Going Astray Will Lead to Regrets

(Minghui.org) After reading the Minghui website articles, “What Is One Validating” and “If the Attachment to Showing Off Isn’t Eliminated, the Danger is Great,” both with Master's comments, I wanted to share some of my experiences with fellow practitioners. The phenomenon mentioned in the two articles is not new, as similar things have occurred in China as early as the beginning of the persecution, or even earlier.

In the truly terrible environment of China under the Communist Party's rule, I have unfortunately met many people who have deviated from the Fa, and have enlightened along an evil path. Among them were the type of people described in the article “If the Attachment to Showing Off Isn’t Eliminated, the Danger is Great.”

I recall that those people would flip through Master's books and new lectures, and tell others, “You haven't learned the Fa clearly. Your understanding is out of date. You have to enlighten!” They talked irrationally, and tried to arouse people's attachments, implying that there were higher Fa principles that they couldn't share with others.

They sometimes also distorted Master's words, saying that Master didn't say the words clearly, or meant the opposite of what he said. They were actually being controlled by the old forces at the time, showing their attachments to having a superior understanding of something unique, and wanting to show off.

I have also seen the case described in the article “What Is One Validating.” A person was able to write an article in a very short period of time, and then showed the article to others. The article wasn't rational, and the tone was not that of an experience sharing article, but attempting to imitate Master's Fa teachings. Some theories were unclear. When fellow practitioners raised questions, the person said, “You can understand my article in any way you want. It accords with the Fa on at least one level.” Practitioners later told him, “Showing your article to a few clearheaded practitioners is not a big deal. However, if you show it to practitioners on a large scale, you are sabotaging the Fa.”

In addition, these people who have enlightened along an evil path are taking advantage of other practitioners' attachments to following others blindly, and their attachment to family members. Some slandered the Minghui website and Dafa associations and tell others that they don't have to do all of the three things if they are cultivating alone. Some promote traditional culture only and do not clarify the facts to people.

After knowing such people for some time, we know that those who have enlightened along an evil path, no matter how many projects they have done, still harbor significant attachments. Some have not ever solidly cultivated with a calm heart.

Such people may have never started their cultivation or they no longer want to continue with their cultivation. Of course, we don't want to give up on them. No matter what, in the persecution environment in mainland China, such opposites exist. Before seeing the warnings from the Dafa associations or Minghui editors, some practitioners don't want to get out of the dangerous situation. However, genuine practitioners can see through the old forces' disguise.

Master taught us,

“External factors can only affect a few individuals and are unable to alter the Fa. Whether it be at present or in the future, those who can undermine our Fa are none other than our own disciples.” (“Immutable,” from Essentials for Further Advancement)

For those who follow websites or other projects that try to undermine the Fa, do you know that your behavior matches those who have enlightened along evil paths? The negative impact on yourselves may be even worse!

Master said in His comment about the article “If the Attachment to Showing Off Isn’t Eliminated, the Danger is Great,”

“As the multitude of gods see it, these people are in a stupor and nonsensical, at once pitiable and laughable; they don’t cultivate in earnest, and are only deceiving themselves.”

My understanding is that Master's words refer not only to those who have taken detours in cultivation. The sentence “they don’t cultivate in earnest, and are only deceiving themselves” directly targets my heart. I know that I have done similar things in the past amidst my tribulations, tests, or incorrect cultivation states. If I had slacked off further, I would have made huge mistakes.

Fellow practitioners inside and outside of China, let's advance diligently together.