(Clearwisdom.net) After reading the article "How Should Practitioners Break Through Evil Interference Regarding Their Time?" http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2007/5/7/85323.html) I would like to first relate my understanding about "interference." We usually tend to have an anticipation or a definition about an issue or an environment. For example, we tend to think that because we are Falun Dafa disciples doing the most righteous deeds in the entire universe, the environment should therefore be a certain way. If something turns out to be different than what we had hoped for, we regard it as interference. I think when you feel it is interference, you are already being interfered with and influenced by it.
Actually, it depends how we view an issue. If you regard it as an "obstacle" it will be an "obstacle" for you; if you regard it as a "tribulation" it will be a "tribulation" for you. My understanding is that this is, in fact, still walking on the path arranged by the old forces and overcoming the supposed "test" the old forces had for you. If you regard it simply as a small issue, then it will be a small issue.
I know a practitioner whose superior at work talked to her many times in the years following the April 25, 1999 incident. Each time her superior called her on the phone, she immediately hurried to see him. Some practitioners and other people asked her, "Is your boss giving you any trouble?" She would reply, "I never consider it as trouble. I only think that it is not easy for me to see him ordinarily, so when he calls me iin, it is a good opportunity for him to learn about Dafa practitioners from a positive angle." Because of her attitude, every conversation was held in a positive atmosphere controlled by the practitioner's compassion and righteous thoughts, and the supposed "interference" and "trouble" never occurred.
When we think that "the heavy workload and numerous tasks have taken up our time for Fa-study, doing the exercises and "clarifying the facts"," aren't we putting work and cultivation in opposition to each other? In the article "Act in Accordance with Master's Teachings" presented at the 2007 New York Fa Conference, which was posted on Clearwisdom.net (http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2007/5/5/85256.html) the practitioner said that people we see daily at work are also sentient beings to whom we need to offer salvation. It said, "I had considered Dafa projects to be the only way to rescue sentient beings, and I narrow-mindedly viewed my work environment as a burden or an obstacle. This one thought had restrained me from using my wisdom." It is a very good article, and I suggest that fellow practitioners read it.
Master's Fa-rectification is for saving all sentient beings, regardless of their social status. This is why we have practitioners in all kinds of occupations, including those who are busy at work and those who have lighter workloads. Regardless of what environment one is in, one can cultivate, and one is able to cultivate. The life of a cultivator is a life that has been changed; nothing that he or she comes across is accidental. Then, could it be accidental with whom we establish affinities or where we work? Everyone's cultivation path is different, and the environments we find ourselves in are also different. Thus, when we wish for something to happen or not to happen, isn't this using human notions to choose our environment? Those thoughts are all manifestations of qing.
So when we try hard to change our circumstances to avoid trouble or try to achieve something with human means, this could be a kind of attachment that could bring us unnecessary problems. If one does not eliminate the attachment, then even if the person's circumstances change, the tribulation will still manifest in a different form, because it was there for us to let go of our attachment. On the other hand, if we don't try to change anything but merely hold a wish, and when we reach the standard for our level, the rise in our xinxing will bring about changes in the circumstances and things will turn out the way as we wish, and change will then be inevitable. Perhaps one's fate will change for the better without one having to change a job, or perhaps a new job opportunity will arise. Even so, the change happens only to benefit our cultivation. Master said,
"We're remaking the environment, not selecting the environment." (Falun Buddha Fa: Teaching the Fa at the Assistants' Fa Conference in Changchun)
Is it the old forces' interference? The old forces base themselves on the old Fa principles; therefore, everything they do in the name of "tests" is interference for Fa-rectification and interference for Dafa disciples. However, if Dafa disciples refuse to be interfered with and do away with the interference when validating Dafa, we will then be establishing the mighty virtue of "Fa-Rectification period Dafa disciples" and be walking the paths Master has arranged.
First of all, we need to be clear that events irrelevant to our cultivation will not occur, and none of the events that take place are accidental. There are things we need to experience, or pay back, as well as things that we need to change. How do we differentiate between them and how do we deal with them? As long as we clearly holds one thought, "We are Master's disciples, and our way of cultivation is to cultivate in everyday people's society, and our cultivation way is a great way without form," we are thinking correctly. We need to do the three things well right now! Once we are clear about this, doing what we should do or how we should do them will not be a problem.
Regarding some actual events, which the practitioner mentioned in the article mentioned above, I would like to share some of my understandings at the current stage.
In a workplace where everyone is busy, [we can] hold this thought, "Dafa disciples are not ordinary people; these tasks of everyday people are nothing to us. I just follow Master's arrangements, and everyday people's things definitely will not and definitely should not interfere with our Fa-study, doing the exercises, sending forth righteous thoughts, and truth-clarification, because to Dafa disciples, only this is the most important." I believe that by thinking this way the circumstances may change, and we will be able to achieve twice the results with half the effort.
If at the workplace you are busier than everyone else, then you have really been interfered with. If one can be interfered with, that means there must be a loophole that the evil has taken advantage of; to allow something so abnormal to take place--everyday people's things interfering with our cultivation. Where is the loophole? Calm your mind and look inward: Is it because your have slackened your efforts in doing the three things due to your "attachment to comfort?" If so, you have gaps for the evil to take advantage of. The evil will think: "Don't you want comfort? Then I'll make you busy. Aren't you slacking off in doing the three things? I'll make you have no time for them." Or is it because your righteous thoughts are not strong because you are feeling worn out in dealing with the tedious things of everyday people and therefore taking a passive and pessimistic attitude and indulging yourself, which in turn allows demons to capitalize on this, causing the environment to stay the same without any improvement? Or is it because you have not let go of your attachments to "reputation" and "self-interest," claiming you are "letting things run their course?" If this is the case you'll take on more and more tasks. This is in fact holding onto humanness with one hand and to godhood with the other, and time is limited. Or is it for any of a number of other reasons? Whatever the case, one should look inward, because in anything that happens there must be an element that enables us to ascend.
Master said:
"Calmly reflect on the attachments you have
Remove your human thoughts
and evil will naturally die out"
(Hong Yin II: "Don't Be Sad")
When we are doing everything well, the circumstances will be as good as we wish instead of being awkward.
Master said,
"Also, with anything Dafa disciples do, elements of Dafa disciples' validating the Fa are involved." ("Teaching the Fa at the Western U.S. International Fa Conference")
As I see it, we can cultivate in any environment and we can do the three things well in any environment. When we do not use human notions but righteous thoughts in dealing with everything we encounter, whatever comes along, we shall resolve it compassionately instead of resisting it, rejecting it, or avoiding it. Gradually and without realizing it, you will find that the "time factor interference" no longer exists; restraints in our surroundings no longer exist. What have I come here for? I am here to validate Dafa and offer sentient beings salvation. Then, aren't the people I come across in my work environment also sentient beings I need to rescue?
This process is also a process of establishing the mighty virtue of a cultivator and walking our own cultivation path, which will be left as a reference for people in the future. They will see how Fa-rectification period Dafa disciples cultivated and walked their paths and how they emerged from being human to become divine beings under circumstances where time was tight and many tasks had to be done.
I have also thought sometimes that a kingly ruler in charge of a paradise may come across all kinds of issues, but he can resolve everything compassionately. This is probably the mighty virtue of a divine ruler in his world.
These are my personal understandings. Please kindly point out anything inappropriate or inadequate.