(Clearwisdom.net) Why does interference occur? Because the old forces are using excuses generated from their corrupt notions. We have experienced brutal persecution again and again since July 20, 1999 and lived through lies and rumors being spread all over the world. While we deny the arrangements of the old forces, we should also actively deny the old forces themselves. My understanding of Buddhas safeguarding the cosmos is that they take an active role in doing it. The ever-rotating Falun is also actively rectifying anything unrighteous. Since Dafa disciples, Dafa particles, are the most righteous form of being and matter, we ought to actively eliminate the poison of evil. For example, the symptoms of illness are only surface manifestations. Evil beings existing in other dimensions are the fundamental cause. If we fail to recognize and eliminate them with righteous minds, they will produce more troubles and symptoms, thus poisoning sentient beings.
I think what has happened recently is due to the following factor: We Dafa disciples as a whole haven't really positioned ourselves correctly from the rational perspective. That is, we haven't recognized our greatness and responsibility, nor have we balanced relations with the old forces well, and broken away from the mentality that Dafa disciples are being tested. In fact, Dafa disciples are in charge, rather than subjects to be tested. Our cultivation is not to perform to the satisfaction of the old forces in the tests arranged by them, rather it is a process of assimilating to Dafa. The tests imposed upon us by the old force should not have altered our cultivation. We are not to live up to their standards.
During the Fa-rectification period, looking within oneself is not a way to avoid persecution or to improve one's level. It itself is Fa-rectification. We all remember that a high-ranking government official in China was turned bad by the old forces. Had we improved ourselves and gotten rid of the attachment, the old forces probably wouldn't have had excuses to make him bad. If so, their arrangement of history with respect to this issue would have been denied. The related matters and factors that were arranged to have negative effects would have been rectified. Thus, while we were eliminating the evil, the related beings would have been brought to the right decision benevolently. Looking within oneself is very important. Each and every one of us Dafa disciples has various factors corresponding to ourselves in the Fa-rectification period. When we do well, we will be able to save and benevolently resolve the fates of the beings that are related to us. In this way we can consistently perfect ourselves and live up to the standards of a Dafa disciple. Then we will be able to save ourselves and other people, just like the characteristics of Falun when rotating inwards and outwards. Wherever we are, we will emit the purest light. "The Buddha-light illuminates everywhere and rectifies all abnormalities." (Zhuan Falun) We are supposed to harmonize the environment. For example, Dafa disciples are the leading characters in a play, while other sentient beings have supporting roles. A disciple who's stuck on a specific problem or at a certain level will not be able to prevent the failure of the salvation of the beings whom the old forces arranged to have negative effects on him and test him. If they are not being saved, they will commit more crimes against Dafa, or they will just repeat the same acts. If the practitioner has a strong righteous mind and lives up to the requirements of Dafa for him at that level, he will break away from the arrangement of the old forces and display the power of Dafa. Thus the sentient beings involved in that matter would be saved and their situations benevolently resolved. I feel that looking within oneself has a profound meaning, including dissolving misunderstandings or insufficient understandings of the Fa and looking at things with a righteous mind. Looking within oneself is to examine oneself in accordance with Dafa and cultivate oneself up to the standards of the indestructible Fa of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.
The above is my own enlightenment limited to my current level. Any correction is welcome.
January 28, 2003