(Minghui.org) A local practitioner was recently arrested by the police, and was interrogated and cruelly tortured. He couldn't take it, and told the police my name. The police subsequently attempted to arrest me. Thanks to Master's protection, they eventually gave up. I want to share with you how this experience showed me the importance of looking inward and correcting ourselves.
As soon I heard that John was arrested, I began to study the Fa and send forth righteous thoughts. I examined myself to see where my fault was. I knew I still had many attachments to eliminate, including jealousy, lust, fear, and attachments to showing off and validating myself. I tried to cover up my mistakes, and knew that I was still attached to emotion and taking care of my personal interests. I often say that I have all the attachments that other practitioners have, and more.
I asked myself if there were any attachments that I noticed in my relationship with John. Looking back over the past ten years, I realized that we helped each other and worked very well together. One time when the police were breaking into my home I jumped off the building and managed to escape. My foot was injured, but I couldn't go back home. John and his wife let me stay at their home, and took good care of me. Even though I reimbursed them, I could not thank them enough for their selfless help during my difficult time. I was always grateful to them. When John's wife was arrested and imprisoned, I did all I could to help rescue her.
After his arrest, when I looked back, I noticed that I had a strong attachment to sentiment when I interacted with John.
Practitioners in our area talked with John's family. His family was able to have strong righteous thoughts about what happened, and went to local detention centers, police departments, and brainwashing centers to tell them that they were being used to illegally persecute practitioners. The local practitioners posted and distributed truth clarification materials, made phone calls, and established a case with the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong. We coordinated well with each other and worked as a team.
The Domestic Security Division called John's family two months later, and said that he would be released in a few days. However, when his family went to pick him up that day, they refused to release him, and said that the upper administration had not approved it.
The next day, local police came to my home and tried to arrest me. I was nervous at first, but I quickly calmed down, and sent forth strong, righteous thoughts, thinking, “I don't recognize any of the old forces arrangements. The only path I walk is the one arranged by Master!” Suddenly, the situation changed dramatically. They decided not to take me away. It was a miracle!
Master has taught us,
“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,” from Teaching the Fa at the Conference VII)
I know that Master helped me pass this test. However, I still had many problems, and I couldn't identify why they were happening. With help from fellow practitioners, I looked further inward and found my attachment to upholding my reputation. Driven by my gratitude to John, I took advantage of my position to save him some money on a truth-clarification project. I was actually establishing a reputation for myself and expanding the attachment to sentiment between John and myself.
Two days after I identified and eliminated these attachments, John was released.
Because I hadn't solidly cultivated myself, I had to learn my lesson the hard way. The root of my problem was my failure to study the Fa well. Even though I studied the Fa I did not proactively looking inward and try to eliminate my attachments until they brought a huge tribulation upon my fellow practitioner. I have let down both Master and my fellow practitioner. I'm determined to sincerely study the Fa and cultivate myself well from now on.
Thank you, Master! Thank you, fellow practitioners!
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Category: Improving Oneself
