(Minghui.org) After studying Master Li’s new article, “Stay Far Away From Peril,” I realized that the greatest danger occurs when practitioners complain about Dafa and Master when they are unable to overcome tribulations. This kind of complaint is the worst, and is dangerous.
From reading the article over and over, I realized that it’s important for us to understand why we encounter tribulations in cultivation and how we should deal with them.
The Origins of Tribulations
It is a basic principle of the universe that when one owes a debt, one has to pay it back. Therefore, the karmic debts one owes from life after life become tribulations on the path of cultivation. The old forces take advantage of our unrighteous behavior as an excuse to persecute us. This takes the form of physical tribulations, prison sentences, or even death.
For someone who is not a Falun Dafa practitioner, one endures hardships in this lifetime to be well-off in the next life. Cultivators must also suffer to eliminate their karma and pay off their debts, but not for a better next life, but for the improvement of our character. In the process of enduring hardships and eliminating karma, one’s xinxing improves, one’s gong increases, one’s level improves, and finally, one achieves righteous fruition and consummation.
Therefore, only by paying off one’s karmic debts in the process of improving one’s xinxing can one fundamentally negate the persecution. If we have no omissions and cultivate in an upright and noble manner, the evil has no leverage with which to persecute. Through studying the Dafa teachings, we also know that karma and various attachments feed each other, so we have to eliminate our attachments. I realized that our attachments and poor behavior are the root cause of the evil persecuting us.
Master does not acknowledge the persecution by the old forces, so how is it that they are persecuting Dafa disciples? On the one hand, the old forces have seized upon the principle that debts must be repaid. On the other hand, if we do not do well during the persecution they arranged, the persecution will become worse.
Master has told us many times that he has taken on a large portion of the karmic debt of those who cultivate in Dafa, and he has also tried to offset our karma in every way possible. We thus pay for only a small part of the karma we owe. As long as we improve our xinxing, we can cultivate successfully. But if we have not cultivated ourselves well and still hold on to various human attachments, we will encounter more or greater tribulations.
On the Attachment of Comfort
Speaking of eliminating attachments, I’d like to share my understanding of one particular attachment that hinders us from making progress in cultivation—the attachment to comfort.
In principle, we cultivators all know that suffering can eliminate karma, and enduring hardship is a good thing. On the other hand, seeking comfort will prevent us from eliminating karma, and possibly increase karma.
Only by recognizing and eliminating the attachment to comfort can one endure hardships, eliminate karma, and pay off debts. It is therefore particularly important not to become caught up in the worldly desire for comfort. Instead, we should work diligently to eliminate the attachment to comfort, which manifests itself in all aspects, such as sleeping in, gluttony, lust, ego, and longing for a luxurious life.
Master has warned us:
“If you are still unclear about what a Fa-rectification disciple is, you won’t be able to step forward in the current ordeal, and you will be led along by the human world’s pursuit of comfort and arrive at crooked understandings. Master’s heart has always been pained by those who have fallen, and the majority were ruined by that pursuit.” (“Fa-Rectification Period Dafa Disciples,” The Essentials of Diligent Progress II)
I didn’t quite understand in the past how the attachment to comfort could destroy a cultivator. Why would it lead to enlightening on a deviated path if it is not eliminated? I now understand that by craving comfort and enjoyment, one cannot eliminate karma. The practitioner’s attachment could be an excuse for the old forces to persecute them.
If Dafa disciples do not cultivate within Dafa, they will not have the power of the Fa. With the power of Dafa, one is able to withstand the tribulations and persecution created by the old forces. If one cannot pass the tribulations, one may become prone to complaining about Dafa and Master. Isn’t this a serious crime?
In my opinion, being able to endure hardship is the most basic thing that a cultivator must do. If one is not willing to suffer to eliminate one’s karma, one will have to suffer in the end for not repaying the debt.
Instead of being persecuted by the old forces, we should take the initiative to cultivate in the Fa. Of course, we should not be afraid of persecution by the old forces. We do not acknowledge the old forces, let alone their persecution. We must take the initiative to cultivate in Dafa without giving the old forces any excuse to create problems for us.
We are not looking for hardship, nor are we just enduring the suffering created by the evil. We are practicing and improving in the Fa, eliminating attachments, enduring what we should, bearing what we should, and repaying our karmic debts so that the the old forces have no reason to persecute us.
What is the suffering that must be endured? For example, the pain in the legs and arms felt during meditation and the standing stance (exercise 2) is the earliest and most basic physical pain we encounter. There is also the pain of cultivating the mind amidst heart-wrenching conflicts. When we study the teachings well, that so-called pain is no longer suffering, or at least it is no longer as bitter.
Take doing the morning exercises in a group as another example. I often couldn’t make it to the exercise site on time. I sometimes didn’t hear the alarm, and I sometimes heard it but wanted to sleep a bit more. As long as the attachment to comfort was there, all kinds of excuses arose, which prevented me from being diligent.
Now, I get out of bed as soon as the alarm clock rings. I don’t leave room for comfort, and I am committed to eliminating the attachment to comfort. When I can break through the attachment, my sleepiness and uncomfortable feelings disappear. After the exercises, I feel refreshed and energetic. This is the state of a cultivator.
Once one understands that unrighteous behavior is the cause of the old forces persecuting cultivators, it will be easy to eliminate the notion that one will be persecuted for clarifying the truth and validating Dafa. It will also be easier to eliminate the attachment of fear. One can do what a cultivator should do.
This is my understanding at my current level. Please kindly point out anything that is not in accordance with the Fa.
Editor’s note: This article only represents the author’s understanding in their current cultivation state meant for sharing among practitioners so that we can “Compare in studying, compare in cultivating.” (“Solid Cultivation,” Hong Yin)
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: Cultivation Insights
