(Clearwisdom.net) (continued)
Part 1: http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2004/11/29/55057.html
3. Our family used to have a postage stamp collection. When the stamp market was good, we used to go and do some trading. Later on there were some people manipulating the market and things became chaotic, so we left the collection at home. In 2000, while starting to clarify the truth, I sold tens of thousands of yuan worth of stamps, as well as our silver and commemorative coins, all at a deep discount, without telling my family. All the cash was used to purchase postage and envelopes to print truth-clarifying materials, make banners and pay travel expenses for fellow practitioners who went to Beijing to validate the Fa.
Our family wasn't counted as rich, but was secure and had two real estate properties. That day my Mom was saying that a relative was looking to buy a house. I blurted out, "Isn't it just all right to sell our vacant one?"
4. Some practitioners complained, "What is going on? There were nearly ten thousand people practicing in just our one county before. Where did these people go now?"
Actually it is not difficult to understand that the old forces are mostly making use of practitioner's attachments to comfort, fear, worry and various other aspects of selfishness to achieve the evil goal of persecuting and interfering with Dafa disciples. Like tidal waves washing away the sand, many of the former days' very diligent practitioners were washed out by the tidal waves mentioned and forewarned by Teacher's lecture. However, it is possible to deny the old forces' arrangement. Teacher said,
"You folks can't just go and abandon a person without trying hard enough." ("Teaching the Fa at the 2004 Chicago Conference")
In some regions, Dafa work is being done yet it is really difficult, which requires us to have to look inward first. We have to look at ourselves and think whether the motive is pure towards Dafa work or whether it is mixed with doing things out of attachment to do work, the eagerness for quick success and immediate gain, pursuit, or any other interference from human notions. Secondly, we should not neglect our righteous thoughts that deny the old forces that would create gaps and block us from forming a whole body.
We should engage in introspection, such as observing what and how we have done when Dafa was treated unjustly, and when practitioners suffer or are tortured to death. Are we responsible to Teacher? Are we responsible to ourselves? Three meals and a good night's sleep every day -- few people would ever forget or skip that! Sometimes when I recalled myself not doing well in this aspect, I was always ashamed and didn't dare face Master's picture.
Teacher said,
"You see that there are lots of things to do, and you are anxious and want to do them well."
("Teaching the Fa at the 2002 Fa Conference in Boston")
I urge those who are still taking it easy, who lie down on the sofa drinking coffee and watching soap operas while at the same time holding Dafa books, to hurry and wake up. This once in an eternity opportunity will not come again. Meanwhile I also urge the practitioners who are upset and anxious to calm their minds during Fa-study, to stand firm in their hearts, and to be calm when encountering difficulties. Since we've experienced so many lessons, we should proceed gently instead of rushing too much at doing things. Teacher said,
"We're doing these things with our hearts, while they're doing things with money--they could never compare."
("Teaching the Fa at the 2002 Fa Conference in Boston")
5. In this article, at the mention of contribution and diligence, some fellow practitioners would immediately say that selling things and selling the house are going to extremes, and that they should not even be considered. I'd like to share my family's understanding about the process of selling things and what is considered as going to the extreme. In my opinion the key is the extent. It depends on what is sold and how it's sold. If a farmer sells some grain, or if a fruit farmer sells the harvested fruits and vegetables so as to contribute to Dafa, that is mighty-virtue. However, if one sells all one's property and then has no place to live, anyone would say it's not normal. Teacher's lecture told us to take the middle way and be rational.
The path that we walk is very narrow. Even diverging a little is not acceptable. For instance, one practitioner had a big house. He sold it for 300,000 Yuan and then bought another for 200,000 Yuan in a slightly remote location. He kept all the furniture and other stuff, yet freed up 100,000 Yuan to use to save sentient beings. It is clear whether or not this is going to the extreme.
Teacher said,
"Genuinely cultivating Dafa,
The only thing that is important.
("Obtaining the Fa" Hongyin)
After the persecution began on July 20, 1999, so many Dafa disciples selflessly devoted their lives to safeguard Dafa and went to Tiananmen. At that time, they really let go of life and death and did not think of coming back. Why? Because at that time they were able to take it as the top-most priority. However, at the current time, if one still attaches himself to something, isn't it a human notion playing the role? Do you ever think of the Attainment Status that you'll achieve, and the expectations of those waiting to be saved?
6. When I was reading the 134th Minghui weekly, I read the article "A Suggestion on Establishing Small-Scale Materials Production Centers." In the article, the author said, "Actually in China I can be counted among the higher income class, with an annual salary of more than 20 thousand Yuan. Once I pursued comfort, but after continuous Fa-study, I realized more and more that my ability and the income I am entrusted with by Dafa should be used to support Dafa. Teacher said,
"Of the people in the world, there are a lot of heads of big corporations, and I can tell you, they had a wish in their previous lives to make money to use for Dafa. They've now become lost, and not only have they not used it for Dafa, they're using it for evil."
("Teaching the Fa at the 2003 Atlanta Fa Conference")
I believe that I must have had a wish in my previous life to make money to be used for Dafa; hence I have this money today. Therefore it should be used to validate the Fa. Teacher also said,
"As a matter of fact, I can tell you that at the final moment of the Fa's rectification of the human world, in a flash everything will be disintegrated. What money? There won't even be a piece of paper left." ("Explaining the Fa During the 2003 Lantern Festival at the U.S. West Fa Conference")
On the path of this practice, because I believe every word Teacher says, not only have my mind and body been healthy, but also at a very young age I have a very good life and a high income. Because I firmly believe Teacher's words, I have been persistent in the practice. No matter how the wicked Party conducts the persecution, I will not be moved by any interference. I sincerely hope that practitioners who have the ability and good financial conditions can take full advantage of it, and make use of it to do more Dafa work rather than just meet the needs of ordinary people's superior life style.
Those who stay at home enjoying the comfort of a high spending lifestyle, do you think of yourselves as superior to practitioners who are in prison? Do you ever think that at this very moment, overseas Dafa disciples are holding a candlelight vigil in the cold wind supporting us? Do you ever think of the practitioners in labor camps who perhaps merely because of not being cooperative with their tormentors, are put in dirty, smelly solitary-confinement chambers and tied up in straight-jackets suffering multiple electric shocks simultaneously? Reflecting on the situation, have you done anything for them?
(To be continued)
