(Minghui.org) After reading several Minghui experience sharing articles, I noticed I had a different understanding about seeking help from Master Li, the founder of Falun Dafa, in times of hardship.

There are practitioners who conduct themselves with righteous thoughts and actions. They ask Master for help when encountering difficulties and are able to overcome their tribulations. The bad elements can’t seem to constrain these practitioners.

On the other hand, I haven’t been able to do the same. I didn’t seek help from Master during critical moments and had to endure tribulations for longer.

In one experience sharing article, a practitioner immediately asked Master for help whenever she encountered difficulties or problems. As a result, she prevailed over insurmountable hardships under Master’s protection.

Why didn't I remember to call on Master at critical moments? I identified three reasons:

First, I wasn't clear on the Fa principles. I remembered the topic of the attachment of pursuit when I read Zhuan Falun and lectures published prior to July 20, 1999. My understanding was that it was wrong to ask Master for help when faced with conflicts. I looked inward when encountering conflicts, and it didn’t occur to me to seek help. Come to think of it, this was my habitual way of thinking!

When the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched the persecution of Falun Dafa on July 20, 1999, practitioners entered Fa-rectification period cultivation, which is different from personal cultivation. During the Fa-rectification, the old forces’ arrangements can put practitioner's lives in danger. If we cannot overcome serious tribulations, we can cause great losses while we work to validate the Fa.

So during this persecution, if we don't have the attachment of pursuit when we ask Master for help, we are demonstrating our faith in Master and Dafa. Whether we are trying to overcome hardships or working on Dafa projects, we need to have the right attitude and be respectful when asking for help.

Secondly, I grew up an atheist and, initially, didn't have enough faith in Dafa. Although I now believe in the existence of divine beings, the concept of atheism was deeply rooted. Looking closer at my behavior during conflicts, I did not realize they were false appearances. I failed to recognize that I was in Fa-rectification period cultivation and didn’t negate the old forces’ arrangements or other things that were not up to Master’s standards.

My mind was blank and my thinking was scattered. I treated everything I saw as reality. I helplessly let my human notions take over. I now understand that I need to elevate myself, step by step, and not just wait for things to happen.

When I was faced with hardships, Master looked after me even though I didn't ask for help. So in many circumstances, I did have faith in Master and the Fa. I could sense when Master sent predestined people my way, so I was not afraid to talk to them about Falun Dafa and the persecution.

But generally speaking, I’m not like the practitioner in the article who broke through obstacles with righteous thoughts and actions. I know I’m nowhere near that level. Having a firm faith comes from one's mindset and shows in one's actions.

The third factor is my ego, which prevents me from asking others for help. I know that Master looks after us, guides us in our cultivation, and treasures us more than we treasure ourselves. But because of my strong ego, especially when my cultivation state was not so good, I didn't dare to face Master and ask him for assistance.

I need to do better in believing in Master and the Fa. If I can improve in this regard, I will cherish and be more joyful in my practice and not be worried about a long, drawn-out cultivation period.

I’m thankful for practitioners’ experience sharing articles and how they have inspired me.

[Editor's note: Views expressed in this article represent the author's own opinions, for which the author is solely responsible. Readers should evaluate the article's merits on their own.]