(Minghui.org) Karma is an important topic for practitioners. It manifests in different forms and can interfere with our cultivation. In fact, cultivation is a process of eliminating karma. We should understand what karma is and not be swayed by it so that we can use the process of eliminating it to improve ourselves.
Master said,
“The wrongful things people have done over their many lifetimes result in adversity for them, or for those on the spiritual path, what are known as karmic obstacles. And it is on this account that people are born, go through aging, become ill, and pass away. Those are normal forms of karma.” (The Six Talk, Zhuan Falun)
Birth, aging, sickness, and death are manifestations of karma that people experience. For non-practitioners, they are the stages that define a person’s life cycle. However, practitioners are guided by high-level principles. For us, the real purpose of being human is not to seek happiness. On the contrary, we should constantly let go of our human attachments and return to our original, true selves.
Master uses aging and sickness to eliminate karma for us, test whether we truly believe in Master and the Fa, and whether we can improve during tribulations. Some elderly practitioners went along with the illusion of being old, telling themselves, “I am old now so I cannot do as much as I did a few years ago.” Practitioners should follow higher standards and recognize that aging and sickness are reflections of karma, which cannot interfere with our true selves. In the cultivation process, Falun Dafa practitioners remove these false appearances and return to our true selves.
We may wonder why some practitioners have suffered from serious illness for a long time. One local elderly practitioner has been ill for quite a while. Her condition reduced her ability to talk to others about Falun Dafa. She was worried and wanted to correct her situation. She looked inward but could not find the cause. Other practitioners offered suggestions, but she would not listen after receiving repeated advice to look inward. Considering her case and other local practitioners’ situations, I believe that some practitioners may stay at one level for a long time and follow the same standard of that level. As we cultivate, we should continue to improve our understanding of the Fa, and make progress to comply with higher standards.
Master said,
“Over the past year, students’ own karma, inadequate understanding of the Fa, inability to let go of attachments amidst tribulations, inability to deal with things using righteous thoughts amidst painful trials, and so on, are the main reasons behind evil’s escalation of the persecution, and are the true fundamental excuses that the evil has used to damage the Fa. (“Eliminate Your Last Attachment(s),” Essentials for Further Advancement II)
We must study the Fa diligently to understand the Fa well so we can distinguish clearly the relationship between personal cultivation and Fa-rectification cultivation. Furthermore, we should look inward to eliminate attachments and resolve serious illness.
In order to repay karma, some cultivators may experience dangerous situations, but no matter what happens they are protected by Master.
Master said,
“Actually, don’t think that nothing happened to you after being hit—a you, made up of karma, really died. What’s more, that body had thoughts, a heart, and limbs that were made up of your bad karma; it died in the accident, and it was composed entirely of karma. We’ve done such a tremendous good thing for you, and have removed such a huge amount of karma and paid for lives with it—no one else does this. We do this only because you’re able to practice cultivation. When you realize this you will have no way to thank me.” (“Teaching the Fa at a New York Meeting,” Lectures in the United States)
The old forces’ interference and persecution may cause us problems. If this is the case, we should not just endure the trouble. We only follow Master’s arrangements and no one else’s.
Master said,
“After all, a cultivator is not an ordinary human. So why doesn’t the side of you that is your original nature rectify the Fa?” (“Expounding on the Fa,” Essentials For Further Advancement)
Practitioners may create new karma when we cannot follow the Fa to quickly correct our shortcomings. The additional karma can increase difficulties in our cultivation and prevent us from improving and assimilating to the Fa. For example, when some practitioners had discussions, I noticed that they talked about other practitioners’ shortcomings and even mentioned their names.
Master said,
“Nobody, with the exception of me alone, may know what a Dafa disciple’s spiritual standing or situation really is, for this is something that relates directly to the purity of the new universe.” (“Another Stern Warning”)
If their negative opinions about other practitioners were wrong, then weren’t they generating karma? If the comments cause the practitioner to be rejected by other practitioners, the wrongdoing may incur a huge amount of karma. The practitioner is Master's disciple, who may be a future Buddha, Dao or God. It’s frightening to think about how much karma they may generate for themselves!
Practitioners should watch our every thought, study the Fa diligently, and assimilate to the Fa completely. Let us focus on eliminating all our karma so we can return to our true homes with Master.