(Clearwisdom.net) Lately, I have been stuck trying to find balance between "conforming to ordinary human society," "paying attention to safety" and "negating the persecution with righteous thoughts." These questions are tangled together in my mind. I believe we should completely negate the old forces. But isn't paying attention to safety in fact also acknowledging the persecution? However, the fact is that if we do not pay enough attention to safety, the greater body of practitioners will suffer enormous losses.

After thinking about this for a long time, I decided to do the sitting meditation. "All of a sudden, in my mind, this thought showed up: "We must negate the old force arrangements with righteous thoughts, without any conditions. We must not allow the persecution because it interferes with the salvation of sentient beings. We should pay attention to safety. This is not only a reflection of opposing the persecution from an everyday human aspect, but it is also a reflection of clear-mindedness. This would help us improve in saving sentient beings. Saving sentient beings is the ultimate purpose of practitioners doing well in cultivation; it is the most important principle of the Fa."

Saving sentient beings is the most important principle of the Fa! This suddenly hit my heart. Last year, during the Wenchuan earthquake, this principle of the Fa truly manifested itself before my eyes. Cultivating to become a selfless, altruistic and righteous enlightened being dominated my life. During that time, I did well in face-to-face truth-clarification. I did it smoothly and received a great effect. Almost everyone that I clarified the facts to recognized that "Dafa is good," and quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). My entire being was filled with a sense of mission, and the mighty mercy of saving sentient beings. I also truly appreciated the sacred dignity bestowed on me by the enlightened beings, in saving sentient beings. At that time, I had never thought of being reported or being abducted. Acquaintances, strangers, men, women, children, cadres and beggars -- we should try to save them all. Time is so precious. In my mind, I thought only about saving the person in front of me. I did not feel I had time to think about anything else. There were no opportunities for the old forces to interfere. There was no time to think about any prior arrangements the old forces made. Whatever the arrangements the old forces made had nothing to do with me. I wanted to save people. That was the only major thing I wanted to do.

Master said,

"Broadly speaking, the Fa is very immense. From the perspective of the very highest level, it is very simple, for the Fa resembles a pyramid in form. At the highest point, it can be summarized in three words: Zhen, Shan, Ren. It is extremely complex when manifesting at different levels." (Zhuan Falun)

Compared to the Fa principle of "saving sentient beings," everything else seems insignificant. The Fa principle is simple. Thee purpose of us maximally conforming to the way of everyday people, while cultivating, is to save sentient beings. Therefore, paying attention to safety is a correct approach to save sentient beings. Saving sentient beings negates the old force arrangements. Putting "saving sentient beings" in the first and foremost place is a reflection of reaching the realm of selflessness and altruism. Saving sentient beings is the most righteous and compassionate motive. Great forbearance is required to let go of self in this way. With the help of the enlightened being's benevolence, all non-righteous factors will melt away, and any interference will become invisible.

I remember one practitioner asked this question, "I have negated the old forces. But why was I not successful?" Now, we should ask ourselves: When we negate the old forces, at which level did we attempt to negate them? If we did it so as not to be persecuted or interfered with, for getting healthier, for family stability, for the sentimentality between husband and wife, or for the happiness of our children, would this approach work? The intention behind such negating is selfish. The arrangements of the old forces were based on selfishness as well. Hence, there is a reason for the arrangements of the old forces to exist. Such a practitioner is not conforming to the Fa's requirements. He is being selfish. On the contrary, if we start from an altruistic angle, and truly think about saving sentient beings, we would be able to immediately negate any interference. The power of Dafa can restrain everything. The Fa principles do not allow kind people to be persecuted. Master does not allow the evil to interfere with practitioners' mission of saving sentient beings.

Sometimes, selfish thoughts are so deeply hidden! I was stuck in the superficial meaning of "conforming to ordinary human society," "paying attention to safety," and "negating the persecution with righteous thoughts." In fact, it was my own "selfishness" that was blocking my understanding. Only when I measure things from an altruistic level, is it all cleared up. When looking back on this, I cannot help regretting the time I wasted and the lives that passed by me. Fa-rectification is near the end. How much time do we have left for us to regret; how many lives will miss the opportunity to gain salvation?

After I realized this Fa principle, Master arranged an incident for me to apply this practically: A former coworker gave me a call, and asked for my suggestions on child discipline. While talking to her, I thought that she is a life that I need to save. I also thought about the security concern of the phone being tapped and located. At that time, a strong righteous thought emerged: The act of saving sentient beings is conforming to the most important Fa principle and no interference is allowed. As I was chatting with her, I sent forth righteous thoughts and eliminated any bad factors in other dimensions. Immediately, I felt we were covered by a transparent shield. My mind was calm and my heart was at peace. I started clarifying the facts to her and exhorted her to quit the CCP. She immediately agreed, and told me that she practiced Falun Gong in the past as well. But after July 20, 1999, she gave it up. I advised her to go find practitioners near her and get back to practicing. She agreed as well.

If this happened in the past, I would not have done it. Because the first thing I thought about would have been my own safety. I also would attempt to find some statements in the Fa as excuses to back-up my reasoning. But these kinds of opportunities will be missed if we do not grasp the significance of our mission as practitioners.

Master said,

"Human society is in delusion, and people cannot see how the cosmos truly is or the real situation of beings. That's how beings are at this level, but the situation during the Fa-rectification is presided over by Dafa and it changes according to what is required so that Dafa can save sentient beings. The fact is, at this time Dafa disciples have to do divine things, because for Dafa disciples their personal cultivation is no longer first and foremost. Saving sentient beings and reconstructing the colossal firmament during the Fa-rectification are the purpose. You have to do Fa-rectification things and things to save sentient beings, so you need to clear away the obstacles presented by this environment and validate Dafa." ("Teaching the Fa at the Western U.S. International Fa Conference")

Our environment is created by our righteous thoughts. We are cultivating to become selfless and altruistic beings. At the end of Fa-rectification, let us let go of ourselves maximally, and put saving sentient beings at the first and foremost position. Let us keep our dignity and might as practitioners in the Fa-rectification period, and eliminate all interference to fulfill our prehistoric vows and save more sentient beings.

This is my personal understanding. Please point out anything inappropriate.