(Clearwisdom.net) Six years have passed since the persecution started on July 20, 1999. During those six years, Teacher has arranged for us to cultivate in the process of Fa-rectification and save sentient beings. By negating the old force arrangements step by step while enduring hardships, we have advanced and become mature. We've observed that whenever we are in line with Falun Dafa, and look inward to eliminate our notions and deviated thoughts, our righteous, powerful thoughts appear. If we look outward, and remain attached to our human notions, we deviate from Teacher and the Fa, and leave loopholes for the evil.
The following are some of my experiences.
Righteous Thoughts Are from the Fa
Since the persecution started, the vicious campaign to slander and defame Falun Dafa has run rampant. I thought that I should go to Beijing to appeal for the fair treatment of Falun Dafa, but when I thought about how tightly the authorities controlled the railway stations, and how they beat and detain Dafa practitioners, my heart would beat faster, and I always found excuses to postpone my trip. During that period of time, I repeatedly studied Teacher's new articles, and the article, "Eliminating Demon Nature" by a Western practitioner, on which Teacher had commented. After having read the article more than ten times, I suddenly enlightened to its meaning: As a practitioner, we should eliminate every demon in our body, and we should also eliminate every demon in the universe. As a particle of Falun Dafa, we should assume the responsibilities of a particle. Suddenly my righteous thoughts about going to Beijing to validate the Fa became firm and strong, and the fear disappeared by itself.
Teacher told us,
"If every one of you can understand the Fa from the depths of your mind, that will truly be the manifestation of the Fa whose power knows no boundary-the reappearance of the mighty Buddha Fa in the human world!" ("Cautionary Advice", Essentials for further Advancement)
During my trip to Beijing, facing hardships and police officers, my heart was as strong as diamond, and I was willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of the universal truth of Falun Dafa.
Teacher guided my way, and even used Falun to help me overcome difficulties. I kept a calm heart and didn't get elated about what I did. I knew that we went to Beijing to validate Falun Dafa, not ourselves.
"Cultivation depends on one's own efforts, while the transformation of gong is done by one's master. It is good enough if you have this wish. It is the master who actually does this, as you are simply unable to do it." (Zhuan Falun, Lecture 1)
The Beijing trip also helped me to enlighten to the meaning of Teacher's words, "There is sacrifice in forbearance." ("Non-Omission", Essentials for further Advancement) Teacher said, "But true improvements come from letting go, not from gaining." ("Teaching the Fa at the 2002 Fa Conference in Philadelphia, U.S.A.")
When we really get rid of all human attachments, the road will be very smooth and the power of the Fa manifests.
Eliminate the Attachment of Fear
Now I'd like to discuss my fear of plainclothes policemen, which has disturbed me for years. I used to think that they were everywhere, and I couldn't shake the notion. Even sending forth righteous thoughts didn't help. I didn't realize where I'd gone wrong.
Ever since 2002, I was very sensitive to "plainclothes." Whenever I went out, if I saw a middle-aged man with a cellular phone or bags near my door or across the road, I'd think he was a plainclothes officer. It seemed they were everywhere. Since I always saw them around, how could I doubt they were following me? I spent a lot of time changing buses in order to lose them. Especially when I went to other practitioners' homes, I would switch buses and take detours, but still I couldn't shake the feeling that they were following me. I felt that way even if I sent forth righteous thoughts before going out. It was a heavy burden I carried for several years.
During that time, several practitioners warned me that I had fear in my mind. I acknowledged the fear, but I didn't know why I couldn't get rid of it, even though I studied the Fa and sent forth righteous thoughts. Sometimes I encouraged myself not to be afraid, and I knew that even if I were arrested, I wouldn't reveal my fellow practitioners. But the fear was still there. I felt confused by it, until one day, some of my fellow practitioners were helping me to understand the reason behind my fear, and I gained a new understanding on the issue. One practitioner surprised me by saying that it was a case of "Demonic Interference From One's Own Mind." Teacher wrote about this phenomenon in Zhuan Falun, but I didn't think it fit my case, so each time I read that part of the book, I thought it had nothing to do with me. Since I didn't use the Fa to rectify myself, I couldn't identify my problem.
Another practitioner shared her experience. She said that when she made calls at public phone booths, if her mind was calm everything was okay, but when she thought that it might not be safe, a police car would immediately pull up and park in front of her. She said, "It just came so fast!" Since then, I've considered my thoughts about plainclothes policemen by the standards of Teacher's Fa. Since I always worried and looked for them, it was as though I was "begging" for them to appear, so they did.
"As soon as that kind of thought emerges, the evil might conjure a false image for you, and this will then cause interference." ("Teaching the Fa at the Washington, D.C. International Fa Conference" July, 2001)
One day, I didn't see anyone at the crossroads, but no sooner had I though about it than a plainclothes policeman showed up there. It was real! I finally saw my attachment and its result.
Since then, I started suppressing my thoughts about the plainclothes officers. Before sending forth righteous thoughts, I would think, "I ask all the cells in my body and all sentient beings I am saving to recite 'Falun Dafa Is Good, Falun Dafa Is Good!' Negate the old forces' arrangements, dissolve every barrier without exception." I could feel my whole body vibrating, and energy bursting from my head skyward.
After I did that a few times, I felt my field swiftly becoming pure. Not only were the bad thoughts dissolving, but my feelings of discomfort also disappeared. I no longer suffer fear and doubt. My heart has become calm and quiet, and I hardly ever see plainclothes policemen anymore. I can hardly believe how huge the power of sending forth righteous thoughts is. A big burden was removed from me. Looking back, I see that it was really no big deal.
I'd like to summarize my experience with the following:
1) Study the Fa with due diligence. Look inward to find problems.
2) Send forth righteous thoughts with saving sentient beings in mind. If it's just for one's own sake, out of fear, the effect won't be good.
3) Be clear that attachments are not part of one's true self, negate them and the arrangements of the old forces. To send forth righteous thoughts just for the sake of eliminating attachments may be an attachment in itself. Teacher said,
"When you have no human desires and aren't attached to anything, you'll cultivate quickly, improve quickly, and have fewer ordeals. Whenever you have attachments your cultivation will be slow." ("Teaching the Fa at the 2004 Western U.S. Fa Conference")
When I repeatedly thought about the plainclothes policemen, I poured energy into it. In so doing I was accepting the arrangements of the old forces. We should consider every issue from the perspective of the Fa. By negating the old forces' arrangements and rectifying our minds, we are walking the paths arranged for us by our Teacher.
4) Trust the power of the Fa, and correct all thoughts. Teacher said,
"but what's been bestowed upon Dafa disciples today is the state of Gods, and you should progress toward the state of a God. You can do a lot of things well if you approach them with righteous thoughts." ("Teaching and Explaining the Fa at the Metropolitan New York Fa Conference" April 20, 2003)
Practitioners are particles of the Fa. Since Falun Dafa is all-powerful, we particles should also become invincible. Teacher said,
"Whenever a tribulation comes, you do not see it with the side of your original nature but view it completely with your human side. Evil demons then capitalize on this point and inflict endless interference and damage, leaving students in long-term tribulations. As a matter of fact, this results from an inadequate understanding of the Fa by your human side. You have humanly restrained your divine side; in other words, you have restrained the parts that have been successfully cultivated and have prevented them from doing Fa-rectification." ("Expounding on the Fa," Essentials for further Advancement)
"As I've said, everything that happens today in the ordinary society is the result of Dafa disciples' thoughts. Even though the old forces do exist, if you don't have those thoughts they can't do anything. When your righteous thoughts are strong enough the old forces can't do a thing." ("Teaching the Fa at the 2002 Fa Conference in Philadelphia, U.S.A.")
I've enlightened to how important our thoughts are. When problems appear, it's due to our thoughts. My ill thoughts about the plainclothes officers disturbed me for three or four years. It wasted so much of my time and energy. This is a major lesson! Only by studying the Fa and looking inward can we find what's wrong. Teacher said,
"Surpassing time and space,
Fa-rectification dashes forward
Massive is the challenge,
but your will is firm
Unbridled are the wicked,
yet you keep your bearings
Purging evil as if but whisking dust away
My disciples,
walk straight the path of Dafa
May your radiance grace the human world,
as you transcend the Three Realms
Disciples of Fa,
be diligent, with a will that ebbs not
The countless years of hardship were all for this time"
("A Will That Ebbs Not," September 18, 2005).
We don't have much time to waste on human obstacles now. Let's follow the Fa to fulfill our duty to save sentient beings and validate the Fa from now on.
The above are my own personal understandings; please point out any mistakes.
Category: Improving Oneself
