(Minghui.org) I started practicing Falun Dafa at the end of 2009. Two years ago I discovered that the friend who introduced me to Dafa was very active on Wechat, posting non-Dafa content. At the time I thought that he must not be doing his Fa study, exercises, or doing much to save people; otherwise how could he have so much free time?
I remembered that this practitioner had introduced me to Dafa, after which I benefited so much and found my true calling in life. I felt that it was time that I helped him. At the time I was involved in a Dafa project that needed extra manpower. So, at the end of 2016, I and another technology-savvy practitioner traveled several hundred miles to visit him.
When we got there we found that he and his family had not really been doing the three things. We reminded them of the urgency of saving people and how important our mission is. His mother is also a practitioner. She kept talking to my companion, so I left them to talk.
While I washed the dishes, the mother began weeping and tears flowed down her cheeks. She kept saying how irresponsible they had been and how merciful Master was. Just then, Master's face appeared at the window! He stared at the mother with a worried expression.
Two years later, I still find it difficult to describe the profound impact that image had on me. At the time I had only one thought, which was to quickly write down what I saw and have it published on Minghui.org to encourage other practitioners. I wished to remind everyone that we all need to hurry up and save people because there isn't much time left. Sadly, I heard a few months ago that the mother was sick and bedridden.
Many similar stories have been published on Minghui.org. I feel that it would be a great shame if veteran practitioners – those who started practicing before the persecution of Dafa started on July 20th 1999 – let themselves down by not doing well. They have survived the most brutal persecution in history yet were not able to keep up their cultivation at the very final moments.
Our lives have been extended by Master to enable us to cultivate. Many who had serious illnesses are now able to cultivate because Master removed their karma. To be worthy of being a Fa-rectification Dafa disciple, we must do the three things, with saving people being our top priority. If we don't, we can hardly qualify to even be Dafa disciples. Master cherishes every one of us but health problems can beset those who fail to meet the standard.
A few elderly practitioners I know are involved in chain marketing, but they claim that it's direct sales. Master has spoken many times on this issue but they still seem confused about it. Some practitioners have said that the parts of them that have cultivated well are separated so what's on the surface can't be perfect. We know that there isn't much time left. We must not just pay lip service to this and not put the teachings into practice!
I used to envy those who started practicing when Master first began teaching because they had a free environment then: Many people practiced and they could openly associate and learn from one another. These days we don't have an open environment in China. I've recently noticed that some veteran practitioners display many human attachments and some of them can't even accept criticism. Of course many veteran practitioners are very diligent. I now understand that worried look on Master's face.
When I mentioned this, the veteran practitioners said, “As long as we do the three things well and keep up with the pace of Fa rectification, we are also Fa-rectification Dafa disciples – it does not matter when someone started practicing.”
I agree. I am very happy to be able to cultivate in Dafa. Although I still have many human attachments, as long as I have the heart to save people, Master will make arrangements so I can be involved in Dafa activities.
We need to always search within ourselves, especially whenever we encounter difficult situations. I hope that we make good use of all our cultivation opportunities.