Discard the Notion of “Being Old”

(Minghui.org) I am in my 80s and have practiced Falun Dafa for nearly 20 years. Only with Master’s compassionate help was I able to cultivate until today. 

I read the article “Eliminating Human Notions” on the Minghui website recently and enlightened to a few things that I would like to share with fellow practitioners.

I Had the Notion of “Being Old”

I have never stopped doing the three things since I began to cultivate. But, I have not been as diligent as my wife. She went out, walked through the streets in towns and villages, and introduced Falun Dafa to people throughout all these years, no matter the weather. 

I asked myself, “Why didn't I go with her?” I found that the reason was simple. As fellow practitioners remarked, “Your ordinary notion has the upper hand, and your divine side has not yet awakened.” 

I had always had the notion that “I am old.” My wife is more than 10 years younger than I, and I began to cultivate late, after July 20, 1999 (when the persecution started). 

I once even wondered, “Will Master take me home?” From these thoughts, I formed attachments that created a heavy mental burden. 

The Old Forces Made Me Appear to Age Quickly

The old forces made use of my notions and made me appear to age quickly. My hearing and vision deteriorated, I had shortness of breath when I walked, and also felt weak when walking. 

When I went out to distribute Falun Dafa informational materials to people, I would be unable to walk back home if I had walked far. I also stumbled multiple times, and some of the falls were rather serious. 

One day last year, I walked home after handing out Dafa materials. I walked through a construction area that was filled with ditches, piles of rocks, and loose gravel. 

I stumbled over a piece of rock, and my 5’9”, 170-pound body slammed into the gravel. I was dizzy lying on the ground and couldn’t move. 

I did not know how long I was on the ground, and at some point, I heard someone walking by. I then realized I had a bad fall and shouted for help. 

After I was helped up by the passerby, I dragged my legs with all my effort and slowly moved forward. I eventually made it home.

I told my wife what happened, and she asked me why I didn’t call out to Master for help at that crucial moment. I regretted that I didn’t have righteous thoughts at that time. 

However, Master still saved my life. An ordinary person my age would suffer disastrous consequences if they took a fall as serious as mine. Without Master’s protection and help, who knows what would have happened?

I started having severe pain the next day. My body swelled badly and I was covered in purple and black bruises. 

I could not do the exercises, could not stand steadily, and could not sit in the lotus position. All I did was listen to Master’s Fa lectures every day. 

With Master’s help, all my injuries disappeared in just over two weeks, and I started going out to do the three things again. 

Although I have suffered multiple injuries from falls, I have never had more than flesh wounds. I understood that Master protected me, and I kept validating Dafa and was not stopped by my injuries.

Because I had the notion of “being old," the old forces imposed various symptoms on my body. I’d had various illnesses before and all of them disappeared after I started cultivation. 

I did not need to take any medication after I began practicing Dafa. However, since I did not cultivate diligently, the old forces eventually tried to take my life. 

When a major blood vessel in my chest burst and threatened my life, compassionate Master saved me again. However, I still did not learn my lesson, as I still had the notion of “being old.” 

More recently, I began having symptoms of prostate problems. I had serious symptoms of urinary urgency, frequent urination, painful urination, and difficulty urinating. 

For several days I was unable to urinate. The pain was indescribable. 

An ordinary person would have to go to the hospital immediately or the blockage would damage the urinary system and one's life would be in danger. However, I kept in mind that I am a Dafa practitioner and that Master is watching over me. 

I knew that all the symptoms were not real and that they were imposed on me by the old forces. I looked inside myself to find any loopholes, and fellow practitioners helped me by sending righteous thoughts. 

At the critical moment of my life, compassionate Master saved me again. With Master’s help I broke through one tribulation after another. 

Going through these tribulations, I improved my xinxing and eliminated my karma. I came to a deep understanding that during critical times, we can break through any obstacles if we firmly believe in Master and Dafa!

Realizing the Seriousness of Notions

After going through several tribulations, I seriously reflected on my cultivation and searched deeply in my mind. I found my biggest attachment; I had always worried, “I am getting old. Do I have enough time to follow Master home?” 

This attachment made me feel sad, pessimistic and weak. I easily shed tears when I felt frustrated. 

I examined myself: “Why am I crying? Is it fear, fear of being old, fear of losing my body, and fear of not being able to reach consummation?” 

I came to understand that these were all manifestations of me not completely believing in Master and Dafa.

Master said,

“Great enlightened beings fear no hardshipTheir will is cast of diamondLife or death, they have no attachmentForthright and broad-minded on the road of Fa-rectification”(“Righteous Thought, Righteous Action”, Hong Yin II) 

I came to understand that if one lets go of life and death, death will be far away from him. Master has removed Dafa practitioners’ names from the ledgers of Hell and everything about a Dafa practitioner is under the care of Master and Dafa. 

What is there to fear if one has already obtained the Fa? I came to understand that I must entrust everything of mine to Master and follow Master’s arrangement. All I need to do is to do the three things well.

I also realized that Falun Dafa cultivates both mind and body, and a Dafa practitioner’s body is no longer an ordinary body. Age, sickness and death cannot restrain Dafa practitioners!

Master also said,

“This means that you will no longer be subject to aging. Your cells will no longer decay and die, and you will forever stay young. So spiritual practice can bring you a youthful look that never fades.” (The Second Talk, Zhuan Falun)

I came to understand that true Dafa practitioners will not age naturally and will stay young forever. I also came to understand that Master taught us the Fa of the universe.

As Dafa practitioners, we must always follow Master’s teaching, instead of restraining ourselves with ordinary notions.

Our elderly practitioners must get rid of the notion of “being old.” Let’s discard various attachments and cultivate ourselves well before the Fa rectifying the human world arrives, and diligently assist Master to save more lives. 

Let’s fulfill our prehistoric vows and return to our true home by following Master.