(Clearwisdom.net) The fundamental difference between the lives in the new and old cosmos is that the lives in the new cosmos are formed based on selflessness, whereas, the lives in the old cosmos are based on selfishness. Master said,
"As a matter of fact, for cultivators in the past to say, 'I'm doing such and such,' 'I want to do such and such,' 'I want to obtain such and such,', 'I'm cultivating', 'I want to become a Buddha,' or 'I wish to attain such and such,' none of that was outside of selfishness." ("Teacing the Fa at the Conference in Switzerland", 1998)
During Fa-rectification, we should remove selfishness interwoven through the many different layers in our lives.
Many Dafa disciples have endured various tortures in labor camps, prisons and brainwashing centers. Their stories of escaping death through their righteous belief in Dafa are extraordinary. What I'd like to share with you is from a different perspective.
Master said in "Teaching the Fa at the 2004 Western U.S. Fa Conference",
"If you don't cultivate yourself based on the Fa, you can't cultivate higher by just enduring persecution, much less reach the standards for a Dafa disciple."
When being persecuted, we must dig deep into our minds. When enduring persecution, we should ask ourselves whether our thoughts are completely on the Fa, whether we meet the standards of a Dafa disciple in the Fa-rectification period.
Many fellow practitioners endured persecution using human notions to oppose it. Some of them lingered on the thought that "Even if I lose my human body, I must live up to the title of a Dafa disciple", or "Even if I'm beaten to death, I won't sign the 'transformation statement'". From the perspective of having righteous belief in Dafa, those thoughts are perfectly fine at the elementary level of our cultivation. However, for veteran practitioners, perhaps it was such thoughts that gave the old forces opportunities and excuses to persecute Dafa disciples, preventing the latter to exemplify the dignity of Dafa.
If our thoughts are rooted in the hope of self-consummation, none of them are outside of selfishness. In other words, those thoughts comply with the rules of the old cosmos, thus the lives in the old cosmos dare to do evil. We should understand from the principles of the Fa that this persecution with the so-called intention of tempering Dafa disciples, was arranged merely by the old forces for their own selfish purposes. It is deemed as evil inteference to Fa-rectification, and to sentient beings that are waiting to be saved. For Dafa disciples, we must completely deny the persecution arranged by the old forces.
The principles of the new cosmos do not allow the existence of persecution that targets Gods who are helping to save sentient beings. Dafa has its dignity. If all we care about is our own consummation while thinking "I can't sign the statement", "I can't fail the title of a Dafa disciple", "I can't do such and such", what is the difference between us and those Master described in "Teaching the Fa at the Fa Conference in Switzerland,"
"'I'm doing such and such,' 'I want to do such and such,' 'I want to obtain such and such,' 'I'm cultivating,' 'I want to become a Buddha,' or 'I wish to attain such and such,'"
We are Dafa disciples during the Fa-rectification period. We will soon become Buddhas, Taos and Gods in the new cosmos. Our every thought should originate from selflessness. How could personal gain be weighed against Fa-rectification? Dafa must not be persecuted. Dafa disciples must not be persecuted. It is against the principles of the new cosmos.
When particles of Dafa particle assimilate to Fa rectificaiton, the power of Dafa will be exemplified, the evil forces will not dare to stop us, and the persecution will end.
The above is my personal understanding. Please kindly point out anything improper.
