(Clearwisdom.net) I recently read some articles about older practitioners experiencing senescence, the process of deterioration with age. Some suffered from sickness karma and others passed away.
At this time, clarifying the truth is our primary focus. These practitioners passed away rather then continuing to follow Teacher's Fa-rectification to the end, which is a loss for the Fa. Perhaps they did not cultivate well at the last stage.
Our task is to assist Master in the Fa-rectification. Our virtuous hearts are not in question. Practitioners need to clarify the truth. As long as we do the three things well, Teacher will protect us and eliminate the old force's arrangements. Why do some older practitioners still die? I believe it is due their attachments.
One attachment is that they feel they are getting old. I have this type of problem, too. I am seventy-four years old. When I turned seventy, I started having the thought that I was old. This thinking had a strong influence on me, and I became really old. First, I saw a spot in my left eye. My vision became weak because I always felt confused. My hearing also became weak. I sometimes felt that my leg was very heavy (but not while sending forth righteous thoughts). I didn't heed these warnings, but did correct myself with righteous thoughts. I clung to the notion that people my age should show signs of deterioration and aging.
Teacher said:
"What's not a right mind? It refers to a person's inability to always treat himself as a practitioner." (from Zhuan Falun)
I always read Zhuan Falun, but I didn't read the Fa from my heart. This means that I did not combine the Fa with my personal thoughts and correct myself. I considered my thoughts as a natural occurrence. I took myself as a everyday person. It isn't surprising when an everyday person becomes old.
This situation lasted for me until 2009 when Teacher mentioned "the appearance stems from the mind" ("Fa Teaching Given at the Epoch Times Meeting"). I realized that my aged appearance resulted from my own attachments. I then corrected myself with the Fa, and denied this everyday person's concept. My energetic condition returned. I realized that as long as our thinking is based on Fa, Dafa's miraculous powers will manifest.
In China, at least in my surrounding area, it seems the majority of practitioners are older. Most of them are doing well on the three things, but a few of them lack righteous thoughts. I am sharing my own experience, and encourage others to share their experiences, so that we can help each other to improve ourselves and become more diligent. We must be very clear in our minds. We have the Fa in our hearts, and look inward every time with the Fa. Teacher lifted us up from hell, purified us, then gave us Dafa. Please eliminate such human attachments as soon as possible. The bright way is right in front of us.
This is only my personal sharing. Please point out anything inappropriate.