(Clearwisdom.net) Falun Dafa has been spread in this world for over ten years. Dafa practitioners have encountered all sorts of tribulations on their paths, and we deeply feel that we have gradually become mature under Teacher's protection and guidance during this time. Teacher acknowledges one body of Dafa practitioners like this: on the path of Dafa practice for over 10 years, how can we walk well the path arranged by Teacher? The most important thing is to study the Fa, study the Fa, and continuously study the Fa. Enlightenment to profound Fa principles enables us to gradually become clear-minded in identifying attachments, and in enduring ordeals, conflicts, pain, despair, feelings of helplessness, depression, or confusion. When we study the Fa well, our righteous thoughts are strong, we can walk correctly on the cultivation path, improve quickly, and have a deeper understanding of Dafa principles.
We can also call out to Teacher to ask for help. This supplication may sound the same as everyday people's begging, but in fact, to Dafa practitioners, this is a manifestation of believing in Teacher and Dafa. A practitioner in our area was caught by police while explaining the facts to people. The practitioner shouted: "Quickly rescue me!" The police asked, "Who are you asking to rescue you?" The practitioner was surprised, and ended up being taken away by the police. Afterwards, this practitioner was again seized by several police officers while distributing truth-clarification materials, and he immediately shouted: "Teacher, rescue me!" The police officers just walked away. Remember to ask Teacher for help when you are in danger--the result will be different.
A few years ago, several of us were arrested at the same time for no reason. I did not think of Teacher at that time, did not negate the old forces' arrangements, and thought that I might receive a two-year sentence. As a result, I was indeed sentenced to two years of imprisonment. One of the practitioners arrested with me thought: "I should not be here." As a result, his blood pressure measured 200, and he was sent home that same day. The practitioner did not have a history of high blood pressure. Another practitioner thought: "I will be given a maximum sentence of one year of forced labor," and as a result he was sentenced to one year of forced labor. Another practitioner thought: "I should go home," and that practitioner went home the same day. Several of us had different consequences due to the differences in our thinking.
I have deep feelings about the persecution scenarios experienced by some practitioners as reported on the Clearwisdom/Minghui website. In several years of suffering persecution, I have been imprisoned with many practitioners, and know the evil environment, and what it's like to be in that kind of environment. If the human notions are too strong, and you don't remember the Fa or Teacher, then the situation becomes really very difficult, and practitioners will use human notions to deal with it.
During the 16 days I stayed at the so-called prison allocation center, I had to pluck pig hair every day and separate the black hairs from the white hairs. The entire room, from bed to floor, was full of pig hair and the stench of pigs. We were only given two cups of water to clean up in the morning, and two cups at night. If you could not finish the task, you wouldn't get the one steamed bun allocated for breakfast, and would be beaten. In a slightly better situation, those who finished their quota would get a whole bun. Others had to share a single bun between two people. We were only given a fistful of rice for lunch and dinner. During those days my human notions came out; but after all, I was a practitioner, and so I tried my best to handle everything with forbearance. However, I ended up following the path arranged by the old forces.
A local fellow practitioner was arrested by the police while clarifying the truth, and was sentenced to one year of forced labor. In the labor camp, no matter how police persecuted and tried to brainwash him, he remained rock-solid. He even rectified practitioners who had been "transformed." Police said to this practitioner, "Doesn't your Teacher ever do anything wrong?" He replied: "No." The police found many of Teacher's lectures, which they consider illegal. The practitioner said, "This is your thinking, Teacher doesn't make mistakes." The Police officer became very angry, but that practitioner was released from the labor camp within six months.Calling out to Teacher at critical moments indeed cannot be done by average people. I recall after July 20, 1999, seeing some practitioners asking Teacher for help. I always felt practitioners should judge and make decisions on their own, and that asking Teacher for help would be a manifestation of not doing well and not studying the Fa well. Therefore I never asked Teacher, and considered doing so to be losing face. When practitioners call for their mothers or fathers when encountering very serious persecution, as Teacher said, they hadn't remembered Teacher, and hence, the situation couldn't be changed.
There was also a practitioner who was sentenced to one year of forced labor, but walked out with righteous thoughts after six and a half months. One time, this practitioner was so hungry that he ate too quickly and a piece of food got stuck in his throat. It became difficult to breathe, so he shouted at once: "Teacher, save me!" The symptoms vanished immediately. This practitioner instantly put his palms together and said, "Thank you Teacher for saving me!"
My personal understanding is that asking Teacher for help reflects but one stage in the cultivation process. During the entire cultivation process, we are continuously studying the Fa and improving. We will gradually compare to Dafa when encountering ordeals, tribulations, big or small things, and not continue to beg Teacher superficially. When one realizes Fa principles and improves, asking Teacher while cultivating is a manifestation of Dafa practitioners' natural disposition.
Teacher and Dafa are one body, so we can't regard them with human notions such as "asking is an attachment," "it will cause Teacher to endure more for us" and so on. When we are unable to recall Teacher's guidance for a while, and have not improved in remembering Fa principles, Teacher will help us and give us hints when we ask him whilw truly cultivating. Even if practitioners display very strong attachments, that is merely a process; the person will enlighten, change, and achieve in this process. This kind of supplication is not the kind that is understood by non-practitioners. We do not seek happiness in the human world, but ask for help to walk correctly on the path of cultivation.
If there are any mistakes, please point them out with compassion.
