(Clearwisdom.net)
The persecution began over three years ago, and over that time I've gained some insight on the issue of understanding the Fa from the standpoint of the Fa. What Teacher has said is the Fa. At the surface level, certain guidelines are imparted on one or two specific issues. In fact, Master has taught us the Fa principles through these examples and through his personal conduct.
This way of teaching won't last forever. The establishment of mighty virtue depends on our enlightening from the perspective of the Fa and doing well while undergoing tribulations. If we fail to view problems from the perspective of the Fa, we lose precious opportunities.
Recently, a lot has happened outside of China. We have experienced police brutality in Germany, the Icelandic government's refusal to allow practitioners to enter based a "black list", unfounded accusations by Hong Kong police and the distortion of facts by that judge in Hong Kong. The Cambodian government has made itself the servant of Jiang by sending two people with UN refugee status back to China to face persecution. There has not been peace in China over the last three years. The so-called "important dates" and "sensitive dates" have served as motivators to spur on those who would persecute us and have been used by the Jiang regime to intensify the force and frequency of the atrocities. The Central Government's documentation, meetings held by the "610" office, political movement-style slogans and propaganda have clearly indicated that Jiang views Falun Gong as the number one enemy. It's apparent that Jiang will continue with this persecution until the bitter end no matter how much effort and money is needed. In order to "eradicate" Falun Gong, he has mobilized manpower, financial resources, the state propaganda machine, armed police and secret agents from all over the country to carry out his malevolent campaign. If viewed from the ordinary human perspective, it would seem like passive endurance by unarmed civilians who have survived this evil drama sponsored by a highly oppressive regime with totalitarian authority. Nevertheless, the fact is, due to the peaceful resistance of Falun Gong practitioners all over the world, this mass persecution has slowed down and is about to reach a dead end. Then, judging this from human world's principles, this development is something out of ordinary people's abilities.
Let's discuss the need for righteous actions based on righteous thoughts. By not knowing how to rectify the Fa when facing certain issues, we may cause damage on big issues involving cultivation and saving sentient beings during Fa-rectification. In the daily news reports from Mainland China on the Clearwisdom website, we can read about the arrests and cruel torture of Dafa disciples and the damaging of truth-clarification material supply sites, etc. In the face of this type of news, each disciple is demonstrating his xinxing (heart or mind nature, moral character) level and understanding of the Fa-rectification. Some practitioners have very strong righteous thoughts and are unaffected by human affection, emotions and ways of thinking. They continue to clarify the truth steadily and clearheadedly and at the same time firmly seize every opportunity to send forth righteous thoughts to directly eliminate the causes behind the persecution. In contrast some practitioners use the human way of thinking to guide their actions. To a certain degree, some students' human sides are confused by the false image and difficulties created by the evil. Understanding this issue is critical and relates to whether we can truly step forward from humanness and whether we can rectify our immediate surroundings and even larger areas.
Teacher says in "Teaching the Fa at the Washington, D.C. Fa Conference, 2002": "Certain cultivators who have grasped Dafa to different degrees are showing different degrees of steadfastness, and how they currently perceive the overall situation of the Fa-rectification is different, too. The different states of their cultivation result in their different perceptions. Some might think the situation is grim; for some people the situation might seem to have already eased up; and some people might think that it's precisely a great opportunity to save sentient beings and clarify the truth. People's different grasps of and comprehension of the Fa lead to different perceptions of the current situation, and all that's happening is targeting different human thoughts. Those who do well will change the environments around them, and those who do poorly will make the environments around them change according to their states of mind." We must take this seriously. Everyone is included in the issue of stepping forward from humanness more thoroughly because we are all still cultivating.
From the incidents mentioned previously and from the experiences and lessons of how we Dafa disciples should have handled ourselves, I have gradually reached a better understanding. In the face of this persecution, Teacher has continuously guided and reminded us to understand the true nature of this persecution from the Fa. We should have responded accordingly while clarifying the truth, sending forth righteous thoughts and eliminating the persecution in an open and upright manner as Fa-rectification period Dafa disciples. We could have thereby manifested the greatest effect during the Fa-rectification period.
Over an incredibly long period of time in history, we have accumulated a lot of human thoughts and ways of thinking. Under the influence of this present culture, shaped by modern science, we have developed the habit of viewing a problem from its superficial manifestation. We relied too much on this human way of thinking when attempting to solve problems and handle issues. During this persecution, various difficulties and demonic tribulations have occurred. From the standpoint of Fa-rectification, we should clearly recognize that the superficial manifestations of every part of the persecution in the human world has been controlled by the evil forces, who have utilized and manipulated many people to target this bigger matter of Fa-rectification. We can then become aware of and seize every opportunity to remove the controlling factors behind the superficial manifestations in a timely manner. Removing this evil should be the basis for the success of all of our Fa-rectification activities. If we fail to remove the fundamental evil, we cannot achieve the proper effect in our Fa-rectification activities. Clarifying the truth and sending forth righteous thoughts diligently has been an indispensable component of Dafa disciples' actions during the Fa-rectification. The human ways of solving problems have not worked as well and have been lacking. Human fear, concerns, notions, power, influence, ability, cleverness, kind suggestions, and the help from experts, scholars and upright people -- none of this can take the place of the effect of righteous thoughts in Fa-rectification. Only when Dafa disciples follow the Fa principles, can the effect of assisting Teacher in the Fa-rectification be truly demonstrated.
Overseas Dafa practitioners should understand the nature of this persecution from the Fa more clearly, step forward from ordinary human notions, ordinary human thinking patterns and step away from humanness. Let us become Fa-rectification period Dafa disciples, clarify the truth, send forth righteous thoughts, rectify the Fa and save sentient beings with dignity and righteousness.
Teacher said, "More than three years have passed, and this persecution that's been imposed on us by the old forces has made us more and more mature, more and more rational, more and more clearheaded, more and more steadfast, and more and more able to take this evil's persecution seriously as we expose the evil's lies, validate Dafa, and save sentient beings." (from "Teaching the Fa at the Washington, D.C. Fa Conference, 2002")
