(Minghui.org) The coronavirus struck so fast and fiercely that people weren’t prepared for it.
Falun Dafa practitioners in my region had various reactions to the epidemic: some continued to save sentient beings using various methods, while others allowed themselves to be stopped by their family members, afraid to go out or fearing getting infected.
What we do in the face of the epidemic is a reflection of our cultivation state. In this article, I’d like to share with fellow practitioners a few stories about the importance of staying in touch with other practitioners. It is also important that we help and encourage each other at this critical moment, to better fulfill our historic vows and complete the last leg of our cultivation journey.
On February 15, 2020, I saw an email from Hua that she urgently needed to contact me. She'd sent me three emails. We planned to meet the next day.
When we met, I learned that due to the epidemic, she had not seen any fellow practitioners for a while now. She'd experienced some “sickness karma” for about 20 days. She had a cough, fever, and other symptoms. She wanted to communicate with fellow practitioners and after sending her third email to me, her sickness karma suddenly went away.
We both realized that what she had was not an illness. She might have gone through karma elimination or it was time to elevate her character. Maybe it was also a reminder for her to join the group of fellow practitioners again. Once her actions met the standard of Dafa, the evil factor behind the symptoms was eliminated. We discussed several more issues related to our cultivation and strengthened our will to be more diligent and improve together.
Master taught us:
“Sometimes when karma is being shed you might think, “Oh no, I’m sick. I have a cold,” “I’m not feeling well,” or “It hurts.” But that is in fact karma being reduced. Newer practitioners might not understand it, and think, “Oh, I shouldn’t use the word ‘illness’ when I’m not well. I should say I’m ‘shedding karma.’” But that’s not the idea. You really are shedding karma. Your spiritual journey has been well designed, and your body isn’t allowed to become sick. Really, it’s not allowed to be sick. That’s because no illness is allowed to invade you now; any pathogen would be killed by the positive energy you have.” (“Fa Teaching at the 2019 New York Fa Conference,” Team Yellow Translation)
Fellow practitioner Jie is in her 80s and lives alone. Her children come to visit her often. We live in the same residential building. We used to exercise together every morning and her cultivation state was very good. After the New Year holiday in 2019, she decided not to do the exercises together anymore.
Shortly after the holiday was over, however, she developed sickness karma and was hospitalized several times. Still having faith in cultivation, she told me that we would continue to do the exercises and study the Fa together in a few days.
Her sons did not support Jie's practicing Falun Dafa. I visited her a few times to give her some sharing articles from other practitioners. I asked her to call me for more articles, but she did not. When I called her at the end of January, she told me that all her children were home and she asked me not to come. She said she would call when she needed me.
I waited four weeks and I still did not receive her call. I called her and tried to meet with her. She sounded a bit off on the phone, a bit incoherent at times. When I visited her, her son told me that she often said there were “people” in her room.
I felt sad after I left her home. Besides sending forth righteous thoughts for her, I had very limited ways to help her. I believe that if she can be with fellow practitioners, she could break through her difficult situation much quicker.
Despite the coronavirus epidemic, I went to several residential buildings where fellow practitioners live to deliver truth-clarification materials to them or discuss other issues. I was able to go in and out of all the subdivisions without a problem. We were able to meet with each other, discuss the work and share our experiences.
Master told us:
“Human society is in delusion, and people cannot see how the cosmos truly is or the real situation of beings. That’s how beings are at this level, but the situation during the Fa-rectification is presided over by Dafa and it changes according to what is required so that Dafa can save sentient beings. The fact is, at this time Dafa disciples have to do divine things, because for Dafa disciples their personal cultivation is no longer first and foremost. Saving sentient beings and reconstructing the colossal firmament during the Fa-rectification are the purpose.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Western U.S. International Fa Conference,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. VII)
Since there are few people on the street now, I wanted to purchase phone cards and save people by making phone calls. My wish was strong, so I went to the store I used to visit. It was January 11, and most of the stores were closed except for the pharmacy and supermarket. But the store I went to was open and I was able to purchase two phone cards! I knew that Master was watching over and helping me.
In Dafa cultivation practice, the Fa is boundless! We should not block ourselves by our human thinking. Master is helping us; let us do our best and fulfill our vows.
This is my understanding at this point; please kindly point out any shortcomings.