(Minghui.org) It has come to my attention that quite a number of Falun Gong practitioners have been persecuted because they did not pay attention to minor things.
Master said:
“There have also been cases where someone didn’t take some minor things seriously in his cultivation, and they turned into major problems.” (“Fa Teaching Given at the 2015 New York Fa Conference”)
One practitioner I know is in a state of gradual enlightenment. She is calm and does well when studying the Fa, clarifying the truth, and sending righteous thoughts.
Sometimes, however, she still can't handle things well. She once had a conflict with her son and handled it like an ordinary person. She told him that he was very annoying, which did not conform to the Fa's requirements. Master said,
“...as a practitioner one should not fight back when being punched or insulted, but should conduct oneself with a high standard.” (Zhuan Falun)
Soon afterward she was arrested and detained for three months.
Practitioners think that we can also save people and recite the Fa while in detention. Actually, it is not that simple. Unless we can look within and truly identify our problems, the old forces will not retreat, and will try to make us fall.
The old forces' arrangements are different for each person, as they are well aware of every person's capacity. We also know from the Fa that people's ability to pass a tribulation is fixed. Master has arranged each practitioner's path according to their xinxing. If we add a little extra tribulation, we may fall. But if our not doing well causes losses to Dafa, we may be committing sin upon sin.
This practitioner didn't do well while in detention. The stain in her cultivation was caused by not doing well on a minor thing, which is really too bad.
In a recent article on the Minghui website, a Shen Yun performer shared that she had slacked off in sending forth righteous thoughts. Many times, she couldn’t focus, and distracting thoughts would pop up when she did. She then hurt her foot and almost could not perform. Fortunately she realized the cause of the problem in time and negated the interference.
Distracting thoughts when sending righteous thoughts is a widespread phenomenon among practitioners in China, but not many pay attention to it. We may think this is a minor thing, but the old forces don't think so. This is one of the reasons for the severe persecution in China.
I did not take small attachments seriously. For example, I did not cultivate my speech, and occasionally watched or read things inappropriate for a practitioner. I also meddled in practitioners' business and showed off.
Sometimes I paid attention to this, but sometimes not, and the old forces often put bad thoughts in my mind. After I truly looked inward, those bad thoughts disappeared.
We all know that if we hold certain thoughts about the persecution, we might be persecuted. Years ago I thought, “If I were arrested and imprisoned, I would do such and such.” Soon after, I was arrested and imprisoned. Master said,
“Do you really not understand that it was a demon who came knocking at your door, thanks to your human attachments?” (“Be Vigilant” in The Essentials Of Diligent Progress Vol. III)
I also noticed practitioners adversely affecting their own cultivation environments. They praised their fellow practitioners, which may seem like a trivial matter, but the consequences are very serious.
For example, some practitioners invite each other to go out to eat and shop together, to gossip or discuss family matters or everyday people things. Others praise or flatter each other, and say, “You cultivate so well, you recite the Fa very well, you have good enlightenment quality and a clear understanding of the Fa principles,” and so on.
When there is nothing to boast about, they say, “Your shirt looks nice, your son or daughter is clever (or talented or filial), you are well educated,” and so on. In my opinion, this is the attachment to boasting.
Some ask diligent practitioners to help solve problems of personal cultivation, for example, family matters, attachment to children, problems with lust, conflicts among practitioners, and other things related to personal cultivation. Instead of cultivating and letting go of the attachment, they ask others to cultivate for them.
If he or she takes another practitioner's words as the Fa, then both are committing a sin. The old forces will take this opportunity and create tribulations. The persecution or interference comes in various ways, such as distracting thoughts, sickness karma, death, imprisonment, or family conflicts.
We must let go of the attachment to reputation and stop helping others solve personal cultivation problems. If this continues, neither will elevate in their cultivation.
When I was not diligent in my cultivation, I interfered with a practitioner. As a result, my mind was filled with many deviated thoughts. I tried to reject them by sending forth righteous thoughts and reciting the Fa, but I just couldn't eliminate them.
I realized that the old forces were using me to interfere with diligent practitioners, in order to make them fall in cultivation, and then use that excuse to destroy me. I was shocked and immediately felt repentant.
Once I recognized my shortcomings, fundamental changes took place the next day. My mind became clear, and those suffocating evil thoughts disappeared. My cultivation state has since undergone tremendous changes, and I keep elevating.
After much hesitation I decided to share my understanding on this issue. I hope fellow practitioners will pay attention, because it is very serious.