From Reader

Although I am new to the Fa, I have long followed other paths of cultivation. Now I have accepted the Dafa as my one path of cultivation. It is not an easy one, as all of you know.

The reports of atrocities against our fellow cultivators in China is appalling. Compassionate souls share their suffering on behalf of their beliefs, and thank them for standing up for us all. They have been given a wonderful opportunity to test those beliefs through suffering to raise their xinxing.

We know that attachment to the affairs of this world will prevent us from completing cultivation. It is hard to stand by and watch other sentient beings suffer such abuse. However, does not the desire to become involved, to "stand up for the Fa" and say it is good, replace detachment with sentimentality for these worldly affairs?

Does it not bring with it the attachment of righting an injustice?

Here in the United States, our nation was conceived from such an idea. As noble as that belief was, and as much as I want all people to live a life where they are free of governmental direction of their thoughts and actions that do not harm others, belief in this or any other ideal is an attachment. While it is a noble goal to guide the affairs of men, we are supposed to be unconcerned with such matters. Our path is to seek a return to the source through the Buddha Fa.

Does not the Fa require each of us to give up the sentimentality and other attachments that burden us on our journey? If so, then why do some give up their journey to get involved in those affairs? Some of us will suffer greatly, each in our own way, either by way of tests by those ignorant in the ways of the universe or to release karma carried forward from past lives. Is it not our duty to face the tests before us, and not to seek out those inflicted on others?

How is even peaceful protest of the ways of men any different than sentimentality over an illness suffered by a family member or ourselves?

I urge those who want to get involved to remember that this path of cultivation does not require defending -- the truth of the Fa will speak for itself. Those that pursue involvement in the affairs of men risk failing the completion of their journey by making even greater attachments to this world.

I fear that I am perpetuating my own attachment to worldly affairs by commenting on this. However, if my words can help those with predestined relationships to examine their hearts and attachments, then I will have served the Fa.

For those who have no choice and suffer recriminations, my heart goes out to you. May your cultivation soon be completed!

John

From Editor

Dear John,

Thank you for contacting us and sharing your understanding with us. It is wonderful and respectful that you have chosen Dafa as your cultivation way. As you have experienced many other cultivation paths in the past, we could imagine that it must be quite a test for you.

However, it seems that some of your current thinking about not to be involved in the worldly affairs or detaching from human sentimentalities have the trace of the principles in some other cultivation systems.

In other cultivation systems, practitioners could go to temple, church, or deep mountains and try all kinds of ways to cut off the contacts with the mundane world so that their hearts can get pure and clear in that environment. However, one unique feature of Falun Dafa is that we cultivate ourselves while living inside the mundane world, we have our xinxing tested in these dye vat in every moment. What matters is how we look lightly on the issues that everyday people are so attached to. This is one of the factors that enable us to improve very fast and solidly in this Dafa.

More importantly, what is happening in China right now is against Dafa and our teacher, but not against individual practitioners. Therefore, it cannot be regarded as merely individual practitioner's own tribulation. As Dafa practitioners, we have duty to prove Dafa is righteous and Dafa is the genuine science. This is not "defending Dafa" with human sentiments. Because of the vicious slanders and tortures, many kind people might lose the chance to attain Dafa yet they might be waiting Dafa for myriad of years; also many people might lose the chance to step out to prove to people that Dafa is righteous and establish their mighty virtues in the process and eventually return to their original place. Just imagine, if practitioners outside China did not put a lot of efforts to correct the slanders and rumors, western people would all have to believe the original terrible media report that Dafa is not a good thing and there would not be so many new practitioners in the past year.

We all are part of Dafa and out of our own benevolence we can share the load with our fellow practitioners in China. As many practitioners in China has enlightened: being indifferent to the ongoing atrocities is equal to spoiling the evil force. To prove Dafa and let more people understand Dafa correctly under current severe situation can only be accomplished with great benevolence and forbearance. So it is a great test for practitioners on whether they can keep practicing "Zhen Shan Ren" and remove all kinds of human attachments in a totally different circumstance. Of course, during the process, practitioners might have all kinds of sentiments exposed at different tests, but it would be a great chance for them to face it and remove it. Gradually and eventually, our action will be more holy and pure and our hearts will reach the realm of "selflessness and altruism". We did put a lot of sentiments in our work before and there have been painful lessons. Hope that we are getting more mature.

The above are just some of our swallow understandings.

"Dafa's inner meaning is boundless".

Let us all study Dafa more earnestly and advance steadily in our cultivation.

Thank you again for your article cause it also give us a great chance to see inside ourselves how much human

sentiments we put in our work for Dafa. It is a great reminder.

Editors

From Reader

Editors:

Thank you for the light you have shed on the Dafa. I misunderstood that losing our individual attachments and sentiments did not mean we could not show support for both the Fa and our fellow practitioners who are being so terribly punished for their beliefs.

Is this show of support limited to those in China who are able to go to the authorities to protest wrong action? Or is there anything we here in the US and elsewhere can do?

I am saddened by the stories I read daily from your listserv. It is a valuable service you provide to us all as a reminder that Dafa is not an easy way, and that it is precious indeed.

If I can be of assistance to your efforts, I hope you will call on me. Again, thank you so much for clarifying the teaching. I am humbled by my ignorance.