Some Thoughts on Why We Have Repeated Cultivation Tests

(Minghui.org) Using the excuse of “testing” us, the old forces have now been persecuting Falun Dafa practitioners for 25 years. However, there is always an end to everything, and the ordeals we face will also come to an end with the beginning of the Fa rectification of the human world.

Even though Master does not acknowledge this persecution by the old forces, as Falun Dafa practitioners, how we conducted ourselves while resisting the persecution and saving sentient beings has determined our various realms and levels. In the face of the severe so-called “tests,” however, some practitioners have failed to truly cultivate, and some have even turned against Dafa.

As for the ordeals we’ve been facing, Master has turned the tables on the old forces and used these opportunities to eliminate our karma and temper us so that we can become mature and are able to break away from our human notions and truly become Dafa disciples who walk the path toward godhood.

The current chaotic phenomena, especially those virulent attacks on Shen Yun and Master, are not only a big test for the world’s people, but also a true test to determine whether we are qualified or not, and if we are qualified to follow Master to enter the period when the Fa rectifies the human world. That screening process is happening now.

Since it is a test, Master cannot tell us what to do in the changing situation. We have been practicing for a long time, but how much of the Fa (teachings) have we truly understood and do we use it to govern our conduct? How firm are we on the Fa principles? How have we conducted ourselves when it comes to helping each other and saving people? We are all being measured against these Fa standards.

We must walk our own path in cultivation. Master said in Zhuan Falun, “The Master takes you through the entrance, and cultivation is up to you, yourself.” (Lecture Four, Zhuan Falun) We cannot expect Master to tell us what to do each step of the way.

Master told us as early as 1998 in his article “Digging Out the Roots,”

“You cannot always rely on me to bring you up to a higher level while you, yourself do not move. Only after the Fa is explicitly stated do you make a move. If it is not taught clearly, you do not move, or move backward. I cannot recognize such behavior as cultivation practice. At the crucial moment when I ask you to break away from humanness, you do not follow me. Each opportunity will not occur again. Cultivation practice is a serious matter. The distance has become greater and greater. It is extremely dangerous to add anything human to cultivation practice. In fact, it is also fine to just be a good person. But you must be clear that you choose your own path.” (“Digging Out the Roots,” Essentials for Further Advancement)

Some practitioners who find it hard to understand why some people who left Dafa turn around and attack and slander Dafa and Master, and wonder: “Why do we allow such people who damage the Fa to do such bad things?” The fact is that these beings who have turned away from Dafa also play a role in testing Dafa disciples and everyday people and serve as a mechanism to sift gold from sand.

Master said in 1996 in his article “Huge Exposure,”

“We just want to make those disciples who aren’t practicing cultivation diligently see their own shortcomings, make those who are stumbling along surface, expose those who undermine the Fa in a disguised way, and enable those who are genuine disciples to reach Consummation.” (“Huge Exposure,” Essentials for Further Advancement)

The above are some of my personal understandings I wanted to share with you.