(Minghui.org) Just as I finished typing the words, “By a Falun Dafa practitioner from China,” my heart trembled. “Yes, I'm a Dafa practitioner in Mainland China. This is what my vow entails: assisting Master to rectify the Fa and save sentient beings in China. How can I casually change my vow now, and leave China? How is that any different from not keeping one's promises?”
I have seen quite a few sharing articles on the issue of practitioners leaving China. I would also like to contribute my thoughts on the topic.
I'm an English teacher. My daughter has been living in a developed country for many years and obtained permanent residence there. Prior to that she was an asylum seeker, so she hasn't been back to China for years.
As I live alone, family and friends suggested that I go and join my daughter abroad. They became especially insistent after I was illegally sentenced for practicing Falun Dafa and was severely persecuted several years ago.
I tried to leave the country once before, but my passport application was denied by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). My family then wanted me to try to use my connections to get a passport. They also told me that since I knew English, it would be easy for me to get asylum and stay in a developed country.
Some practitioners in China also told me to leave as soon as possible and find a safe place to cultivate with my daughter. I was also urged to go where a number of Dafa practitioners live outside of China.
I was tempted to leave because of the better living conditions in developed countries. I thought about obtaining a certificate to teach Chinese, in case I needed an income while abroad. Such thoughts mainly emerged when I was burdened with human attachments, fear, or conflicts with local practitioners, and when I refused to look within.
Just as I was considering leaving China, I was arrested and detained for more than 10 days. However, I rectified my thoughts through Fa study, and realized that the main goal of our coming to the human world is not for comfort, but to fulfill our vows.
Master said:
“Cultivation is different for Dafa disciples inside and outside of China.”
“The cultivating and clarifying of the truth that mainland China students are doing amidst ordeals and terrifying pressure, that is something that you decided upon in history and what you wanted at that time. In addition, this was made possible by many predestined elements, so it had to be done this way.” (“2012 International Fa Conference at the U.S. Capital”)
Master also mentioned in “Fa Teaching at the 2009 Greater New York International Fa Conference:”
“If you did not honor your original vow or do as the Lord Creator required, then you would not have completed what you were supposed to do and would have in effect deceived the Lord. Since you would have thus brought losses to your local area's situation at that time, to the progress of Fa-rectification, and to the sentient beings that were thus not saved, and you would have thus brought damage or ruin to different levels of the cosmos, you would be held accountable.”
I realized that the reason I am a Dafa practitioner in China is that I made such a vow when I followed Master to come to this world. This was my own choice.
China is the main battlefield of Master's Fa-rectification. Sentient beings there compose of the majority of those whom we need to save. Master has told us that kings in different historical periods have all reincarnated in China. If we all leave the main battlefield, who will be left to save them?
We can also save sentient beings outside of China, but if we don't know the language very well or have to rely on others to drive us to tourist sites to clarify the facts, how can we truly help save the sentient beings there?
I know that some practitioners have been relying on their families in China to mail clothes and supplies to them, because the language barrier makes it difficult for them to buy what they need in their adopted countries.
Of course, some practitioners have left China to fulfill the needs of Fa-rectification. To join Shen Yun Performing Arts for example. However, if leaving China is not motivated by filling a need in one of the overseas projects, then isn't leaving China our trying to arrange our own cultivation path? Isn't this potentially disturbing the path Master arranged for us?
A practitioner urged me to leave China again one night recently. She told me that I have a lot of skills that others don't and that I could practice Falun Dafa with my daughter.
I responded by saying, “My daughter's diligence in cultivation has nothing to do with my presence; it's up to her. I have often shared online with her and urged her to study the Fa and join Dafa projects. The reason for my leaving China shouldn't be for my daughter or my safety. That would be selfish!”
“We are Dafa practitioners in China. If we all leave, how can we create a better cultivation environment here, in our local area? If we all leave won't our work exposing the CCP's crimes be affected?”
It was 7:55 p.m. as I finished saying this to the practitioner, so we sent forth righteous thoughts. Through my third eye I saw magnificent scenes that were beyond what any words could describe. I have seen such scenes before when I made important progress in my cultivation, such as when I refused to do forced labor or when I went on hunger strikes to resist the persecution.
I knew that Master was encouraging me. But why? After I finished sending forth righteous thoughts, I realized that my understanding on the issue of leaving China was based on my righteous thoughts, so I obtained encouragement from Master.
I have taken part in seven Dafa projects in my local area in the past several months. If I left China, wouldn't these projects have been affected?
When we step out of our homes each day, Chinese people are everywhere. Will it be so convenient for us to meet that many Chinese overseas and talk to them about Falun Dafa and the persecution?
I hope that we practitioners in China will view the issue of leaving China with righteous thoughts, use the standards of Fa-rectification to evaluate our thoughts, and fulfill our vows.
My sharing is limited by my current cultivation level. Please kindly point out anything inappropriate.
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Category: Improving Oneself
