(Minghui.org) Master said:
“If you, as a student [of Dafa], do not follow Master’s requirements, it is definitely no simple thing. The old forces have arranged for all Dafa disciples a set of their things, so if a Dafa disciple doesn’t follow Master’s requirements, he must be following the old forces’ arrangements. The old forces are in essence gigantic trials and tribulations that accompany you at all times, focused on whether in Fa-rectification Dafa disciples are able to step forward.” (“Be Clearheaded,” The Essentials of Diligent Progress, Vol. III)
Master Li asked us to do the three things well. This requirement will never change. Not only do we need to do the three things well, but also, we need to do well, even when we are being persecuted. In other words, if we can do the three things well, no matter the environment, we are walking on the path arranged by Master. Otherwise, we are walking on the path arranged by the old forces.
Some fellow practitioners can do the three things well day after day. But, when persecuted, they can’t. Actually, this has to do with one's belief in Master and the Fa. If the environment changes, do you still trust Master and the Fa? If you don’t do the three things well, it shows you don’t have 100% faith and belief in Master and the Fa, and you are walking on the path arranged by the old forces.
From another angle, this is like a play. If you can do the three things well, and save sentient beings, you are the leading character of this great play of saving sentient beings. If you can’t do all three things well, you are collaborating with the evil, because what the evil wants is for you to not to do the three things and give up cultivation. So if you can’t do the three things well, when you are being persecuted, your role has already become from the leading character in the play of saving people to the supporting character in the play of persecution arranged by the old forces.
Some fellow practitioners cannot do the three things well when being persecuted, but they were able to refuse to be “transformed”. Actually, you are collaborating with the evil, because your behavior realigns with the persecution, and not doing well in saving sentient beings. It is equivalent to giving up the leading character in the play of validating the Fa, saving people, and picking up the supporting character in the play, which is the persecution. It is equivalent to doing well in the persecution arranged by the old forces and acknowledging the arrangement by the old forces. Even if you break through the persecution, you still didn’t walk on the path arranged by Master, because none of this should have happened. In this persecution, the people who have been really persecuted are everyday people, especially the policemen who have been involved.
Walking Well on the Path Arranged by Master
Some practitioners lost their lives and some survived. But, think about it everyone, as a Dafa disciple, in the Fa-rectification period, what is our purpose of coming to the human world? Didn’t we come to help Master validate the Fa and save sentient beings? It is wrong if we don’t fulfill our task, instead we waste time and energy on passing the evil tests arranged by the old forces. That is to say, we should deny the old forces’ arrangement via walking well on the path arranged by Master, instead of doing well when passing the evil tests by the old forces, which is not denying the old forces.
Actually, the three things arranged by Master are comprehensive. If we do the first thing well, study the Fa well, and look inward, the old forces will find no loopholes to take advantage of – which means that we deny the old forces’ arrangements.
If we do the second thing well, and send forth righteous thoughts to eliminate the evils that control the policemen, the policemen, themselves, do not have the power to persecute the Dafa disciples, and this is also denying the old forces’ arrangement.
If we do the third thing well and save the policemen, via clarifying the truth to them, the evil cannot control the police, and the police will treat the disciples with kindness, and this is also denying the old forces’ arrangement. So if we do the three things well, not only will we deny the old forces, but also fulfill our tasks.
So in the persecution, if we can truly do well on any one of these three things, we will be able to deny the old forces’ arrangement. If we don’t truly do any of these three things well, then we can’t deny the old forces’ arrangement, and if the situation results in us being tortured, then we have to hold the very last righteous thought: Cultivate Dafa solidly, and reject “transformation”. This is the only option, but far away from being optimal--doing well in the persecution, and passing the old forces’ evil test.
Such a practitioner does not have 100% faith in Master and the Fa, and could not do the three things well, simultaneously. But since he has solid belief in some teachings of Master’s, he was able to resist the persecution to a degree. But he had to pay a high price, at least endure great pain, or even lose his life.
From another angle, even if you break through the persecution, the police who tortured you, are destroyed, and they will go to hell. Dafa disciples task is to save sentient beings. If we let the police commit crimes against Dafa, and therefore, being destroyed, is that what we want to see? So for a practitioner, we have no choice but to cultivate ourselves well and deny the old forces by doing the three things well simultaneously. We should try our best to not be tortured. If we do well, we can save sentient beings; if we don’t do well, we will destroy sentient beings. So this is not a matter of personal cultivation; it is a matter of saving or destroying sentient beings.
Cultivating Compassion
Fundamentally, this is a matter of cultivating compassion. If we prioritize saving sentient beings, we will know what to do. During the persecution, there are two kinds of thoughts. The first is that we should cherish this good opportunity of validating the Fa, cultivate ourselves well, eliminate evil, and save sentient beings. This is a positive thought based on compassion, and you are playing a leading role.
The second is a negative thought based on selfishness: How should I face the persecution: How can I avoid persecution: How do I reject “transformation”, and how can I get out. With this thought, a practitioner positions himself as a victim and plays a supporting character in the play of persecution. It is equivalent to acknowledging the old forces’ arrangement. What he cares about is himself.
The first thought is based on compassion and fits the Fa. So a practitioner will be able to deny the persecution and fulfill the practitioners’ task. The second thought is based on selfishness and is not on the Fa, so a practitioner will not have the energy to deny the persecution or fulfill the task.
Dafa disciples cultivate Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. So we need to be compassionate in any environment. We have to make a choice: Be responsible for sentient beings, end the persecution of the sentient beings, or protect yourself and end the persecution by yourself. If you choose the second, and your heart is not on the Fa, then it is like an everyday person trying to deny the persecution. No matter how hard you try, you will not succeed. If you choose the first one, the heart is on the Fa, the power of the Fa will manifest.
Selfish Thoughts Create Gap for Old Forces
Many practitioners were not able to deny the old forces and have been sentenced to prison. There are many reasons. In my opinion, the major reason is selfishness. When nothing happens, practitioners are able to be compassionate. But if persecution happens, and our personal interest is in danger, the selfish thought of protecting ourselves will manifest. All we think about is how to protect ourselves, how to avoid torture, how not to be “transformed”, and how to get out. These are selfish thoughts. Since your heart is not on the Fa, the old forces will use this as an excuse to enhance the persecution. The principle of cultivation is the opposite of the persecution. The more you try to protect yourself, the more excuses you give to the old forces. If you don’t think of yourself, and prioritize others with compassion, Master will help you, and nobody will dare to persecute you.
Only if you are selfless, and have no pursuit, you will have no fear and reach the level of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Only if you are selfless, can you be responsible to the Fa and sentient beings.
Trusting in Master and the Fa
Faith is the most important thing in cultivation. How much you can do in cultivation, and how much the power of the Fa you can see depends on how much faith you have. Every task in cultivation is a task of our belief in Master and the Fa. If we truly trust Master and the Fa, we will be able to pass every test. If a cultivator trusts Master and the Fa in any environment, then nobody would dare to arrange any task, and the path of our cultivation would have no obstacle.
“The appearance stems from the mind.” (“Fa Teaching Given at the Epoch Times Meeting,” Collected Fa Teaching, Vol. X)
The environment changes with our heart. If we can position our heart correctly, Master will be able to make arrangements for us and solve our problems. To position our heart correctly is to solidly believe in Master and the Fa.
Trusting in Master and the Fa must be 100%. If there is even a tiny imperfection, your cultivation will deviate from the path arranged by Master, and you will be walking on the path arranged by the old forces. Believing in Master and the Fa is walking on the righteous path.
Trusting Master and the Fa is the fundamental way to deny the old forces’ arrangement. Trusting in Master and the Fa is the only way to become a divine being. Trusting Master and the Fa is the fundamental way to help Master validate the Fa, save sentient beings, and fulfill our task.
Category: Improving Oneself
