(Minghui.org) I never thought that I could ever be responsible for plagiarizing and undermining the Fa, but when the editorial, “Put an End to Plagiarizing and Undermining the Fa” appeared on the Minghui website, I did not fully understand their reasoning for publishing this. I thought that the article was right in principle; but that the serialized, fictional story that was carried by The Epoch Times could help ordinary people open their minds to the unknown world beyond today's human science and help them come to understand the truth about the universe. Were they plagiarizing and undermining the Fa? Was the issue really that serious?
When I read the series of questions asked in the Minghui editorial, I complained and questioned: “I have also read this. So then I belong to the group of practitioners that should give it some serious thought. However, I didn't do anything. How come I'm not considered to be in the state of a cultivator, according to this?” I could not think of an answer, so I just put it aside in my mind.
After reading more practitioners' sharings, I started to think: “As practitioners, how should we look at Minghui and Epoch Times? Does guiding ordinary people to think beyond today's science give us permission to spread Master's Fa as our own things?”
Surely, no practitioner would consciously make a decision to plagiarize the Fa or undermine the Fa. It's just like those who have demonic interference from their own minds, but who do not think they are in that state. If I do not use the Fa to evaluate things, how could I know if I have plagiarized the Fa or not?
Many years ago, I often started my sentences with “in fact.” I did not realize that I had this habit until I was persecuted in prison. A guard shouted at me: “Don't tell me 'in fact, in fact!' In fact, you know nothing!”
When I claimed “in fact,” I was stating things from my own perspective. However, when I handled myself like a practitioner and used the Fa to evaluate things, I would know that my limited knowledge and understanding could not be counted as fact. From then on, I corrected this notion and habit.
The fictional story carried by Epoch Times tried to alter Master's Fa, which was, without a doubt, plagiarizing the Fa. Modifying others' original thoughts and publishing them as one's own is considered plagiarizing even by ordinary peoples standards.
The Minghui editors wrote:
“Why were those pieces written? Why did so many practitioners enthusiastically recommend them and circulate them? Were these people still in a cultivator’s state? Why did the situation get progressively worse?” (“Put an End to Plagiarizing and Undermining the Fa”)
I did aid in escalating the problem! So, am I not responsible for this? As practitioners, if we do not treat the Fa seriously, the consequences can be severe.
After reading “Put an End to Plagiarizing and Undermining the Fa” again, it indeed revealed how far I was from the state of an actual cultivator. When my attachments were brought up, I looked for excuses and tried to avoid the precious opportunity to progress further along my cultivation path.
Minghui editorials point out rather severe issues among practitioners and should be taken seriously. When such issues are raised they present opportunities for us to improve in cultivation. When Master tells us about problems directly, the old forces will intensify the tribulations for us, and correcting the issues won't give us much mighty virtue. This is Master's compassion. Have we cherished it?
When I do not feel comfortable reading the Minghui editorials, that is when my human attachments are exposed. If I am to be true to my cultivation, I should read the articles with utter seriousness and look inward.
In addition, practitioners' sharing articles published on the Minghui website reflect understandings from different levels of cultivation. Some articles we appreciate today may appear to be lacking in some way in the future. Some articles that we did not think much about yesterday may offer insights today. Everyone is advancing in their cultivation and obtaining new understandings every day. Therefore, evaluating all understandings with Master's Fa will help us stay on the right track. Disagreeing with fellow practitioners is normal. We should look inward and advance diligently together.
Master said:
“Study the Fa and gain the Fa,
Focus on how you study and cultivate,
Let each and every thing
be measured against the Fa.
Only then, with that,
is it actually cultivation.” (“Solid Cultivation” in Hong Yin)
I sincerely thank the Minghui editors for helping me elevate my understandings on the issue of plagiarizing the Fa.
