(Minghui.org) When Falun Dafa was first introduced, and we were in the early stages of personal cultivation, most practitioners were able to firmly walk through sickness tests guided by the teachings. These tests simply eliminated karma, improved xinxing, and were arranged by Master Li (Dafa’s founder) to improve practitioners’ cultivation level. If one understood what was happening it quickly passed. When personal cultivation transitioned into Fa-rectification cultivation, the sickness karma tests changed. Why? The sickness not only eliminated practitioners’ remaining karma so they would improve their cultivation level but also involved interference from the old forces.
One practitioner said, “I don’t recognize the old forces’ arrangement or the so-called trials. This tribulation has nothing to do with my cultivation. As long as I have righteous thoughts and actions, I can ignore its existence, and I don’t need to look inward during tribulations.” On the surface, it sounded as if the practitioner had pretty good enlightenment. But, I think it is completely wrong to say that the manifestation of sickness has nothing to do with cultivation and that there is no need to look inward. The old forces exploited the loophole claiming practitioners still have attachments, so they forcibly inserted tribulations into the cultivation path that Master arranged. This caused practitioners to suddenly appear in a state of serious illness, and some even lost their lives.
Master said,
“From the day that a Dafa disciple takes up cultivation his whole life is rearranged. In other words, this life of yours is now the life of a cultivator. Nothing is by chance anymore, and nothing will happen just by chance. Everything on your life’s journey is directly related to your improvement and cultivation.” (Teachings at the Conference in Los Angeles)
We are following the path of cultivation arranged by Master, but the old forces are forcing their arrangements on us. What we don’t recognize is precisely the part they imposed. But we have what Master said on this issue to guide us. Looking inward and getting rid of attachments in the midst of tribulations is not acknowledging the old forces’ arrangements, but is instead following the requirements of Dafa and rectifying ourselves on the path of cultivation arranged by Master. This is precisely what we should do first and foremost when facing tribulations. So, if the appearance of sickness lingers there must be some things that we need to improve on, even though it may be some small aspect that we’ve overlooked or that we are not aware of.
When one suddenly faces a serious state of sickness karma, if one is not clear on the Fa, he or she may treat it as the general elimination of karma at the stage of personal cultivation, thinking that it is a good thing and that we do not need to take it too seriously because it will always pass. This kind of passive bearing is acknowledging the old forces and will prolong how long the sickness lasts.
Over time, practitioners may realize that the persecution imposed by the old forces should not be passively endured. However, because they could not find where their omissions lie, their xinxing didn’t improve during the tribulation, and they didn’t focus on studying the Fa, doing the exercises, or sending righteous thoughts. Instead, they stay in bed like ordinary people recovering from illness, waiting for their families to bring them food and water.
Some even consult doctors or undergo physical therapy, or massage, to alleviate the pain. In fact, their righteous thoughts were not strong, and the appearance of being ill lingers. There are also those who lack righteous thoughts, coupled with the interference of family affection, and are taken to the hospital by their non-practicing family members, and left at the doctor's machinations using various medical treatments.
Most of those in tribulations and fellow practitioners who help them ask Master to bless them to pass the ordeal, or to lessen their karma to reduce the difficulty of passing the test, or some other issue.
I realized that there is no other way for practitioners to face difficulties. We can only use strong righteous thoughts to break through. There are so many miraculous stories about how to achieve righteous thoughts and righteous actions in the experience of sharing articles on the Minghui website over the years, so I won’t repeat them here due to space limitations.
The above are my recent thoughts and ideas after reading the teachings that I’d like to share with fellow practitioners.
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Category: Improving Oneself
