My Thoughts After Watching the Extended Version of “Once We Were Divine”

(Minghui.org) Accessing overseas websites for a few weeks was very difficult recently. Another practitioner said the same. Occasionally we could open one or two web pages, but not the Minghui site. 

I tried it again one day, and it finally worked! As I hurried to download Minghui Weekly for those missing weeks, I noticed an intranet email from the Minghui Editorial Board. It recommended that practitioners in China see the extended version of the movie “Once We Were Divine.” “Keep up your diligence!” concluded the email.

We were greatly encouraged by the message from the Minghui Editorial Board. Despite difficulties with the internet, we downloaded this two hour-and-50-minute-movie without a problem. I made several copies for other practitioners and watched it myself three times. I really benefited from it.

As I watched the movie the first time, I was so amazed by the grand scenes of battles between gods and demons that I paid little attention to other details. However, I did remember that it was very convincing when Song Guangming told others about Falun Gong, and it helped me immensely.

For example, when Zhao Haifeng wrote articles slandering Falun Gong, Song tried to stop him from defaming it. Zhao brushed him off and said, “Just because you do Falun Gong doesn’t mean I have to praise it as well.”

Song replied, “I didn’t ask you to praise it, only that you tell the truth.”

His words touched me deeply. Talking about Falun Gong like this can inspire people of conscience, since many will acknowledge and appreciate the person’s sincerity.

There is also a scene where two security guards caught Song when he was distributing truth-clarification materials. What Song said to the younger guard broke down the young man's atheistic thinking, while what Song said to the older guard overturned his misconception that the Communist Party had improved.

The way Song explained the truth was natural and easy for others to accept. So I watched the movie a second time to learn more. This time, I also noticed the conversation between the Wumi the Wise and Yu’er when Wumi said, “Only here can you see what you wish to see.”

I realized from what he said that whatever happens in the human realm, no matter how trivial, is not accidental. Those who were restrained by the Heart-Binding Chains were those who were late for their heavenly timing, those who had lost their way, and those who had strayed onto an evil path. One can break this chain only by relying on one’s true thoughts and understanding the truth.

When Song was about to be killed for his organs, he thought about his wife and daughter and was about to give up. But then he realized he had not yet fulfilled his mission, so he could not leave like that. As his righteous thoughts strengthened, things miraculously turned around. This was also very helpful to me. After all, when a disciple has strong righteous thoughts, Master Li (the founder of Falun Gong) has ways to resolve anything!

As I watched the movie the third time, I looked more closely at what happened in the heavenly realm, and I saw that the Sage of the Seas (Zhao Haifeng in the human world) and the King of Light (Song Guangming in the human world) had different goals in mind when they came down to earth.

The King of Light made a vow before descending to the human world: “We vow to uphold morality amidst chaos, to save sentient beings in times of peril. United we descend, united we shall return to the heavenly realm.”

However, the Sage of the Seas said, “Success in this endeavor will bring unprecedented great merit... If I fail, I shall not return to Heaven!” Because he descended to the human realm to earn great merit, his selfishness had already revealed itself before he left. As a result, he was even more lost while in the human world and said several times, “I just want to make a name for myself and not live my life in vain.” I understood that this was one of the reasons why he was not able to return. 

At the end of the film, I saw the powerful hand signs the King of Kings used when he destroyed the god called “Destruction” in the old universe. I never thought of how powerful the hand signs were, not only at eliminating the god “Destruction” but also at changing the laws of the old universe.

Wumi the Wise said at the end of the movie, “Once we were divine. Whether you can return to your original true self depends on your own choices.”

My wish is that all of us practitioners can accomplish our missions and return to the divine successfully!

Editor's note: This article only represents the author’s understanding in their current cultivation state meant for sharing among practitioners so that we can “Compare in studying, compare in cultivating.” (“Solid Cultivation,” Hong Yin)