(Minghui.org) From Master's teachings, we know that the collective cultivation state of Dafa disciples as a whole will bring about changes to our surroundings and even society.
I believe the current chaos in the U.S. election and the degenerative notions in society also have some direct connection with Dafa disciples' attachments. But for Dafa disciples in China, do we feel what’s happening in the U.S. is out of our reach and is just something for Dafa disciples in the U.S. to cultivate?
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been persecuting Dafa for 21 years, and we have had too many regrets and missed opportunities. We once lamented that too few Dafa disciples went to Tiananmen Square to speak out for Dafa, and we once wondered why only 210,000 practitioners filed lawsuits against Jiang Zemin, the former CCP leader who ordered the persecution of Dafa.
Of course, people began to practice Dafa at different times, and each of us walks our own path. We have all come a long way to get to where we are today in cultivation, by following Dafa’s guidance based on our own understandings and enlightenment. During the process, some walked their paths well while others took detours. As long as Fa-rectification is not over, there will be opportunities for us to do better. It is just that such opportunities are becoming fewer and fewer as time goes by.
We also know that there are no shortcuts in Dafa cultivation. We wish to be wise people who cultivate diligently in the Fa, but most times we end up becoming mediocre ones who only cultivate anxiously when the time appears to be running out.
A story came to mind. In 2001, I met a fellow practitioner in prison. He heard that overseas practitioners were filing lawsuits against Jiang and immediately he wanted to send righteous thoughts for it. Other practitioners were wondering whether it would be useful since it was so far away. He recited Master's poem:
“Infinitely distant is Heaven’s vault,But with just one thought‘tis right before the eye;Immeasurably huge is the Cosmos,Falun turns betweenHeaven and Earth.” (“Vastness,” Hong Yin, Translation version A)
His unyielding, unquestionable righteous thoughts and a sense of responsibility came out so naturally and left a deep impression on me.
Master also said:
“However strong the righteous thoughts are, that’s how great the power is.” (“Also in a Few Words,” Essentials for Further Advancement II)
Facing the 2020 U.S. election, the battle between good and evil, divine and demons, we are once again at an important juncture in the Fa-rectification. What should Dafa disciples do? Everyone can have their own way. But the important thing is to understand the importance of the battle, enlighten to it, and more importantly, take the initiative to take part in it.
Let us review Master's Fa teachings:
“Question: For Dafa disciples as a whole, what are some of the most fundamental areas and shortcomings that need improvement?
Teacher: For Dafa disciples as a whole, in the process of validating the Fa, when you work together in concert, the Fa power is great. Whether you're doing things as a group or doing things individually, what you're doing is the same kind of thing, and that's what we mean by one entity. You're all clarifying the truth, sending righteous thoughts, and studying the Fa, so the specifics of the things you're doing are different but the division of roles is orderly, together there's a form, and separated there are particles. When you as an entity have some problems come up Master will definitely talk about them, and when there's not an obvious problem Master won't say anything. So when it doesn't affect the situation of the whole entity I don't say anything.” (Fa-Lecture During the 2003 Lantern Festival at the U.S. West Fa Conference)
“Disciple: As Fa-rectification presses forward, it is important that we form one body; each Dafa disciple has a responsibility for merging himself into the one body. Yet a few disciples still haven’t realized this.
Master: Master has never, with cultivation matters, wanted to impose some kind of hard and fast uniformity, stipulating that things be this or that way. Everything in cultivation is determined by one’s own level, understanding, and cultivation state. Some things need everybody’s cooperation. If you have the heart for it, then participate; but if your understanding hasn’t reached that level, you won’t manage to work together with others even if you do participate. In some cases it’s human attachments at work. Those people may have cultivated very well in some regards, though, so you can’t say that they are no good. Yet if someone has done something well but hasn’t done well with other things, then that won’t do.” (“Fa Teaching on World Falun Dafa Day”)