(Minghui.org) I feel some practitioners in China and those who moved overseas in recent years may have some misunderstandings about the ordeals faced by Falun Dafa. They often say the tribulation started in 2024, but Master explained that the ordeals started in China in 1999. Jiang Zemin, then head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), also gave pamphlets that defamed Falun Dafa to President Bill Clinton and other U.S. officials. Despite the CCP’s attempts to export the persecution, the ordeals were mostly confined within China. Divine beings were suppressing it so that the ordeals outside China would not be as severe as those in China.

Regarding the beginning of the ordeals, Master Li, Falun Dafa’s founder, wrote,

“Ordeals have been wrought upon our practice since 1999, when they began in China, and have never ceased, be it in the United States or elsewhere in the world.” (“The Ordeals Our Spiritual Discipline Faces”)

Master also talked about why the challenges hadn’t simultaneously manifested outside and inside China:

“I have told you before that I would do this in two steps—the Fa-rectification and the Fa’s rectifying of the human world—and if I combined them and did it in one step, then the entire world would launch an attack against Dafa disciples. Of course, doing it in one shot would mean more Dafa disciples, and there would be three and a half billion Dafa disciples. I split it into two steps: The first group consists of Fa-rectification period Dafa disciples, and the second group consists of those during the Fa’s rectification of the human world. In the beginning when the evil came, at once it blotted out the sky and covered up the earth, but it couldn’t exert itself outside of China. So they would rally those wicked things against all of the existing Dafa disciples, and it was really terrifying for you back then.” (“Teachings Given on Lantern Festival Day, 2003”)

The ordeals were initially concentrated in China, and they were rampant. They also existed outside China. But because Master was suppressing them, those who wished to sabotage Dafa could only do it covertly. In 2024, attacks were launched overseas against Master, Shen Yun, and the media companies run by practitioners. This brought the 26-year-long persecution to a new level.

Why is Master targeted? In my understanding, it is because Master is the source and essence of Fa-rectification. Everything that practitioners achieve come from Falun Dafa, and they ultimately come from Master. Why target Shen Yun? My understanding is that the performances were a project initiated by practitioners, but because they were not able to handle it, Master had to take on the project. This made Shen Yun very powerful in saving people, so the ordeals and all kinds of tribulations focused on it.

Why attack the media? Master talked about “no loss, no gain” in Zhuan Falun. Master also said: “However much you give is however much you get.” (“Teaching the Fa and Answering Questions in Yanji”, Explaining the Teachings of Zhuan Falun)

Master gave lectures to members of a practitioner-run media company, and some of the coordinators have changed several times. Some think it shows this company is special and that Master pays extra attention to it. The media is an important avenue through which the truth about the persecution is made known, after all. But could it also be because practitioners there had cultivation issues that required more of Master’s attention? Is it possible that these practitioners did not improve through solid cultivation but rather made it through due to Master’s compassion? Given our overall cultivation state, it’s not surprising that we meet with tribulations.

We practitioners have no choice—we must truly improve and mature through solid cultivation. No matter how intense the tribulations that practitioner-run media companies meet with, they cannot compare to what Master is enduring. Master is suffering because we are unable to meet the standard. Therefore, we should not think highly of ourselves.

This is my current understanding. Please point out anything inconsistent with Falun Dafa’s teachings.