(Minghui.org) Two years ago, as I was walking down the stairs to take out the trash, I missed a step and felt an invisible force push me forwards. I fell down seven flights of stairs to the ground floor. I was in so much pain I could barely move and had to be helped home by a neighbor.
Afterward I had difficulty getting around. With half my body in constant pain, even a single step required much effort. My face was so swollen that my eyes became mere slits.
I knew this was the result of being persecuted by the negative beings or “old forces.” My obsession with reading web novels and online marketing activities had become a gap these old forces had exploited.
Since I had difficulty moving, I lay in bed and listened to Master’s lectures. Additionally, I continued to practice the exercises, putting my legs down whenever it became too painful to bear. Thinking back, I realize my comprehension level at that time was very poor!
After a week or so, I was largely recovered. Without thoroughly searching inwards, I went back to doing the three things as usual. However, after some time, my eyes began to hurt whenever I read books or looked at a computer screen. I ignored it, thinking it would go away after some period of endurance, but this went on for a year. Later, the pain finally went away, but a layer of film began to develop over my eyes. Thin at first, the film gradually thickened. This was the method employed by the old forces to persecute me.
I started listening to experience sharing articles, especially those that covered the topic of sickness karma. The articles were inspiring and advised studying the Fa and practicing the exercises more. Maintaining strong righteous thoughts and belief in Master and the Fa was also suggested.
Although I followed suggestions for improving my cultivation, my health did not improve and the film over my eyes continued to thicken. All kinds of negative thoughts began to surface: “If it goes on like this, what will happen if I lose my eyesight? How will I earn a living? My situation could damage the reputation of Falun Dafa cultivation practice!” Over time, confusion, hopelessness, fear, and helplessness enveloped my heart. After deep consideration, I decided to overcome this tribulation in several ways:
If one cannot stand firm in his belief, then the person cannot be considered a true disciple of Master Li Hongzhi. I began to reject and deny any negative thinking in this regard while searching inwards at the same time. What I found truly shocked me! Deep down, I did not wholeheartedly believe in Master and the Fa! Moreover, these cunning negative thoughts tried to provide me with excuses: “It’s not that I don’t believe in Master. It’s that I can’t discover my attachments despite my efforts, and Master didn’t help me! Since Master doesn’t care about me, what can I do?”
Studying the Fa strengthened my righteous thoughts. I firmly rejected this negative thought that did not conform to the principles of the Fa and reminded myself to believe in Master and the Fa unconditionally!
During periods of calm, especially when studying the Fa, the film over my eyes would occasionally block my vision. Each time, a wave of fear would surface within my heart. This attachment had to be removed, so each time I would pin it down and eliminate it. However, this emotion kept resurfacing despite my continued efforts, eventually causing impatience and confusion to develop in me. These emotions also became attachments I had to eliminate. However, as I repeatedly worked to get rid of these attachments, I realized they were becoming weaker, until they were eventually reduced to almost nothing.
During this repetitive process, sometimes my righteous thoughts would weaken. Whenever I felt powerless, I turned to Master for encouragement to overcome my ordeal. Master’s great compassion acts like a support for practitioners. Through studying the Fa, I discovered my fear stemmed from a hidden belief that the film over my eyes was real.
Master said,
“Human or divine—the difference lies in one thought. If what arises is a righteous thought, and you take the position that all of this is false, that it’s the old forces meddling, and you remind yourself of how long you’ve cultivated Dafa for and that no such thing is possible, if that thought truly comes from within, instantly the problem will vanish.” (“Fa Teaching Given at the 2010 New York Fa Conference,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. XI)
Accepting my false symptoms as real—wasn’t that accepting the arrangement of the old forces? Upon realizing this, I started denying and eliminating this thought, correcting my thinking according to the principles of the Fa. As Master mentioned, “Completely negate everything of the old forces!” (Teachings Given on Lantern Festival Day, 2003)
Human attachments can be very cunning, covering themselves in a layer of deception to prevent discovery. For a while my eyes looked milky, as though covered by a layer of plastic film. I began to avoid staring into mirrors, fearing the sight of it would stir up my negative thoughts. However, this false appearance was actually a trap set up by the old forces in an attempt to stir up my fears and negative thoughts.
Master’s Fa enlightened me. As a Dafa disciple, how could such a film exist in my eyes? Admitting its existence was not right! After resolutely getting rid of this evil thought, I started removing my human attachments and eliminating the evil beings and factors behind this tribulation. After correcting my thoughts, the film miraculously vanished, and my eyes returned to normal.
When faced with tribulations, it is easy to feel lost, especially when one lags in Fa study and has insufficient righteous thoughts. When I fail to concentrate while studying the Fa, my heart starts searching outwards, trying to learn how others managed to overcome such tribulations. Later, I realized my efforts revolved around my desire to cure my eyes. My inability to let go created a strong human desire. I resolved to follow the teachings of the Fa and rejected these ordinary human thoughts.
Thereafter, Master kept enlightening me as I studied the Fa, and I identified many human attachments. I kept looking inwards and worked to eliminate these bad thoughts. As I returned to a righteous cultivation path, my eyesight improved day after day. My attachments and human notions had become the film blocking my eyes.
Searching inwards is the “magic weapon” Master gave his disciples. To use it, first focus on your own thoughts. As soon as your thoughts move, immediately look inwards to find the attachment, get rid of it, and assimilate to the Fa. Over time, human attachments and evil thoughts will be easily discovered as soon as they appear.
Over the course of overcoming this tribulation, I found many attachments, such as to jealousy, resentment, dislike and disdain for others, obsession with wealth, lust, laziness, greed, addiction to watching online videos, and so on. Although there are many types of human attachments, all serve the goal of preventing practitioners from returning to our true selves. Search within and get rid of them without delay!
Let us comply with the principles of the Fa, do well the three things, and fulfill our predestined wish.