Part 1: http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2004/8/1/50907.html
Part 2: http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2004/8/13/51323.html
Part 3: http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2004/8/20/51551.html
(Clearwisdom.net)
After my mother was hospitalized, her righteous thoughts became very weak. I said to her, "Although you were hospitalized, it does not mean that Teacher has abandoned you. Teacher cherishes every practitioner, including those who once walked a deviated path. You must not develop any notion that is not righteous. All these were enforced by the old forces, and they want to destroy your righteous thoughts. So you must be determined and firm in believing in Dafa and Teacher, and never forget that you are a Dafa practitioner." After this, my mother started listening to the Dafa tapes and sending forth righteous thoughts. However, because she did not recognize clearly the persecution that the old forces imposed on her, she tolerated it passively. Her symptoms worsened. She also developed ordinary people's notions and planned to practice at home after her disease was cured in the hospital. With this loophole, the evil escalated the persecution. At one point her life was in grave danger. She realized the problem but felt there was nothing she could do. Her doctor told her that all the transfused blood and proteins did not have any effect. I knew clearly what was wrong and shared my understanding with her. She also realized her problem. However, although she wanted to gain righteous thoughts, she still relied on ordinary people's means. She was attached to human sentimentality, even while having the desire to cultivate. She was repeatedly taken advantage of by the old forces. Because I was still on the police's wanted list, for safety reasons I decided not to stay any longer. I asked fellow practitioners to help my mother and I left the hospital.
At this point the purpose of the old forces became very clear. They knew that if my mother could pass this test at home, it would powerfully validate Dafa and clarify the truth. Therefore, they tried every possible means to interfere with her. They used every person they thought appropriate to say things that would move her heart. But if we have strong righteous thoughts, we can reject them.
There was an incident in our area recently. One senior practitioner had severe symptoms of illness. Her family sent her to the hospital, and she was diagnosed with having liver cancer. During intravenous transfusion, she realized that she was a Dafa practitioner and did not have any illness. She pulled out the needle and requested to leave the hospital. Her family made a big fuss, urging her not to do that. But she was very determined. Later, her family sent her to the hospital again to be examined and found out there was nothing wrong. Her family was amazed. This is truly what the Teacher said, "a good or bad outcome comes from one thought." (Zhuan Falun)
When our fellow practitioners are experiencing tribulation of illness, it is very important for them to maintain righteous thoughts. However, our attitude towards the fellow practitioners in tribulation will also play a significant role. If we are indifferent to their tribulations, or are not compassionate to them, or even feel there is nothing we can do to stop the old forces' persecution of them, we are then manifesting serious problems within ourselves. When a practitioner has tribulations, it certainly reflects his attachment. But if we can put ourselves in his shoes and treat his issue as our own, and if we can help and remind him to keep righteous thoughts with a sincere heart, the mighty power of the Fa will manifest in both the human world and other dimensions.
As a matter of fact, when our fellow practitioners are in tribulation, the key is not whether or not they have a righteous mind, but whether or not we as a whole body have a righteous mind. Righteous thoughts from our whole body will shake the evil. In fact, Teacher told us,
"While sending righteous thoughts, don't panic or be afraid, and as long as that wicked person keeps being violent, keep sending righteous thoughts" (Stop the Evil Acts with Righteous Thoughts)
As long as the evil that persecutes practitioners exists, we must keep sending righteous thoughts. If we can truly achieve this, the interference from illness or even the loss of life due to this persecution will decrease dramatically.
Our practitioners also need to come to a common understanding. On the surface, we are helping other practitioners in tribulation. In fact, we are doing it for ourselves. When the evil persecutes other practitioners, it is damaging Dafa. As a practitioner, isn't it our duty to eliminate the evil and validate Dafa? Isn't it our responsibility? Doesn't the mighty virtue we gain after eliminating the evil belong to us? If we do not have a clear understanding on this issue, it may keep other practitioners from participating as part of the whole body.
Here we should also remind those who tolerate the tribulations passively to wake up. It is a matter of life and death! People of the past could "hear the Dao in the morning and [could] die in the evening" for those small worldly ways. However, we obtained such a great Fa and we are in the Fa rectification period. There is nothing worth being attached to. We have no excuse not to treasure what Teacher gives to us.
Recently there have been many reports about practitioners being interfered with by illness. I realize that I needed to write about my mother's experience so that we can know the evil nature of the old forces. While we need to actively help fellow practitioners, we also must eliminate the evil for ourselves.
Let us form an unshakable whole body. Cherish the opportunity to rectify the Fa and offer salvation to sentient beings.
The above is my personal understanding. Please point out anything that is inappropriate.
2004-7-14
