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Thoughts on the Issue “The Time is Up”

March 14, 2013 |   By Cheng Pin

(Minghui.org) The Minghui website published the article “The Final Moment of Fa-Rectification Seen from My Level” (http://en.minghui.org/html/articles/2012/12/10/136595.html).  In the article, the practitioner described what he saw at his level of understanding. He spoke of Master shouldering and eliminating karma to a maximal extent in order to protect Dafa disciples. The author expressed hope that Dafa disciples will not let Master down, given his compassionate and arduous salvation! The article states, “A resounding voice announced: ‘The time is up!’ Master came to a halt…” These words have been discussed amongst many practitioners. I would like to share my understandings of the issue.

Dafa disciples who are in a state of gradual enlightenment at different levels and different dimensional fields have seen many scenes in other dimensions. Many have seen the urgency of time, and the time of the final elimination. When we read or hear this, it doesn’t hurt to ask ourselves, “What was my first thought when I heard ‘time is up’? What was I thinking?”

Some practitioners think such thoughts as, “What about my children?I haven’t saved enough for their education,” or, “What about my house? I haven’t paid back the loan.” Some practitioners get busy stocking up on food, candles, and other items. These attachments are very obvious. As Dafa disciples, we need to ask ourselves if we have really understood the meaning of cultivation and Fa-rectification, and whether our hearts are still among everyday people after all these years.

Master said,

“Some people say, 'Once I've Consummated, what if I have this or that to take care of?' Do you know how Gods look at that student when those words are said? And you still want to Consummate? But you know what? Those who have thoughts of Consummation in their minds can't reach Consummation, not to mention those who want to reach Consummation but can't let go of attachments to things like emotion and wealth.” (“Fa-Lecture During the 2003 Lantern Festival at he U.S. West Fa Conference”)

When some practitioners hear others say, “It is almost over,” they feel excited and slightly happy. “Ah, I finally made it to the end.” But they don’t take into consideration how they have cultivated and what will happen to those sentient beings that didn't get saved. With attachment to comfort, they no longer want to feel the pressure of the persecution. They are happy about reaching Consummation and no longer need to suffer, but they overlook the purpose of Fa-rectification and forget Master’s teaching, Master's shouldering of karma, and the terrible future faced by the sentient beings who were not saved.

Some practitioners even display strong zealotry and stop paying attention to safety.

Some practitioners may think, “Our project is only half-way done. If the time is up, didn’t we just waste all that effort?” We should look deeply within and evaluate this mentality. Isn't the so-called “wasted effort” a response based upon selfishness?

Have we really reached the state and standard of a divine being with this or that selfish thought? In looking back, when we asked, “When will Fa-rectification get here?” with the attachment to time, we stumbled over the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) sixteenth Congress, the Beijing Olympics, the CCP’s Eighteenth Congress, the Mayan prophecy, and so on. On the surface, it is simply an attachment to time, but deep down, it covers up many human notions. We can use this opportunity to search inward and see what our starting point is.

The process of Fa-rectification is determined by Master. Even gods do not know how long it will last and when it will end. Dafa disciples cannot know either. We do not need to guess or wish for a certain day. Every day is extended by Master for us to save people and save ourselves.

Of course, Master also said,

“This specific issue does not concern me, as I am teaching the Fa to practitioners instead of casually telling everyday people how to live. With regard to how one should deal with specific issues, you should make a judgment according to Dafa. You should do things however you see fit. Everyday people will do whatever they want to, and that is their business; it is not possible for everyone to truly practice cultivation. As a practitioner, however, one should follow a higher standard, so I am hereby putting forward the requirements for practitioners.” (Zhuan Falun)

My personal understanding is that a practitioner is different from an everyday person. Even for those who are practicing Dafa, it is everyone’s own choice as to what standard to follow. One can only be given advice, but cannot be forced.

Truly diligent Dafa disciples should cherish every minute of every day. Our main consciousness should be strong, and we should treat everything with righteous thoughts. We should remind ourselves of our reason for coming here, and the sentient beings of our universe we represent. Their only wish is for Dafa disciples to cultivate well and do the three things according to Master’s requirements. Master has shouldered much suffering and pressure for us. There are many things we do not know and that Master hasn't told us. We may not ever find out. Is it really that difficult to live dozens of years in the human world? We have reincarnated over many lifetimes and endured so much suffering; what was it for?

My personal understanding is that the truly diligent Dafa disciples maintain a calm state of mind in every situation. Knowing the urgency of time, they cultivate even more solidly and help Master to save people. They do not display any anxiousness, joyfulness, or excitement. Master said,

“Pursue nothing and gain naturally! All the things that Dafa disciples are doing today are in fact the responsibilities that have been bestowed upon you by history. Just do what you should do openly and with dignity, and everything will be covered. As long as you're thinking about wanting to Consummate you won't be able to Consummate...” (“Fa-Lecture During the 2003 Lantern Festival at he U.S. West Fa Conference”)

These are my personal understandings. I hope fellow practitioners put some thought into this issue as well. I hope that all Dafa disciples will walk every step steadily so that we complete our mission successfully.