(Minghui.org) After reading the recent Minghui article: “Another Big Test in the Battle Between Good and Evil”, I recall the time when the persecution started in China in July 1999.
Master Li, Falun Dafa’s founder, wrote on June 16, 2000, “Had you truly been able to discard those fundamental human attachments as you cultivated, this final ordeal would not be so vicious.” (“Towards Consummation”, The Essentials of Diligent Progress II)
Since we live in a remote village, local practitioners did not immediately receive this article. The practitioners at my practice site took turns reading the article and then a practitioner read it aloud. Since we only had one copy, we each hand copied the article, took it home, and re-read it. We were still unclear on what our fundamental attachments were—most of us started to practice Falun Dafa in 1998 to improve our health.
We discussed the article again the next day. Most of us interpreted “Towards Consummation” as going to Beijing to appeal for Dafa so we could reach personal consummation. We did not realize that as practitioners, we needed to speak up for Dafa—that is, create a lawful environment for the cultivation practice.
Twenty-five years have passed and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is now openly persecuting practitioners outside China—and Master Li. The recent smear campaign are the same tactics it used in China in July 1999. Just like practitioners in China at the time, many overseas practitioners are puzzled and not sure what they should do.
Falun Dafa practitioners are one body and every incident is related to our cultivation states. Many practitioners wonder: what should I do? Practitioners in some areas suggested that we strengthen our righteous thoughts, and extend the length of time we send them, from 15 minutes to 30 minutes. Some areas added additional time slots. It’s also been suggested that we lengthen the time we study the Fa (teachings). These are all good suggestions, but some practitioners still aren’t sure what we should do.
Master said, “The only way to prevent the evil old forces from taking advantage of the gaps in your mind is to make good use of your time to study the Fa.” (“Towards Consummation”, The Essentials of Diligent Progress II)
Even though they’ve practiced for years, some local practitioners still have difficulty focusing when we read the teachings. Others don’t examine themselves for their fundamental attachments, and don’t understand what it means to cultivate oneself. Some practitioners experienced problems over the years. Thinking that Falun Dafa helps resolve illnesses, some practitioners did not not look inward and cultivate themselves when they had issues. Although they do the exercises every day, they have symptoms of illness karma. When this continued they felt unsure about Dafa and some wondered, “How come I am still like this after cultivating for so many years?”
I feel this thought is not based on Dafa’s teachings; instead they may be trying for help to resolve their illnesses instead of looking inward. A better way of thinking is, “I’ve cultivated for so many years—why am I still like this? What human notions and attachments do I have that caused this?”
Whenever we have issues, we should be alert and look within to see what attachments we still have. Even if we can’t find them, we should focus on studying the teachings and sending righteous thoughts, instead of doubting Dafa or passively accepting the situation. If we complain and doubt Master or Dafa, isn’t this an attachment that we need to eliminate?
Another scenario is that, we sometimes consider this persecution an event that happened in everyday society, so we are unable to handle it with righteous thoughts. It’s true the CCP’s brutal suppression created a harsh, terror-filled environment, and some practitioners are exhausted. But practitioners have Dafa, and from the teachings we know how to rectify ourselves and the surrounding environment.
Some local practitioners often ask, “Does Master have a new article? When will the persecution end?” When the suppression began, many practitioners endured a lot and did things to expose the persecution. We also understood the essence of cultivation: we were once selfish, but as practitioners we strive to be altruistic and place others first. In this way we are assisting Master in Fa-rectification. As more and more people learn facts, however, some practitioners have begun slacking off by indulging themselves and living a comfortable life: They garden, meet to chat over tea, and read the news on their cell phones. Some family members have even pointed this out, “You no longer act like a practitioner.”
Although practitioners may still be doing the three things, we may be treating it as a task we need to do. When other practitioners point this out, it may be difficult for some practitioners to accept. In this tribulation of “boiling frog in warm water,” one may gradually slack off. We may experience additional tribulations: illness symptoms, or a difficult family or workplace environment.
In my understanding, our fundamental attachments may have caused these tribulations. For example, are we clear on what cultivation is? On what it means to assist Master with Fa-rectification?
Master wrote, “It was destined that Dafa practitioners would join me in saving lives at this historic moment. You vowed this before history began. To fulfill that vow is a magnificent and sacred honor like no other since the creation of the universe. However, what it entails is difficult, trying, and perilous.” (“The Ordeals Our Spiritual Discipline Faces”) I sincerely hope more practitioners will wake up.
These are my personal understandings. Please point out anything inconsistent with Falun Dafa’s teachings.
Articles in which cultivators share their understandings typically reflect an individual’s perception at a point in time based on their cultivation state, and they are offered in the spirit of enabling mutual elevation.