(Minghui.org) Since the persecution of Falun Dafa began, all kinds of prophecies have been circulating about the end time for the persecution. Be it seen by people’s celestial vision or predicted by someone, from history to present, these prophecies were countless. But none of them can correctly predict the major events of when the Chinese Communist Party will disintegrate or when the persecution will end.
Master told us,
“I've said that many prophecies aren't accurate in their depiction of the final times; they were plenty accurate about the course of things along the way, but they're off the mark toward the end. The reason is, even though our cosmic system is immense beyond compare, the concept of the multitude of cosmic bodies along with the incalculable number of beings that I've talked about, they're all within this system. And this persecution that the old-being-formed forces arranged to ‘test’ Dafa disciples, along with the specific reasons that the old forces came about, the Fa-rectification itself, the beings to be saved, and so on, they're all within this [system's] scope. But this enormous cosmos of ours, no matter how big it is, it's not the only thing there is in the cosmos; there are factors beyond this cosmos, and those factors all have to do with the fundamental issue of whether or not the cosmos can exist. Those factors are even more microcosmic, and all of the changes [that have unfolded] have been caused by those enormous factors being affected in the Fa-rectification.” (“Teaching the Fa on Easter, 2004, at the New York Fa Conference,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. VI)
When we clarify the truth to people, we can still talk about our understanding of when the CCP will collapse, so as to persuade people to quit the CCP. But this should not replace clarifying the truth to people. Those prophecies are actually meaningless to Dafa disciples because the end time must remain a mystery in our cultivation path and can’t be revealed.
When Master deciphered the last three stanzas of the “Plum Blossom Poem,” he showed us that the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the Tiananmen massacre, and the spread of Dafa were accurately predicted, which boosted our confidence in cultivation. However, the various wrong predictions during the past two decades served as a kind of test of cultivators’ attachments.
In fact, we have learned these lessons. But if another prophecy comes out some day, will we still be interested in it? Will we still be moved by it? In my opinion, Dafa disciples should show absolutely no interest in any future prophecies.
During earlier years of the persecution, practitioners’ obsession with the CCP’s then leader, the CCP’s conferences, and the 2008 Olympics caused considerable losses. Many practitioners predicted that the 2008 Olympic Games would not happen and the Olympic Stadium would collapse. Many practitioners blindly believed in some practitioners’ celestial visions. Our local practitioners suffered the most severe persecution in 2008. If some practitioners still cling to these kinds of prophecies today, will the old forces leave them alone?
Master said in 2001:
“The number of us who’ll reach Consummation is, as I see it, far from enough. I had originally planned to have at least fifty million—I’ve never told you this before. (Applause) Right now we don’t have enough. But we do have a pretty large number already. No matter what, though, as a cultivator, you shouldn’t get too happy about anything you hear. Maybe what Master just said is itself a test for you.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Washington, D.C. International Fa Conference,” Guiding the Voyage)
Master said again in 2015:
“In the end how many people will be able to come through, and how many people will truly be able to meet the standard for a Dafa disciple’s consummation? Sometimes I’m really not optimistic.” (“Fa Teaching at the 2015 West Coast Fa Conference”)
Those who can reach the end of the divine path are the true gold. Master talked about the number of Dafa practitioners who could reach consummation in 2001 was “at least fifty million.” He then said that he was “really not optimistic” in 2015. Master hopes that both new and veteran practitioners can reach consummation. It would be sad if we disciples did not focus on our own mission but became attached to this or that, then failed to reach consummation in the end.
Master told us that a person with great inborn quality “should also be able to endure the toughest hardships of all.” (Lecture Nine, Zhuan Falun). Isn’t the CCP's persecution a kind of toughest hardships of all? Isn’t the long-lasting persecution a test? Have these years of torment provided the conditions for our consummation? Shouldn't we strive forward, facing the hardships? Can reading prophecies improve our character or save people?
In 2015, Master said,
“In the past people talked about certain cultivators meditating facing a wall for nine years or their entire lives and enduring suffering all alone. Practicing in monasteries, mountains or forests, cut off from the ordinary world, and going through years of toil and suffering—how lonely would that be? But that is not the approach you are to take. And yet some people still loathe how long it’s taking. Yet in all of history no one has ever cultivated for only such a short time. But these people have allowed themselves to grow lax...” (“Fa Teaching at the 2015 West Coast Fa Conference”)
Human beings today have gone through the many cycles of reincarnations. There is hardly anyone who has not killed a life in one’s previous life, and some Dafa practitioners have killed many people throughout history. If a person were to practice in a regular cultivation school, he would have to pay his life back before he could pursue cultivation, and it would take many lifetimes to achieve it. If one follows a deviant path, it is even more hopeless. That was the way in the past. They could not obtain Dafa of the universe. Isn’t it hard or difficult for them? In that sense, the cultivation of Dafa disciples in this life is not long at all and no other schools are faster.
Moreover, a practitioner who is solid in his cultivation will not predict anything or be attached to any prophecies. If we are still interested in prophecies, it is likely an indication of our own attachments.
I was also obsessed with political changes a few years ago. I got quite excited when I saw a bit of good news. I also wrote a sharing to remind other practitioners about the behaviors, with attachment to the end time. Now think about it, I did not completely let go of my attachment with time even though I did not talk about it. I feel that I have really let go of it completely now, and I don’t even read the various prophecies about the future, because I no longer find them interesting. Our self-improvement has nothing to do with them. Clarifying the truth to people is the righteous path to go and would truly save people.
[Editor’s note: This article only represents the author’s current understanding meant for sharing among practitioners so that we can “Compare with one another in study, in cultivation.” (“Solid Cultivation,” Hong Yin)]
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Category: Improving Oneself
