(Minghui.org) During the 22 years I have practiced Falun Dafa, I have experienced sickness karma, conflicts with other people, as well as other kinds of tribulations that many cultivators face on and off while cultivating.
Master said,
“Dafa requires both cultivation and exercises, with cultivation taking priority over the exercises.” (Chapter I, The Great Way of Spiritual Perfection)
Cultivation is serious. We can only pass tribulations by cultivating ourselves solidly and holding righteous thoughts.
I recently went through sickness karma three times in one month. It occurred quickly and suddenly. When sharing this with practitioners at the Fa study group, one practitioner said that if I did not find my fundamental attachment, I would likely face more tribulations – they would come endlessly in different forms.
I wanted to share with you how I went through these three illness karma incidents. I hope my experiences and lessons will be helpful.
The First Sickness Karma
I suddenly came down with a high fever, which lasted two days. Within those two days, I lost about six pounds. I continued to do the three things, but my mind was unstable. A thought came to my mind, “You are going to die.” But I immediately remembered that I was a Dafa practitioner. I told myself, “I have Master and the Fa. Master is taking care of me. I don’t acknowledge any arrangement made by others.”
I remembered what Master had said:
“Some disciples said: “What’s there to fear? My body would still sit there even with my head cut off. (“Huge Exposure,” Essentials for Further Advancement)
I thought, “Compared to those practitioners that Master mentioned – What am I afraid of?”
I could not sleep the next day because of the high fever, so I did the sitting meditation instead. However, I could not calm down. The same thought came to my mind again, “You are dying.”
I apologized to Master in my heart. I said to Master, “I was so lucky to be a Dafa disciple. However, I did not do well. I felt guilty about Master’s compassion. Master has borne so much karmic debt for me, but I would hurt Dafa’s reputation if I did not do well this time.” I felt I was truly an unworthy disciple as I kept letting Master down.”
In the past, when I encountered life and death tests that I could not overcome, I said, “Master, please help me!” But this time, I did not want to ask for Master’s help, as Master has already done so much for me.
Master said,
“Swift like lightning, soaring to cosmic heightsMighty like a thunderbolt, reaching beyond heavensSweeping across the cosmos, no place untouchedEliminating altogether all that’s decayed and deviant”(“Righteous Thoughts,” Hong Yin IV)
I kept reciting this poem, but don’t remember how many times I recited it. But the thought of “you are going to die” changed to “you are saved.” With the change of this thought, I no longer had a fever. And it was as if nothing happened.
Master said,
“...When disciples have ample righteous thoughtsMaster has the power to turn back the tide”(“The Master-Disciple Bond,” Hong Yin II)
The great power of the Fa manifested in me again. Tears came to my eyes. Master saved me again!
The Second Sickness Karma
One day after I made calls to China on the RTC platform I felt dizzy. My vision became blurry when I was about to stand up. I thought, “I have Master, and I have the Fa, and no other being is allowed to persecute me.”
I immediately sent forth a powerful righteous thought, “My eyes are mine. Give the vision back to me. I want to walk. No one has the right to persecute me.” With this thought, I stood up and walked forward. The power of Dafa was once again revealed. I was able to walk and my vision came back. I was so moved I burst into tears. Thank you, Master! Thank you, Dafa!
The Third Sickness Karma
A practitioner had severe sickness karma for some time. I cared about her very much and often called her. She was not getting better. She said her pain was so severe that she felt that her body was being torn apart by the pain. I felt sorry for her every time I heard this.
I shared my understanding with her. She knew why this happened. She said that she didn’t have strong enough righteous thoughts, and could not break through it. I felt sympathy for her. I was moved and her suffering affected me, which was taken advantage of by the old forces.
I suddenly had similar symptoms as what the practitioner described. I had sharp pains in my hip and couldn’t sit. My right knee was swollen. My legs felt like they weighed a thousand pounds, and I kept breaking into a cold sweat with every step.
I thought to myself, “How did this happen?” I was still thinking about my fellow practitioner’s suffering. I felt no wonder she used the word “tearing” to describe her pain. I didn’t realize that I had acknowledged her pain subconsciously, and came to feel it too.
I realized that I had to look inward. Why did I go through three sickness karma incidents in one month? What exactly was my problem? I must have big loopholes which invited persecution by the old forces.
A thought came to my mind when I was about to go to bed that night, “I should not treat this practitioner with sentimentality. I should care about her but not feel for her. I invited the tribulations because I wanted to feel her pain. I acknowledged her pain, and I acknowledged the persecution of her.”
My mind became clear right away. I eliminated and denied the interference with righteous thoughts, and I recited the Fa. Suddenly, all the pain was gone. It was amazing.
I am grateful to Master for watching over us all the time. I am also grateful to my fellow practitioners for reminding me of what righteous thoughts mean for a practitioner. Previously, my first thought upon facing tribulations was to ask Master for help. I have now learned to look inward first. I also studied the Fa more and recited the Fa more. I did the three things well and measured myself against the Fa.
We should eliminate all attachments and human notions that come up in cultivation. We should not acknowledge the interference arranged by the old forces, and make up excuses. All those who have persecuted Dafa are destroying themselves. It is because we have missions to assist Master to rectify the Fa and save people.
After realizing this, I called the practitioner and shared my understanding with her. I told her to deny the feeling of the pain – and not acknowledge it.
We have such a great Master and such a great Dafa, so what are we afraid of? As long as our faith in the Master and the Fa remains firm, we can break through any barriers.
I’d like to close with Master’s teaching:
“Pause for a moment of self-reflection,and increase your righteous thoughtsThoroughly analyze your shortcomings,and progress with renewed diligence”(“Rational and Awake,” Hong Yin II)
Views expressed in this article represent the author's own opinions or understandings. All content published on this website are copyrighted by Minghui.org. Minghui will produce compilations of its online content regularly and on special occasions.
Category: Improving Oneself
