Kind Reminders for Elderly Practitioners

(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa has been spread in the world for more than 20 years, and many who learned it when it was first introduced are now getting on in years.

Some elderly practitioners cultivate diligently and are doing a great job validating the Fa. Others, however, now weaker physically and mentally mainly due to their inabilities to overcome the restraints of the demon of “old age,” seem to have lost their psychological endurance. The old forces take advantage of their loopholes to increase whatever interferes with them to persecute them. This has become more prominent in recent years.

I would like to share my understanding of the issues that some elderly practitioners have and how they should overcome them.

Our Lives Are Extended to Validate the Fa

Several elderly practitioners in our area passed away, and some are bedridden because of health issues. One who was bedridden told her daughter that she should not have gone to the hospital when she was sick. It sounded right, but in fact that thought was not righteous because she still believed that she was sick. Some practitioners wondered what they'd do if the same thing happened to them. With that thought, these practitioners accepted the old forces' arrangements.

Some practitioners initially took up Dafa to cure illnesses. Their lives have been extended by Teacher Li, who has arranged a new path of life for all Dafa cultivators. Any of their thoughts that go astray from Dafa cultivation can be used by the old forces to persecute these practitioners, or even take their lives.

After developing symptoms, some of these practitioners thought that the illnesses they had had before becoming a cultivator had returned. They usually could withstand their symptoms for a few days, but when there were no signs of recovery, their righteous thoughts weakened and they resorted to thinking like ordinary people to understand their condition. Instead of looking inward for the root causes of their problems and using strong righteous thoughts to eliminate them, they chose to go to the hospital.

Beware of Human Sentiments and Emotions

Some elderly practitioners have failed to view cultivation rationally and still treat Master and Dafa with human sentiments. One of them insisted on burning incense all day long and even spent all her savings to buy incense. As a result, Master's portraits and the walls of her house all turned black from smoke. She still refused to stop even though other practitioners tried to convince her not to go to extremes. Her strange behavior tarnished Dafa’s reputation and thus gave the old forces opportunities to make her suffer from sickness karma.

The Standards for a Dafa Disciple Do Not Alter Because of One's Age

The requirements for Fa-rectification era Dafa disciples are the same for everyone. Some elderly practitioners assume that the police would not persecute them because of their age. Most of them spend more time studying the Fa and doing the exercises, but they don’t have a deep understanding of the Fa principles. But the requirements for cultivation aren’t lowered due to one’s age. Even if those practitioners don’t face the danger of being arrested for going out to clarify the facts, the old forces might still interfere with them by creating the illusion of illness.

Some of the notions these practitioners have formed throughout their lives can also interfere with them. They resist change and are stuck in their own ways. I feel that elderly practitioners should even more so keep up with the standards for Dafa disciples—constantly reflecting on their thoughts and behaviors, sharing with fellow practitioners, being more open-minded, and letting go of themselves. They should dare to face their mistakes and shortcomings and correct them.

The Pursuit of Mighty Virtue

Some elderly practitioners are diligent and have been doing Dafa projects for many years. But as time goes by, new tools and technology come into play. Attached to their ways of doing things, however, they refuse to adjust. Hidden inside them is the fear of letting go of the opportunity to establish their mighty virtue. If their projects stagnate or are unsuccessful, their hearts are heavy and they start to worry. Eventually their human side takes the upper hand, which causes some health problems. Being emotionally attached to Dafa projects is also an attachment.

Master taught us,

“As a matter of fact, this is because the same Fa has different transformations and forms of manifestation at different levels, and it can play different guiding roles for cultivators at different levels.” (Lecture One, Zhuan Falun, 2014 Translation Version)

Elderly practitioners should learn to be flexible and choose to work on projects that suit their situations. Those who cannot go out to clarify the facts can send forth righteous thoughts at home.

Cultivating Dafa Is a Serious Matter

Some elderly practitioners read Dafa books as a hobby. Many of them are very lonely and watch TV all the time. They are full of human affections, and some still have intense lust. They use Dafa to maintain their health and meet their spiritual needs, but as soon as their human attachments and desires are tested, they immediately put Dafa aside.

Master said,

“Human beings are very difficult to save. There are always about five to ten percent of the people in each class who cannot keep up with the others. It is impossible for everyone to attain the Tao. Even for those who can continue their cultivation, it remains to be seen whether you can succeed and also if you are determined to cultivate. It is impossible for everyone to become a Buddha.” (Lecture Two, Zhuan Falun, 2014 Translation Version )

Dafa is the Great Way that saves people from the sea of suffering. It is the supreme cosmic law that enables people to reach different levels of divinity! Those who cannot truly cultivate in Dafa can get some temporary benefits or maybe enjoy a few more years of life extended by Teacher, but that is not the goal for Dafa disciples.

The old forces do not exempt certain practitioners due to their age. On the contrary, they seize every opportunity to persecute every practitioner. Elderly practitioners who fail to genuinely cultivate tend to find it difficult to enlighten to things in Dafa. If their health declines, they may even blame Teacher for not taking care of them. Their poor enlightenment can negatively impact their friends and families who ultimately turn away from Dafa.

I hope my article can help these elderly practitioners. I also hope that they can cultivate more diligently and gain a deeper understanding of Dafa to elevate in their cultivation.