(Clearwisdom.net) Recently, symptoms of "illness karma" appeared amongst my fellow practitioners, including myself. There were two severe cases, of which one had to stay in the hospital, while the other, after going to the hospital and having a needle inserted, nearly lost his life. I will discuss these cases based on my current understanding.
Whatever practitioners encounter is not by chance. Looking at it from a practitioner's point of view, these two fellow practitioners began practicing before July 20, 1999 and thus should have achieved a veteran practitioners' state. In my view, they had attained a fundamental foundation in cultivation. Yet, why did such incidents occur? Aren't we approaching the final period of the Fa-rectification? Examining the origin of the issue, it occurred to me that there exists the problem of "righteous faith."
Practitioner A. One day, this practitioner's entire body suddenly felt weak. The following symptoms materialized: angina pectoris (heart pain) and shortness of breath, and he could not walk more than ten steps without resting. Looking within, practitioner A concluded: "I must have an omission!" Then it occurred to him: "Oh! It must be the dark minions persecuting me directly." Practitioner A quickly sent forth righteous thoughts to eliminate the dark minions. Yet, after a few days, there was no change in his condition. In addition, many practitioners offered so-called helpful remarks and advice. "A" decided that "I still have not reached a high level and I am unable to pass this test" and therefore rushed to the hospital. But after less than ten minutes with the saline drip in place, the practitioner almost suffocated. Fortunately, the doctors and nurses were quick in giving him the necessary aid. Practitioner A then recovered and very quickly left the hospital.
Fellow practitioner B suddenly came down with symptoms of thrombosis (stroke) and paralysis of his limbs set in. After suffering for a few days, practitioner B went to the hospital. Lying on the hospital bed, practitioner B looked inside to find the "loophole." There must be an omission. Most likely it was the original thought of needing to seek medical intervention and go to the hospital.
No matter if it were practitioner A or practitioner B, in my thinking, although both of them did search within, they had not really found the root of their problems. I perceive this as their obstacle. I thought that they still had not resolved the issue of whom to believe?
Teacher stated:
"I do not talk about healing illness here, and neither will we heal illness. As a genuine practitioner, however, you cannot practice cultivation with an ill body. I will purify your body. The body purification will be done only for those who come to truly learn the practice and the Fa." (From "Genuinely Guiding People Toward High Levels" in Lecture One of Zhuan Falun)
As Dafa practitioners, when we search deep within our hearts, we will find if we really have the true faith in what Teacher has told us. Are we faithfully and unconditionally following Teacher in our cultivation? As a human being, when one is ill, one should go to the hospital; as a practitioner, what is the crucial point when looking at this problem? Teacher said:
"As true practitioners, we should look at issues from a very high level instead of from the perspective of everyday people. Should you believe that you are ill, this may really cause you to become ill. This is because once you assume that you are ill, your xinxing level will be as high as that of everyday people." (From "Cultivation Insanity" in Lecture Six of Zhuan Falun)
I have known these practitioners for eight or nine years, and I, too, have followed the Fa and have faith in Teacher. I realize now that
"the human logic that you, as an ordinary human, have formed deep in your bones over thousands of years" ("Cautionary Advice" from Essentials for Further Advancement I)
has not been fully cleansed. During the critical juncture between life and death or during an excessively painful period, what is our first thought? Is it about Dafa, our Teacher, or is it about "ailments" and going to the hospital?
Practitioner A said: "The dark minions persecuted me directly." Have we thought about why the dark minions were targeting us and persecuting us? Was it because deep within us, the hidden root of our attitude towards Dafa, towards our Teacher, was still somewhat unsteady? Were we truly considering it as illness karma, or was there that little nagging thought that it actually was an illness? Was it because we were still expecting modern medical science to cure us? If we do not have righteous faith, where could righteous thoughts come from? Where would our righteous actions come from? Superficial belief cannot solve our basic problems!
There is also a fellow practitioner C who had practiced for eight years. He is still taking a little medicine daily (dividing one capsule into many tiny parts). He said: "My illness needs on only this tiny bit of medicine. Besides that, I practice the gong and I really am doing rather well." Sometimes, understanding that this is wrong thinking, practitioner C says, "In consuming that tiny bit of medicine, I am no more than an ordinary person." I agree that in fact it doesn't matter how much medicine one consumes; it is a matter of righteous faith. A momentary slip differentiates the ordinary person from a god. Teacher had said that we do not have much time left. Then, when do you propose to finally resolve "this problem of being an ordinary person?" Cultivation is a serious matter and it cannot be the least bit casual.
Actually, "whom do you believe" is a question we often encounter in our daily lives. For example, when we buy vegetables, we sometimes think whether this vegetable that is rich in iron or that vegetable will help to reduce blood pressure. When buying fruit we think about whether this fruit has a high content of vitamin C or will that fruit reduce inflammation and help the urinary system. As an ordinary person, that is not wrong. For an ordinary person, all the things in life were created for the benefit and prosperity of the human race. However for a practitioner, the problem must be looked at from another angle. One must assess everything from a higher standard, because this is what cultivation is all about.
From Teacher allowing us to "amend" ("Amend the Jingwen") to Teacher saying "Dafa disciples' divine sides also be resurrected!" (From "Teaching the Fa on Easter, 2004, at the New York Fa Conference"), I realized that this standard of Fa-rectification has pushed us onto a new course. We must elevate to a higher realm. As far as our xinxing (1) is concerned, we have to raise our thought processes to a new level. Addressing the changes in the body, reactions are becoming more severe the closer we come to the surface layer. Therefore, we must be more diligent in our Fa-study and elevate our understanding of the Fa principles.
"If after going through this ordeal some students are still not clearheaded, then they will miss [the opportunities presented in] all of this. Only when you follow Master's requirements are you validating the Fa and cultivating yourself as a Dafa disciple, and only then are you a true Dafa disciple." (From "Be Clearheaded" in "Strictly Take the Fa as Teacher, of Our Own Initiative Destroy VCD's Not Published by Master (With Master's Comments)")
Fellow practitioners, during the crucial moment, everything depends on how we conduct ourselves! Let us all cherish this eternal good fortune!
(1) heart or mind nature, moral character.
