(Clearwisdom.net) Practitioners often discuss this topic: why do the old forces persecute us? Fa-study and searching inside tell us that the fundamental reasons the evil forces are able to persecute us are lack of righteous thoughts and actions. In other words, when our thoughts are not righteous, the evil forces will be able to persecute us.
Why is this so? I'd like to share my understanding with fellow practitioners. As this is my personal understanding, and due to my limited level, I ask fellow practitioners to please point out anything inappropriate.
We have formed various notions, ideas and thought karma in the ordinary human world. All attachments, including those of fear, desire for recognition, showing off and jealousy, and every one of our negative thoughts were carefully arranged and are ego-based manifestations of the principles of the old cosmos. When we mix in human notions in the Dharma-ending period or hold on to things like fear while validating the Fa, we are actually condoning principles of the old cosmos and holding on to them. As a result, the old forces will help you "improve" according to their outdated principles.
"There is another principle in our universe: If you pursue or want something, others are not willing to interfere." (Lecture Three, Zhuan Falun, 2000 translation)
The old forces adopt the principles of "punishing evil with evil" and control the lives that they think should be weeded out, and let them do the evil against Dafa and Dafa disciples to help practitioners "improve." They don't look at it as persecuting Dafa disciples, but as being responsible for the future cosmos. This manifests here on Earth as Dafa disciples being arrested, sentenced to forced labor/imprisonment, their homes being ransacked, losing their lives due to illness, being injured, becoming disabled, tortured to death, or giving up cultivation due to fear, and other tribulations. Dafa disciples are being persecuted not only because the old forces are evil, but also because of their own attachments that they cannot purge. It was a result of complying with the old forces' principles.
"Once your thought is righteous, evil will collapse" ("What's There to Fear," "HongYin" Vol. II, Translation Version B)
The Fa that Master teaches includes the principles of the new cosmos. They are the pure principles that existed before the old cosmos entered the cycle of degeneration. During the course of our cultivation, at every moment we try to live up to the principles Master teaches us, unconditionally trust Master and the Fa, and do things according to Master's requirements. What we are actually accomplishing is clearing away human notions and any attachments that don't comply with the laws of the new cosmos. We choose to follow Master, we choose our future and we comply with the new cosmos' principles. Master will automatically take care of us, and the old forces dare not and will not be able to touch us because they are being restricted by the principles of the new cosmos. Master completely opposes everything arranged by the old forces. He rectifies everything that can be rectified and anything that is beyond correction is eliminated. It will manifest as Dafa disciples reaching the state of altruism, maintaining righteous thoughts and displaying righteous actions. As that happens, the persecution ends and all deserving sentient beings are saved.
We set up truth-clarification materials production sites, print and distribute truth-clarifying materials in order to assist Master in rectifying the Fa and saving sentient beings. These actions are selfless and comply with the characteristics of the selfless new cosmos. If we follow Master's words, the old forces are unable to persecute us. However, if we think we will be persecuted for doing the three things and form a notion of self-protection, that selfish action would comply with the characteristics of the old cosmos and we would be following the old forces' laws. Then the old forces would be able to interfere with us, and that is the true reason for their persecution.
I'd like to share another understanding of mine, which is that the entire cultivation process for a practitioner is one of constantly assimilating to the characteristics of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance." When a Dafa cultivator gets rid of all human attachments, he will have thoroughly transcended the restrictions of the old cosmos and has completely assimilated into the characteristics of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance." That is attaining the Dao and reaching consummation, and that is the completion of cultivation.
November 24, 2007
