(Minghui.org) Several practitioners in our area have been suffering from illnesses. One has been very ill for a couple of weeks, another one has been ill for several months, and one has been ill for over two years. It is only recently that I have a clearer understanding of how to negate illnesses imposed by the old forces.
Some practitioners have been calling illnesses imposed by the old forces “tests of illness karma.” When a practitioner successfully negates the illusion of an illness, it is called “passing the test of illness karma.” I believe these phrases are not appropriate.
Suffering an imposed illness is no different from being arrested. It is also a type of persecution that is forced upon Dafa practitioners, only it is more obscure and harder to recognize.
When some practitioners experience physical discomfort, they naturally think of an illness that matches their symptoms. In fact, all these thoughts are imposed by the old forces. If a practitioner cannot recognize that those thoughts are not his or hers and cannot reject them with righteous thoughts, then that person is permitting and accepting the illness imposed by the old forces. One must be able to discern one's own thoughts from external thoughts and inference.
When a practitioner mistakes the imposed thoughts as his/her own, the old forces can then force illness on the practitioner. Master Li Hongzhi said:
“There’s a law in our universe: when it comes to what you seek, nobody is going to intervene. If you want something, nobody is going to intervene.”
“...you know, with people who really do have health problems, 70% of it is psychological and 30% physical.” (The Sixth Talk, Zhuan Falun)
My understanding is that Master can only help us when we have righteous thoughts and our thoughts are on the Fa. When it comes to fending off illnesses, one's righteous thoughts can play a dominant role.
One time, I found a few red pimples on my waist. For three days, it was really itchy and a little painful. I had a thought (imposed by the old forces): “This is shingles that can lead to death. I'd better get some medicine before it gets worse.”
“But, in order to remove your attachments and test whether or not you have what it takes, the old forces cause you to have pain wherever the focal point of your former illness was, or have a relapse, with the symptoms even being the same, all to see whether you believe in Dafa. How are you to handle it when that happens? Human or divine—the difference lies in one thought. If what arises is a righteous thought, and you take the position that all of this is false, that it’s the old forces meddling, and you remind yourself of how long you’ve cultivated Dafa for and that no such thing is possible, if that thought truly comes from within, instantly the problem will vanish.” (Fa Teaching Given at the 2010 New York Fa Conference)
I felt that the old forces were making me think that I had the disease. I recognized that the thought wasn't mine and tried to negate the thought by reciting the Fa. As I kept reciting Master's teachings, I became more steadfast in my faith in Dafa. The next day, the itching went away, and I became zealous. It started to itch again on the third day. I found my attachment of zealotry and was able to completely negate the illness karma imposed on me by the old forces.
My father was infected with scabies in prison. The condition still plagued him after he came home. One time, I stayed with him for four months. We shared some articles for daily use, including washbasin. I repeatedly recited Master's teaching on how to eliminate the false illusion of illness karma. I realized that I had a fear of being infected with scabies.
I understood that my father was being persecuted by the old forces. He did not actually have scabies, but because he believed that he did, the old forces then imposed it on him. I believe that illness karma is not infectious, that it has nothing to do with me. At that time, the thought of “being afraid of being infected” was never mine. I didn't want that thought. Therefore, I was never infected.
The sooner a practitioner negates the persecution by illnesses the better. Because when one suffers illness for a prolonged period of time, one can easily lose confidence, making it harder to negate the old forces. When I was thinking about how to negate the persecution of illness karma, I saw two words on a billboard: “Simple, Efficient.” I believe it was a hint for me.