(Minghui.org) Several practitioners in my area were arrested a few years ago. Most of us could not stay calm. When we discussed how to rescue them, we looked for their flaws to see why this happened. Instead of examining our overall situation, we focused on the problems of those who were arrested. For instance, one had an inappropriate relationship with the opposite sex, another spent money recklessly, and still another did not mind their speech.
We did many things to rescue them, including intensively sending forth righteous thoughts, asking the police department to release them, exposing the arrests online, making phone calls, hiring lawyers, and everything else that we could think of. Despite all our efforts, none of them were released and most were sentenced to prison.
For a long time, I always thought that when practitioners were arrested and sentenced, it was caused by their own problems. I never thought about what I part I might have had in it. It was not until 2017 that I suddenly realized that this was another test arranged by the old forces.
At that time, many local practitioners were arrested again. When I sent forth righteous thoughts for one of them, I only focused on her problems. I knew she had been arrested before because, after she was released that time, she and I talked about her attachment to lust and how this loophole might have caused her to be arrested. I could tell that she really wanted to get rid of this attachment, but she was confused. I realized that her state of confusion had been arranged by the old forces. Even if she still had some attachment to lust, it was not very strong.
When I realized this, I sent a righteous thought: “Whether she has loopholes or not, the old forces don't have the right to test her, because they are to be eliminated and that is Master's arrangement.”
When I intensively sent forth righteous thoughts for her, I suddenly understood: the old forces' goal was not merely to persecute my fellow practitioner. Since I was close to her, the old forces were trying to use her being persecuted to see if I had righteous thoughts or not. If I still had the same thoughts I did a few years ago—of blaming the practitioner being persecuted because he or she had loopholes—then I would fail the test.
I was able to see through it this time, so I sent forth righteous thoughts to thoroughly eliminate all their arrangements.
I thought, “The arrested practitioner will come home soon.” I didn't quite believe this, so I eliminated that thought and said, “Everything is arranged by Master [Li Hongzhi]. Master does not acknowledge this persecution, so I should not acknowledge it. I should remain calm and just do what I need to do.”
Soon after, that practitioner and several others were released.
A few years ago, some local practitioners had already realized that we should not blame those who were arrested for their loopholes. But we didn't really understand why it wasn't right to have such thoughts. One practitioner asked, “How should we view this issue?”
Master said,
“Master doesn’t want you to always take the wrong path, and even less can he bear to see you being persecuted. Oftentimes the hardships you endure really are brought about by human attachments. When your human attachments are strong and you don’t realize it, the old forces’ factors will use the evil to capture you and send you to labor camps for persecution.” (“Cleaning Up,” The Essentials of Diligent Progress Vol. III)
My current understanding is that Master has pointed out the old forces' tricks. He does not acknowledge this persecution. He told us about their tricks so that we can deny their arrangements and avoid being persecuted. Although we do make mistakes in cultivation, they should not be used as excuses to persecute us. We are here to save sentient beings; Master did not arrange this persecution and we should not acknowledge it or go along with it. When we make mistakes we should correct ourselves. If we cultivate ourselves well and keep our thoughts righteous when we encounter difficulties, we can undo the old forces' arrangements.
Category: Improving Oneself
