.
I was even confused for a while, wondering, "Can a cultivator not yet at a high level be healed by doctors? Would the illness become worse if he or she refuses to go to the hospital because of pride? What would happen if he then decided to go to the hospital? Could she then be healed?
I came to a better understanding after reading Master's teachings about sickness karma and sharing my concerns with fellow practitioners. I realized that my thoughts and worries were based on human notions. Looking back, I am feel ashamed for thinking this way.
Master said:
“Cultivation needs to have a goal. Cultivating to a high level depends on the vow you made along with the level you’re able to cultivate to; Master arranges it for you accordingly. It’s all scientific. If you’re a piece of steel, it won’t work to arrange things for you as a piece of iron. If you’re able to cultivate to Bodhisattva Attainment Status, arranging for you to reach Arhat Attainment Status won’t do, either. Everything is gauged accurately—when it’s gauged from up there, there aren’t any mistakes.” (“Explaining the Fa for Falun Dafa Assistants in Changchun” in Explaining the Content of Falun Dafa).
From this teaching, I realized that everything is arranged by Master, starting from the first day of our cultivation: every test and tribulation, each step on our cultivation path, what level we can reach, and when we can reach it. Every detail has been meticulously arranged by Master and is under his control. All we need to do is to listen to Master and do the three things well. As long as we can do this, we will be able to pass all the tests, although sometimes we will have temporary setbacks.
As long as we walk solidly on our cultivation path, we don't need to worry. If we bravely follow Master and let him arrange everything for us, what is there to be afraid of? There is no need to worry. When I think of the concerns that I had before, I see how ridiculous my human notions were.
There is another factor that made me have unrighteous thoughts regarding a cultivator's sickness karma. And that is the influence of modern science and medicine, which encourages us to discard our belief in gods more and more.
Modern medicine treats the human body like a machine, with parts that can be repaired. But this understanding is too shallow. Even traditional Chinese medicine is more profound than modern medicine, although it is also at the level of ordinary society.
My blind belief in modern science and medicine solidified over many years and became a very dense barrier that cut me off from correct understandings about sickness karma.
I realized that I should use my righteous thoughts to break through this barrier, that I should abandon my human notions and see the essence of the problem from the profound understanding of a cultivator.
Before I started to practice, I was very protective of my life. I always got alarmed whenever I felt unwell, worrying if I had some ailment or other. During my 19 years of cultivation, I did not completely get rid off this attachment. This past year, I was often worried about something growing in my belly. I knew that it is wrong to have this negative thought, but I was stuck in that state for a long time.
I gradually developed righteous thoughts recently when I come to new understanding of sickness karma. Master said:
“...it is because you are a cultivator that you experienced that, and since you are a cultivator, those things—whether they seem positive or negative—are all good. (Enthusiastic applause) That’s because they were put in place for you so that you can improve yourself on your cultivation path.” (“Fa Teaching Given at the 2014 San Francisco Fa Conference”)
The old forces try to take advantage of our loopholes and persecute us. So, we need to deny the persecution with our righteous thoughts. We should treat sickness karma as an opportunity to improve ourselves, and we will do that if we get rid of our loopholes.
As Dafa disciples during the Fa-rectification period, we shouldn't be afraid of sickness karma. Master has told us, “The ancients have a saying, 'Having heard the Dao in the morning, one can die in the evening.'” (“Melt into the Fa” in Essentials for Further Advancement). We have learned about the truth of the universe and try to assimilate to the Fa. When we melt into the Fa, everything of ours will be rectified.
We are so fortunate to be Dafa disciples. Facing sickness karma, if we can use our righteous thoughts, then nothing can be an obstacle on our cultivation journey.
These are my understandings of sickness karma. Please correct me if anything is incorrect.
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Category: Improving Oneself
