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An Understanding of “Sickness Karma” and Improving Your Character

January 08, 2020 |   By a Falun Dafa practitioner in China

(Minghui.org) Before the persecution began, we regarded the “illusion of sickness karma” as tests meant to improve our xinxing, and we thought that they were a good thing. We saw it as a sign of eliminating karma, and it often ended quickly. 

But ever since the persecution began, sickness karma has become very common, more enduring, and so difficult to deal with. Why?

For example, some practitioners have had sickness karma for long periods of time, which interferes with their doing the three things and even becomes problematic in their daily lives. Some lose hope, and some have even passed away. Thousands of years of reincarnation ended in an instant. As the Fa-rectification nears the end, and we are at a time when we really need but are lacking, manpower, it is really sad when someone passes away!

Although there is interference from the old forces, we will manifest Dafa's power as long as we believe in Dafa and Master Li, play the lead role with determination, hold sentient beings in our hearts, maintain righteous thoughts, and do righteous deeds. Who would then dare to persecute us? Who would be able to persecute us? 

Master said:

“Everything that the evil has done has actually targeted the attachments and fears that you have not let go of.” (“Eliminate Your Last Attachment(s),” Essentials for Further Advancement II)

An article on Minghui.org, entitled “Persisting in Righteous Thoughts is Key to Overcoming Life-and-Death Tribulations,” described a practitioner who had a similar tribulation and overcame it. We may wish to double-check ourselves. We all have the same Master and the same Dafa, so why do we have such a big gap? 

It is too bad that some practitioners don’t read Minghui Weekly and don’t do the exercises every day (except in some special cases). Sometimes practitioners work while they are listening to the Fa. They say that they “study one lecture of the Fa every day,” like they’ve completed a task. Can you truly improve your character like that? I am not saying this as a criticism of any particular practitioner. Rather, isn't this a notion we were indoctrinated with by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)?

Master said:

“When disciples have ample righteous thoughts 
Master has the power to turn back the tide.” 
(“The Master-Disciple Bond,” Hong Yin Vol. II)

Dafa disciples’ righteous thoughts are key. As long as you believe in the Fa, there will be no obstacles you cannot overcome!

Master said:

“What is true faith? You’re merely saying with your mouth that you have faith, but in your heart, you don’t actually have faith.” (Teaching the Fa at the Conference in Europe)

“True cultivators have no illnesses, since my Law Bodies have eliminated them.” (“Explaining the Fa for Falun Dafa Assistants in Changchun.” Explaining the Content of Falun Dafa)

When some practitioners experienced the illusion of sickness karma, they regarded themselves as ordinary people. They thought they were ill and they sneaked into the hospital. As a result, their illness got worse and became more severe. Did they believe in the Fa and Master?

Master said:

“But if that person still doesn't get it after being given chances for so long, even if he has cultivated for years and has followed others in doing Dafa work, if he still can't let go on a fundamental level of his attachment to getting healed, then on a fundamental level he is still not a student, and he will depart when he reaches the end of his lifespan.” (Teaching the Fa at the 2004 International Fa Conference in New York)

Has this kind of practitioner read an article like the one I referenced? Some people’s lifespans might not be 70 or 80 years. Some might be 50 or 60 or even younger.

When going through such tribulations to improve one’s character, some practitioners did refuse to go to the hospital and did not take any medicine. However, they relied on their children to take care of them, which is a form of acknowledging the illness, albeit at home instead of in a hospital. They thought they should just sit around or stay in bed. They did not want to study the Fa or do the exercises. They wanted to be as comfortable as they could. They were picky about what they ate and drank, yet they still complained. Is that cultivation? Were you trapped by the old forces again? It would be strange if the evil did not drag you down!

When there is a xinxing test, some practitioners then start to be diligent in their cultivation. Some ask their fellow practitioners to send forth righteous thoughts and also look inward. Even though they find a lot of attachments, they still do not get better. They get disappointed and add another attachment, that of looking for an attachment. Why can't they let go of these thoughts?

Master said:

“… or you completely let go of everything, behave like an upstanding and noble Dafa disciple who has no resentment or attachments, and leave it to Master to arrange whether you stay or go.” (Teaching the Fa in the City of Los Angeles)

It took us hundreds of millions of years to come down to the human world. We have been seeking Dafa throughout many lifetimes and eventually came here. Yet we have gotten lost in fame, self-interest, and affection, and have lost our way home. This is truly not what we should be doing.

The above might sound too harsh for some practitioners. It is not to say that these practitioners are worthless. Some who are suffering tribulations also have good sides and have cultivated very well in some respects. Master has separated those parts that have been cultivated well. What we see are the parts that have not yet been cultivated well. These are the parts that we must pay more attention to.

After you start to practice and believe in Dafa and Master, you will be a Dafa disciple and you will be able to do it. However, in this world of illusions, you need to improve your xinxing even more and awaken. You should not be discouraged. You should try your best to pass your xinxing tests and improve. As a fellow practitioner, I wrote this article to remind you of this.

I am 81 years old. I may not be as good as you are in some aspects of cultivation. I have devoted all my energy to doing the three things. Our present time is the time that was extended by our compassionate Master who has endured tremendously for us. We must cherish this opportunity for our cultivation, do the three things well, cultivate ourselves well, and save more people.

No matter what I say, the key thing is to urge you to spend more time in Fa-study. Only this will enable you to do everything well.

Master said: “The Fa can break all attachments, the Fa can destroy all evil, the Fa can shatter all lies, and the Fa can strengthen righteous thoughts.” (Drive Out Interference,” Essentials of Further Advancement II)

Don't ever forget: “I am a Dafa disciple. I believe in the Fa and Master.” No matter where or when, use Dafa to evaluate what you say and do. Think and do everything with righteous thoughts.

And don't ever forget that the mission you were given many eons ago is to help Master in the Fa-rectification. Do things based on what Master wants. Do the three things and save sentient beings.