(Clearwisdom.net) There are some questions and issues that I haven't understood well over the almost nine years since the persecution began. I didn't know what to do in certain situations, and I found that fellow practitioners disagreed with each other about many things. This was unlike before the persecution, when I thought that my understanding of Dafa was acceptable and I basically could find answers from the Fa to almost all the issues that I encountered, or to the questions asked by fellow practitioners. Later however, a great difference developed between me and fellow practitioners on how to deal with the persecution. They still have not been completely resolved.
I realize that before 1999, our differing opinions on certain things were due to our differing cultivation levels. It wasn't necessary to force ourselves to agree with each other, as different levels resulted in different views of the same thing. At that time, such differences could be resolved by raising one's cultivation level. However, after 1999, our differences on many issues, especially on how to treat the evil persecution, became a matter of considering things from different points of view, rather than a matter of levels.
For more than eight years, I had an incorrect understanding of how to deal with the persecution. At first, I thought that I was persecuted because of my own karma and some shortcomings in my process of cultivation. I felt that as long as I improved myself and endured suffering to erase the karma, I might solve the problems. So regardless of how hard I was persecuted, I just endured it. Because of this kind of thinking, I was inactive in clarifying the truth. I exposed the evil because Master asked us to do so and because fellow practitioners all did so, but in my heart I was unclear about why I should do this. I found that many practitioners held the same notions that I did.
While in this state, I was manipulated and persecuted. I was arrested and sentenced to imprisonment many times. It was extremely difficult for me to keep myself in a state of cultivation, and I could seldom do things to help Master save sentient beings. I felt great sorrow, and I thought that I couldn't fulfill my own vow. I wondered whether I would have a chance in the future.
Through continual study of Master's new lectures, I at last enlightened that the Fa created everything and that no lives are qualified to doubt, judge, or test the Fa. The Fa will create the new universe and offer all sentient beings of the old universe chances and hopes to proceed to the new universe. Without Dafa, there exists nothing, including the future of lives from the old universe and their chances for renewal. That is to say, the Fa is the root, the Fa is the biggest thing in the universe, and we might even enlighten that the Fa is the only meaningful thing in the development of the history of the universe. Everything else would become meaningless without Dafa.
Dafa instructs us to cultivate ourselves, and to become selfless and put others ahead of ourselves. We should become noble lives that always consider others first and live completely for others. How can we do this? Dafa is the root of everything, and without Dafa there exists nothing. Shouldn't we put Dafa ahead of everything? Shouldn't we be considerate of Dafa at all times? Shouldn't we consider Dafa and Fa-rectification as the most important thing? Shouldn't we regard everything from the point of view of Dafa and Fa-rectification?
I finally understood that it is a question of the foundation from which we do things, a question of the root or basis for our doing things.
For example, I thought: "The persecution might help us to ascend in cultivation." Maybe it does, as the persecution makes us eliminate karma and helps us improve our character. However, this would only apply during the personal cultivation period. Now is the Fa-rectification period, and during Fa-rectification, the biggest issue is related to saving sentient beings from the old universe. It is far more important than anything in our own cultivation and what kind of fruit status we may achieve in cultivation. If we still treat the persecution from the point of view of individual cultivation, then isn't that as though we are paying too much attention to our own gain and loss rather than thinking of others first?
Another thought I had was whether or not it is benevolent and compassionate to eliminate the evil. I enlightened that Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance is far beyond individual compassion. There is a standard for the Fa, and compassion and dignity exist in the Fa. From the point of view of the Fa and Fa-rectification, this is far beyond individual compassion, individual sympathy, and our individual attitudes toward lives, because without Dafa there would be no sentient beings in the universe. If Fa-rectification did not succeed, countless sentient beings would be lost. From this viewpoint, if anyone interferes with Dafa, shouldn't they be eliminated at once for the sake of other sentient beings in the universe?
When I think back to my earlier understandings, I realize that if you are unclear about the basic viewpoint, it is often because you limit yourself to "self" when you consider issues. Hence you aren't realizing how grand and awesome Dafa is, and it would also be impossible for you to enlighten to the unlimited and immense meaning of Dafa. If you let go of "self," infinite respect may arise from the bottom of your heart, and you could enlighten to the correct understanding of Fa-rectification. Thus it really isn't worth mentioning individual concepts, ideas, personal compassion, or your own likes and dislikes.
From a personal angle, you might regard the persecution as a test in your own cultivation. However, from the perspective of Fa-rectification, you should be clear that the persecution is serious interference to Fa-rectification. The old forces do this in the name of "tests." But we are Dafa practitioners during Fa-rectification, and we should think of everything from the point of view of Dafa, from the point of view of Fa-rectification, and from the point of view of Master, instead of from the point of view of the old forces. From Master's angle, every practitioner should be clear that the persecution is a completely serious interruption to Master's Fa-rectification.
As a Dafa disciple, if you do not consider things from Master's angle, then from what angle should you think of things? If you don't consider things from Master's angle, are you still one of Master's disciples?
The evil still exists because we Dafa disciples "allow" it to exist! If we didn't permit its existence, it would no longer survive. It would be impossible for it to live on, as we Dafa disciples have enough power, and what we cultivate is Dafa. Dafa can "...repress evil, eliminate disorder, harmonize everything, and remain invincible." ("Definitive Conclusion" in Essentials for Further Advancement)
The biggest problem for us now is a problem of understanding, both individually and as a group. We don't lack capability, but we lack appropriate understanding. If we all could consider things from the appropriate viewpoint, all the evil would be demolished.
Dafa is magnificent and grand, and it is the most meaningful thing in the universe. Dafa disciples are most dignified and imposing, and we should be the most positive, finest, and the most dignified and imposing in any dimension. This persecution shouldn't have occurred at all. Dafa and Master don't acknowledge the persecution. Why should we acknowledge it? Why should we think the persecution has some "benefit?" Isn't that like we are standing on the opposite side of Dafa and Master? Isn't that a problematic viewpoint?
It is dangerous for us to stand on the opposite side of Fa-rectification like this. I suggest that those who adhere to individual cultivation and conceal their hearts of fear correct their mistakes from the basic viewpoint, thoroughly clear away all bad conceptions, and let us improve as a whole body.
