(Clearwisdom.net) There is a veteran practitioner near us who obtained Dafa in the early period. He benefited a lot from Dafa, but due to his qing for his spouse, his tribulations intensified again and again, and in the end he gave up Dafa cultivation.
I came to understand that we cannot neglect the three things that Fa-rectification period Dafa disciples should do - study the Fa, send forth righteous thoughts, and save sentient beings by clarifying the truth. Our former fellow practitioners are beings that we have even more of a responsibility to save. Master Li doesn't want to leave behind any disciple, and it is our duty to help these former practitioners come back to Dafa.
Because of Master's compassionate arrangements, my wife and I had one chance after another to meet with this practitioner. After sharing with him several times, this practitioner finally accepted Master's new articles, but he still practiced secretly at home and could not study the Fa. He appeared to have no alternative and could only wait for the environment to improve.
We understand from studying Dafa that,
"The attachments you can't let go of around ordinary people all have to be let go. All your attachments, as long as you have them, all have to be worn down in different settings. You will stumble, and from that grasp the truth. That's how you cultivate." (Zhuan Falun)
When we don't have a good effect in clarifying the truth, it is due to some attachments that we still cannot discard. First of all, we didn't treat this practitioner as one of the sentient beings. We also had the attachment of fear that he might affect our own cultivation and clarifying the truth. After letting go of these attachments, the capacity of our minds also enlarged and could be considerate of others in everything. We helped him find a copy of Zhuan Falun and wrapped it with a new book cover. We also found copies of Master Li's recent lectures and treated his concerns as our own concerns. At the same time, we pointed out to him the solemn nature of cultivation and improvement together within Dafa, all of which helped him become more and more firm to return to cultivating in Dafa.
One day he came to our home to talk to us. Right after he entered the room, he said, "I have come to ask you, can I still cultivate?" My wife and I immediately answered, "Of course you can." And we also told him, "Master Li has been suffering for all sentient beings and He is still waiting for those Dafa practitioners that have not stepped forward. As long as the Fa-rectification hasn't ended, there is still an opportunity. It is your own decision whether you can cultivate or not."
At the same time, we solemnly pointed out that: "First, you violated an important rule in cultivation - no second cultivation way, which increased your tribulation. Second, you didn't let go of your qing toward your spouse,
'It's demons interfering with you--they are directing people to interfere with you' (Zhuan Falun).
Your wife also came here for Dafa and you need to clarify the truth to your wife and save her. In this way you are acting for her benefit. Cultivation of Dafa will bring good fortune, and if one person practices Dafa, the whole family benefits.
'If you say you want to steel your will, then with this thought, at that time you'll really be able to do that, and naturally you'll do well since your character has improved' (Zhuan Falun)."
At this point, he said, "I understand it now, and I am determined to clarify the truth to my wife and save her." After our talk, he went home. Two hours later this practitioner, who had traveled home and back over a dozen kilometers, came to tell us the good news. Beaming and buoyant he said, "It is all right now. After I spoke a few sentences, my wife said, 'I will never stop you from practicing again!' After she heard that I want to practice the Dafa exercises, she right away agreed to give me over 100 yuan to buy a tape-recorder." Thus, after he let go of his attachment to qing, a great obstacle that had hounded him for seven years was removed. This practitioner said with a sigh, "It is so true that once we let go of our attachment, that tribulation becomes nothing!" He told us that after he talked to his wife, his whole body felt warm and comfortable. The very next day, he participated in group study and also withdrew from organizations affiliated with the evil Party using his real name.
We really feel happy for this practitioner. Master Li said,
"In fact, making progress in one's own cultivation is a part of the process of saving beings. Saving beings, improving yourself, and resisting the persecution are all acts that validate the Fa; only walking straight your path amounts to validating the Fa" ("Walk Straight Your Path")
This practitioner kept thanking us. We said, "You should thank our magnificent and compassionate Master Li. It is all Master's arrangement for us to help our former fellow practitioners come back so that we can improve together and upgrade as a whole body."
October 23, 2005
