(Clearwisdom.net) Several of our local practitioners passed away in 2008 and early 2009. In spite of the fact that our coordinator and other fellow practitioners had studied the Fa, sent forth righteous thoughts, and shared experiences from the perspective of the Fa with them, we still watched them pass away. We all felt sad, disappointed and regretful.
Master said,
“For a cultivator, looking within is a magical tool.” (“Fa Teaching at the 2009 Washington DC International Fa Conference”)
In retrospect, I looked within to see what had given the old forces an opportunity to interfere with practitioners. As I searched deeply for the roots of my attachments, I realized that my human heart had surfaced while helping that practitioner. For example, when the practitioner’s condition was better, I told other practitioners that I had helped her. I did that to show off. How strong my pursuit of fame was! On the other hand, when the practitioner was not doing well, I did not help her improve from the perspective of the Fa, but instead blamed her by saying that she did not do well herself and that she was helpless and hopeless. I cried when I recalled those days. I was so sorry for the practitioners who have passed away.
Master told us,
“The next person's things are your things, and your things are his things.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Washington, D.C. Fa Conference”)
After I found these human attachments, I saw that behind each of them was selfishness. I used the words that Master gave us for sending forth righteous thoughts to eliminate the attachments. While doing so, I understood why Master wants us to “consider others first, so as to attain the righteous Enlightenment of selflessness and altruism.” (“Non-Omission in Buddha-Nature” in Essentials for Further Advancement)
A female practitioner in her fifties had symptoms of a serious disease in December 2009. The doctor diagnosed late-stage lung cancer, which had spread to the brain and caused her to faint. We had not done well with the practitioners who had passed away before. Having learned from those experiences, I wanted to use my heart to help save this practitioner from the old forces. After sharing with other fellow practitioners, we bought some gifts and went to the hospital to see her. She was in very poor condition, and had a very strong reaction to the chemotherapy. Every part of her body hurt so much that she could not fall asleep, and she screamed out in pain. I felt sad and regretful to see her like that. Had I paid more attention and given more help to her before, she would not have been in such a dreadful situation.
After the hospital visit, we split into two groups – one sent forth righteous thoughts at the hospital to help her deny the old forces’ arrangement, and the other stayed at home and also sent forth righteous thoughts. Soon after that, she was discharged from the hospital. At home, however, she did not have a good environment to study the Fa and was still in a precarious situation. We decided to ask her to come to my house to study the Fa with us. I invited some fellow practitioners and formed a harmonious and compassionate environment. While we studied the Fa, we regarded every single symptom as illusory. When none of us was moved nor affected, the old forces were out of their wits. We felt that this was a test to see if our group had firm determination and strong righteous thoughts.
Master said,
“Cultivation depends on one's own efforts, while the transformation of gong is done by one's master.” (Zhuan Falun)
During those days, while holding her hands, some senior practitioners encouraged her: “You can do it. This is not your own tribulation. This is a tribulation of our entire group. However, with Master, the Fa, and fellow practitioners, you can get better.” When she was suffering from extreme misery, she said: “I’m leaving. Please write about my lesson.” Before she finished saying this, however, a fellow practitioner firmly replied: “We don’t acknowledge this as a lesson. We deny it. We’ve learned enough lessons. You must not leave us. We must go home with Master.” Fellow practitioners’ righteous thoughts gave her confidence to fight the old forces. Sitting around her, we sent forth righteous thoughts, and recited “Falun Dafa is good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good!” We also viewed Master’s Fa Teaching Given to Australian Practitioners, and the 9-Day Lecture in Guangzhou.
Two weeks later, we had all improved as one body, and she became better and better every day. Very soon, she was totally fine. When she went back to the hospital for a checkup, the doctor found that both the lung and brain cancer had disappeared. She expressed how grateful she was to Master, and has since joined our group to study and practice every day, as well as to do the three things.
I believe that when we are helping fellow practitioners, a battle between righteousness and evil in other dimensions is happening concurrently. With protection from Master and cooperation from fellow practitioners, we have helped some practitioners come back from the influence of the evil old forces.
This is just like what Master said,
“When disciples have ample righteous thoughts
Master has the power to turn back the tide”
(“The Master-Disciple Bond,” Hong Yin Vol. II)
At the same time, we have all improved as one body and have gotten a chance to rectify ourselves. If we do not blame fellow practitioners and treat them with compassion, the mighty power of the Fa will be demonstrated to us.
This is my personal understanding. Please point out anything inappropriate.
