(Minghui.org) When we hire lawyers to represent detained Falun Dafa practitioners, we often pin our hopes on the lawyers to overturn the persecution. When things don’t go our way, we might blame the lawyers for not doing a good job. 

I think it is incorrect to do that. When we do pin our hopes on the lawyers, we forget that Master Li, the founder of Falun Dafa, determines everything that has to do with us disciples. When we strengthen our faith and do things righteously, Master will solve the problem for us. It’s not something that lawyers can do. Master and Dafa decide our paths.

But it doesn’t mean it’s useless to hire a lawyer. During a trial, when the lawyers plead “not guilty” on behalf of the practitioners, they are helping us clarify the facts. By explaining that the persecution lacks any legal basis, the court employees and prosecutors can have a chance to understand that it is they who are breaking the law and persecuting good people. 

On the other hand, even if the judges and prosecutors understand the facts, they might not have the authority to acquit the practitioners, because the prison terms are often handed down by their superiors. No matter how well the lawyers do, they won’t be able to fundamentally negate the persecution. 

From the perspective of cultivation, the ultimate reason for the persecution isn’t on the human level. Even when the judges are sympathetic to us, they might still be controlled by the old forces and sentence us. After all, it’s because of our own loopholes in cultivation that the old forces have excuses to persecute us.

When we rely on the lawyers and fail to look at the issue from the perspective of cultivation, we are no different from an everyday person. Master can’t protect us in this case and it’s easy for the old forces to persecute us—because we are not practitioners with regard to that specific issue after all.

Based on my above understanding, I didn’t hire a lawyer after I was arrested. I believed that my righteous thoughts and my legal knowledge were enough for me to overcome the persecution. If I could let go of my human attachments and fear, the persecution would be dissolved. 

I looked within and examined my loopholes that were taken advantage of by the old forces. After passing the test, I was released unconditionally, while another practitioner who was arrested with me didn’t have strong righteous thoughts. Despite hiring a lawyer, he was still sentenced to prison.

We have to be clear that lawyers can help us clarify the facts and save sentient beings. If it’s only to negate the persecution, we don’t need lawyers, but it is key to maintain righteous thoughts and righteous actions.

It is only Master that we rely on, not anyone or anything else.

Above is my personal understanding. I welcome practitioners to point out anything that is not in line with the Fa.