(Minghui.org) When I returned to my hometown, I noticed several practitioners had symptoms of serious sickness karma, and some even passed away. Most of them diligently did the three things required of us as Dafa cultivators. Other practitioners were a bit confused and couldn’t understand why this was happening. Some thought these practitioners passed away because their predetermined lifespans had come to an end.
I felt very heavy inside, and, apart from feeling sorry for those who left us, I also deeply realized that cultivation is a very serious matter. Through Fa study and reflection, I had some new understandings about the issue that I’d like to share. Please kindly point out anything inappropriate.
Master Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa, said:
“When first stepping in to become a Fa-rectification-period Dafa disciple, every person’s knowing side made a vow to the gods and signed a contract promising with his life to fulfill the historic mission that a Dafa disciple should undertake, so from that moment his life was no longer governed by the Three Realms. And so Master completely removed Dafa disciples’ names from the Three Realms, from the human world, and from the netherworld, including Hell. From that moment, Dafa disciples’ lives were governed by Dafa alone, and they would no longer enter into reincarnation, and even if they had committed sins, they would still not be governed by Hell. Those who cultivate well will achieve consummation and return to their positions in the new cosmos to command their own heavenly kingdoms. Those who fail in cultivation, break their vows, or commit sins against Dafa must honor the promise they made with their lives!” (“Cultivation in Dafa Is Serious”)
Master clearly told us that Falun Dafa practitioners are no longer governed by the Three Realms, but by Dafa alone, so we will not reincarnate. My understanding is that the concept of: “those practitioners passed away because their predetermined lifespan came to an end” does not apply to us. In other words, Master already paved the way for Dafa disciples to cultivate toward godhood. Therefore, as long as we constantly cultivate ourselves, our lifespan will continue to be extended until we achieve consummation.
Looking back over the years, I witnessed incidents around me that demonstrated the extraordinary power of Dafa. For example, I met a practitioner some years ago whose third eye was partially opened. His older sister passed away due to sickness karma. He told me that although she passed away, Master had actually extended her life by three years.
I got to know an 86-year-old practitioner in another town a few years ago who suddenly lost consciousness while experiencing sickness karma. His children took him to the hospital for emergency care. While he was being treated, he felt he was walking around on the ceiling, when suddenly a big hand pushed him down. He reentered his body and took a deep breath. The doctors also breathed a sign of relief. He knew that Master had saved him and extended his life, so he could continue to fulfill his historic mission. He’s now in his 90s and continues to cultivate diligently!
Something miraculous happened to my mother. When she was around 87 years old, she was hospitalized due to heart disease and high blood pressure. She was lying in bed in a semi-conscious state, and we sisters took turns staying with her. We listened to Master’s Fa lectures, and we also put a pair of earphones in her ears, so she could listen to the Fa lectures. Three days later, she told me, “I had a nightmare, in which four people in black clothes came in with a coffin and put it down next to my bed. I was terrified. I stood up and walked out.”
I said, “Mom, don’t be afraid. Master is already taking care of you. Your predetermined lifespan might have come near the end, but because you listened to Master’s Fa lectures, he sees that you have an affinity with Dafa. Master extended your life. Please practice Falun Dafa with us, and you’ll be fine.”
A few days later, my mother was discharged from the hospital and she learned to do the exercises. She also read Zhuan Falun, even though she could only read a few pages a day. She didn’t know much about solid cultivation though. In those days, the persecution of Falun Dafa was still very severe and she was constantly subjected to pain and fear when we sisters were persecuted. Mother passed away when she was 93. Even for someone like her, who was not a diligent practitioner, Master kindly extended her life by six years. I feel I should also take some responsibility for her passing away because I was selfish and only focused on my own things. I didn’t help her much when she was a new practitioner.
As Dafa disciples, we are very fortunate to have Master taking care of us during the Fa-rectification period. Sadly, for various reasons, some Dafa disciples failed to follow Master, and others even failed to validate the Fa, which negatively impacted the salvation of people around them.
We all know that any extension of life given to us is for our cultivation, to fulfill the mission that we vowed to accomplish. We cannot fail to cherish the precious time Master has so compassionately extended for us. We must conduct ourselves by the Fa’s standards, and not behave like everyday people who view things with human thoughts and notions. If we fail to align with the Fa’s principles, the old forces will certainly interfere. They will attempt to lure us into following their arrangements, and try to destroy those they want to weed out with the excuse: “If you aren’t good enough, then you must go.”
I understand from the Fa principles that the tribulations and sickness karma we experience are a way for us to pay back the huge karmic debts we’ve accumulated in our past lives. What we repay is only a tiny bit, as Master has painstakingly borne the bulk of all our karmic debts. What we experience at various stages in our cultivation is to help us transform karma into de, which will then be transformed into gong by Master as we elevate in our levels. As long as we meet the requirements of the Fa, tribulations disappear, regardless of how formidable they might be. This is a unique and great characteristic of Falun Dafa cultivation.
We Should Seriously Examine Ourselves
I’d like to make a few suggestions for practitioners who experience long term sickness karma, especially those who have practiced Falun Dafa for 20 or 30 years. Consider taking a serious look inward, and see if you’ve been taken advantage of by the old forces due to your cultivation loopholes. You may also check to determine if you have failed to understand the Fa principles on the basis of the Fa. Consequently, you may have been lingering at a certain level for too long and cannot make a breakthrough. If you truly let go of human notions and study the Fa rationally, and if you cultivate your xinxing (moral character) solidly, you will surely see improvements.
For example, some practitioners practiced Buddhism for many years. After they began practicing Falun Dafa, they continued to focus on “doing things,” and mistakenly regarded this as cultivation. The hypocrisy and cunning mindset they developed among everyday people hadn’t changed, and they didn’t truly understand what Master said in the poem “Non-Action,”
“The Three Religions stress cultivation with non-actionBut at first improper intention ‘tis with-action;A focus on charitable works is still action,Remove all attachments for true non-action.” (“Non-Action,” Hong Yin)
Some coordinators are quite busy every day, organizing Fa study and truth-clarification work. However, they cannot tolerate any criticism. For example, a practitioner went to a coordinator’s house to discuss some issues with her, and when she saw a cell phone on the bed, she reminded her to put it away for safety. The coordinator said disdainfully, “I’ve never been afraid of anything!”
There are also practitioners who diligently go out to clarify the truth to people every day, but at the same time they still have strong attachments to material gain and loss. Others are trapped in human sentiment and can’t step out of it.
These practitioners appear to be diligent, and they study the Fa and clarify the truth every day, but do they really understand what it means to be truly diligent in cultivation?
Master said,
“Being diligent means that he is able to watch his words and actions closely every moment, pay close attention to his thoughts, and is able to be strict with himself, and is usually able to conduct himself strictly. That describes someone who is diligent in cultivation.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Fa Conference at the U.S. Capital,” Collected Teachings Given Around the World, Volume VII)
I absolutely don’t intend to judge or criticize any particular practitioner, it’s only that when I see what’s happening around me, I feel these incidents indeed serve as a wake-up call for us all. For many years now, we have pulled through the unprecedented and most evil persecution together, and our Master’s Fa-rectification is already approaching the human world. At this most critical moment, when we need practitioners most in saving sentient beings, we must not allow ourselves to be trapped in endless tests arranged by the old forces. We must avoid “allowing them to take advantage of our loopholes” with the excuse of “helping us to improve.”
How can we walk well on the remaining path of our cultivation and ward off any external interference? My personal understanding is that we must take the initiative to assimilate to the Fa vigorously and let go of our human thoughts and notions.
Let us study the Fa more and study the Fa well, always keep Master’s teachings in our hearts and walk well on the remaining cultivation path together. We must snap out of humanness and walk toward godhood as we live up to the expectations of our Master. All sentient beings in our corresponding celestial bodies have placed their infinite hopes on us! Let us strive to complete our journey to godhood arranged by our compassionate Master – a most sacred and precious opportunity that comes only once in hundreds of millions of years!
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Category: Perspectives
