Since April 25 of last year, the Chinese governments suppression of Falun Dafa, as well as rumors and slander, have been blotting out the earth and the sky; and things are getting worse. It is like the great waves washing away the sand, mud and sand will be sifted. When the truth is jumbled together with falsehood and the right coexists with the evil, the public has been deceived by lies, and some practitioners have wavered in their cultivation. However, more and more practitioners are advancing despite the hardships, and practicing cultivation more diligently. Facing such complicated situations, genuine practitioners cannot avoid the important issues placed in front of them: how to stay steadfast about the vows they made in the past, how to really "assist Teacher in what he is doing in this world", and how to place their own positions during the great process of rectifying the Fa.
To rehabilitate the reputation of Dafa in the world, hundreds of thousands of practitioners in China leave their families and jobs behind without any hesitation in order to appeal to the Chinese government. Their spirit shakes the world and their stories move people to tears. They have genuinely dissolved their whole lives in the Fa. They have truly disregard life or death. Their deeds will become the most splendid chapter of the new universe and the great indelible epics widely read with admiration by future generations. As of today, 22 practitioners have been tortured to death. Those in China who are helping the wicked to do evil deeds might also know what they are doing. Teacher once said: Human beings have the sober aspect inside. Therefore, they will definitely take full responsibility for the crimes they commit today. When the truth is disclosed, they may not even have the chance to repent. As the saying goes: The net of heaven has large meshes but it lets nothing through. Heavenly principles keep circulating but retribution will come without the slightest error. These sayings are really true.
Teacher said there is no role model or formula to follow in the process of cultivation. Buddha only cares about ones heart. In my understanding, there are differences in the cultivation paths of every practitioner arranged by Teacher. For example, the difference between the Chinese and overseas practitioners, the difference between the old and the young or children, the difference between cultivation in peacetime and the cultivation during the rectification of the Fa, and so on. After all, these differences are of the formality not of the fundamentals. Of paramount importance is the heart we practitioners show towards Teacher and Dafa. We are fortunate to be born during the time when Teacher is rectifying the heaven and earth. We are fortunate to live in the period when Dafa is disseminated on earth. We are fortunate to be with Buddha. We really should not give it up casually just because we obtained it so easily.
Of course, our teacher has never laid down any rigid rules about the formalities that practitioners should use to spread and safeguard Dafa. Fa cannot be expounded too explicitly because there is an issue of enlightenment. At the end of Zhuan Falun, Teacher said: This Fa can only be taught to this level. It is up to your own cultivation to attain what is at higher levelsYou must practice cultivation and become enlightened on your own. If I tell you everything, nothing will remain for you to cultivate. Fortunately, Dafa has already been made public, and you can do things according to Dafa. When Dafa is being slandered and persecuted on earth, when the cultivation practice of many practitioners is severely disturbed, and when the predestined people are not able to obtain the Fa, as genuine disciples whose true nature are being awakened, isnt it our duty to disregard our losses and gains and consider Dafa, others, and society? Shouldnt we step out to safeguard and spread Fa, and to use every suitable method with our kindness to do our best to tell the truth to as many people as possible? In fact, Teacher has made it very clear in his latest scripture The Knowing Heart. Teacher does not want to leave one disciple behind he is still waiting and giving us opportunities. Teacher is still enduring for us silently. We should not hesitate any longer. Teacher has made the Fa public. The Fa has come to human world, and now it is up to us what to do. Opportunity knocks only once.
It is not to say that one cannot cultivate at home. However, it would be impossible to go beyond the level of ordinary people unless disregarding life and death. Teacher said in Zhuan Falun: I think that those who can listen to my lectures in person, I would say, honestlyyou will realize in the future that this period of time is extremely precious. The teacher also said that he cherishes us more than we cherish ourselves, because we are the hope of the new universes. We should consider whether we deserve Teachers appraisal, whether we lived up to his expectations, and whether we are really responsible for our own lives. To cherish the Dafa is to cherish ones own life. Now Teacher is leading us to cultivate and move up in person. Such an opportunity is so precious that only happens once in thousands of years. We shouldnt let the predestined relationship brush against us!
We are the fortunes favorites in the new universe for we have obtained the Fa in advance. But we should not forget those who are struggling aimlessly in the boundless sea of bitter life. We should not conceal our own attachments. We should not focus too much on ourselves. The teacher said that you could not give others a more precious gift than this Dafa. Only this Dafa can solve the fundamental problems of one's life; only this Dafa can enable one to transcend the five elements and the three realms; and only this Dafa can free one from life, death, and reincarnation. This opportunity will lapse with the slightest hesitation. If we have obtained the Fa but cannot cultivate diligently, we will let ourselves down, not to mention Dafa and Teacher.
Only by stepping out and telling the truth to the world can we, the overseas practitioners better spread Dafa to advocate righteousness and suppress evil, as well as purify our hearts and help more predestined people to obtain the Fa.
A Practitioner in Washington DC, USA
06/14/2000