(Minghui.org) “Disciple: We are Taiwanese disciples who obtained the Fa a number of years ago. Together with my husband as a fellow practitioner, I have believed in Master and the Fa and have tried to do the three things well. I know that Dafa is not for curing diseases, and know that a cultivator’s cells are transformed by high-energy matter. However, I’m still suffering from gout. It started before I obtained the Fa. Recently my joints have hurt quite a bit. (People laugh)

“Master: (Chuckles) Cultivators know that as long as you are diligent, changes are occurring in your body, and Master will adjust things for you. It is not done by this human body of Master’s here. It is done by Master’s law bodies. If the problem hasn’t been healed since taking up cultivation, you really should try to find xinxing problems on your part, see if you have some sort of attachment, and figure out in which ways you need to cultivate better. This really is a matter of your personal cultivation. (Applause)” [1]

Reading this question and answer in the Fa Teaching at the 2013 Greater New York Fa Conference, I smiled. I fully understand the fellow practitioner's feelings while raising the question, as it is one that's been puzzling me for long. Now let me share my thoughts in hopes that it will benefit fellow practitioners who have similar questions.

Our personal state of cultivation is a true reflection of our progress in cultivation, though many times we do not realize it. That is because we cultivate superficially, and what we understand is rather shallow. 

We say we know Dafa is not for getting rid of illness, but do we truly know this?  We might not, even though Master has stated it so clearly and it is written in Zhuan Falun too. Our human sides know it, but we haven't truly enlightened to it. Like one fellow practitioner said, “Master has taught us clearly on this issue. We don't need to enlighten to it, but just do accordingly.” But if we don't truly believe, such an issue is not resolved with righteous thoughts.

Once a fellow practitioner stated at an experience sharing conference that he participated in the health survey of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners that was conducted many years ago. At that time, he still had some illness symptoms, although most of his illnesses were gone. But he answered on the survey form that he had completely recovered from all illnesses without any hesitation. Soon after, all his symptoms were gone. Why? I think it is because of the difference in knowing from the human side and believing in Dafa from one's inner heart.

Master said cultivators have no illnesses. We know this superficially, but do we truly believe it? If we truly believe, why do we still suffer illness symptoms? Are those symptoms real or do we truly believe in Master's teaching? If we truly believe in Master, the symptoms are an illusion. Why then do we still experience them?

Sometimes, I think that if I had participated in that survey, I would not have written down that I fully recovered. I should not lie as we cultivate truthfulness. Now I understand that this thought came from my human side and human notions. Master told us to change our everyday people's notions completely. But we still cannot accomplish this, even though the teachings are so clear.

Isn't the thought of “not lying” mentioned above human thinking? It accepted the illusion of illness as true. Sometimes the illusion of serious symptoms would appear. I think this may be demonic interference or a test that Master arranged to see our firmness in cultivation.

This is an issue of truly believing in Master and the Fa. But some of us might say, “We believe in Master and the Fa. Otherwise, we would not be learning Dafa.” Let's examine this further. The belief we profess may be only admiration from our human side for the Dafa principles, but this is a far cry from true belief in Dafa in the heart. If one truly understands the principle, his heart will not be moved by any pain or symptoms.

A practitioner said, “Together with my husband as a fellow practitioner, I have believed in Master and the Fa and have tried to do the three things well.” This means they have met the requirements of Dafa practitioners during Fa-rectification. 

Then how do we explain illness symptoms that occur in our cultivation? We know that Master has arranged the best for us. The symptoms are just a test. Of course, if the symptoms are so severe that it interferes with our doing the three things, we need to eliminate it with righteous thoughts.

Master said, “We’d say that a good or bad outcome comes from one thought.” [2] I think the principle applies to all issues and one need to see whether one's thoughts are righteous or come from human notions, which sometimes change. For example, the fellow practitioner said her gout was not gone—what was her first thought? Was it thinking of the recurrence of an old illness, or thinking it is a good thing from the Fa? It is a good opportunity to improve, whether it is a tribulation or interference. If she can think from the Fa, the pain might cease to exist. She would have no need to ask the question. 

The key is how we look at the issue: With the righteous thoughts of a cultivator or the notions of an everyday person.

Let's imagine this scenario: If there were no miraculous effects of getting rid of illnesses at the beginning of Master's public introduction of the Fa, that is, if Master did not treat any patients initially but only gave lectures, would those early practitioners be steadfast in believing in Master and Dafa like they are now? 

If not, it means that the notion of "seeing is believing" has not changed yet. So the practitioner has not completely changed his human notions, but have only believed on the surface.

There is another situation: If a practitioner has committed wrongdoing in cultivation, he may think that Master will not take care of him. Actually, it is not an issue of Master taking care or not, it is an issue of whether one can be a true cultivator. If one truly behaves as a genuine practitioner in every issue following the Fa, he has no need to think about whether Master would take care of him or not. In other words, the same opportunity to follow the principles exists for everyone

What I shared above is just for your reference. I hope fellow practitioners can have deeper sharing and help those who are puzzled about such issues.

Note: 1. Master Li's Fa Teaching at the 2013 Greater New York Fa Conference 2. Master Li's book: Zhuan Falun