In order to clarify the truth, validate Dafa, [great law and universal principle] offer salvation to people, and to suffocate and eliminate the vicious forces effectively, we have held several small-scale experience sharing conferences. Now we'd like to share some experiences with you. 1. Break Through Conventional Thinking and Watch the Vicious One Invite Its Destruction
Over the past year, many practitioners have stepped forward to validate Dafa. They passed through the most vicious persecution in human history based upon their firm belief and righteous understanding of Dafa because they regarded themselves as Dafa particles. They have thus broken through layers upon layers of conventional thinking. As Teacher said in "Cautionary Advice" [Essentials for Further Advancement], "If you do not change the human logic that you, as an everyday person, have formed deep in your bones over thousands of years, you will not be able to break away from this superficial human shell and complete cultivation ." He also said in "Expounding on the Fa", "I have told you the solemnity and sacredness of the Fa in order to eliminate your confusion and misunderstanding of the Fa." When we advanced a step further in the process of the Fa-rectification, the Fa at the corresponding level was displayed to us. We have genuinely experienced the solemnity and sacredness of the Fa. However, before we advanced to the next step, we sometimes felt puzzled. After we actually took the step, everything became clear again. Our notions have gone through tremendous changes, from not being afraid of being arrested and beaten, to not accepting and cooperating with the vicious forces, and now to actively suffocating and eliminating the vicious forces.
Teacher mentioned, in the Lecture at the Great Lakes Conference in North America, "it's only that there's still a group of people who haven't stepped forward." We thought that Teacher was waiting for the practitioners who had not stepped forward. After studying the Fa and solidly practicing cultivation, we realize that Teacher is also waiting for us to improve ourselves and break away from our human shells.
Teacher said in "Cautionary Advice:" "If every one of you can understand the Fa from the bottom of your heart, that will truly be the manifestation of the Fa whose power knows no boundarythe reappearance of the mighty Buddha Fa in the human world!" How can we rationally understand Dafa? Teacher's article "Beyond the Limits of Forbearance" has already given us the key to how to suffocate and eliminate the vicious forces. We have to break through various human notions first before we are able to rectify the Fa using the side that has fully cultivated. For example, when a practitioner was arrested, he thought he shouldn't be trapped and he wanted to leave there. By this thinking, he already broke through one layer of human consciousness. However he didn't have the latchkey to the door, and this notion of having no key became another barrier. Although he did escape the place at last, it suggests that we have to break through all the barriers formed by our human notions, which have been there over thousands of years. I remember that, at an experience sharing conference, a practitioner asked Teacher why Teacher told us not to pursue supernormal capabilities but still talks about supernormal capabilities in the book. Teacher answered, "I am teaching the Fa." Now I understand that when one cultivates to a certain level, one will have supernormal capabilities. Now, we can understand the real significance of supernormal capabilities; they are part of the Buddha law. But why cannot supernormal capability be used in general? I think one reason is that it could encourage practitioner's attachment; the other reason is that the enigma of the ordinary human society will no longer exist. Here we are just talking about our understandings of the principles of Dafa, our strong belief and clear wisdom, and no restrictions apply to our understanding.
Many practitioners think: If one goes to Tiananmen Square, one will definitely be arrested, beaten, detained and put into a labor camp or prison; and the same is true if one goes out to distribute flyers; that seems to be the way it is. But this is also a barrier caused by conventional thinking. Teacher said in the Lecture at the Great Lakes Conference in North America, "all these things that they've arranged and done cannot be accepted or considered valid." Teacher does not accept it; neither should we practitioners. We're doing the most sacred things and shouldn't be arrested, beaten or sentenced. We might be arrested, beaten or detained when we go to Tiananmen Square. However, when one has a righteous mind, one should be released soon because " this is prohibited by the principle of Dafa, as the quality of the universe governs everything." in "A Brief Explanation of Compassion" (Shan) of Essentials for Further Advancement. As particles of Dafa, we're one part of Dafa. It's not because every single practitioner is powerful; it is because Dafa has boundless power. Teacher said, "I am rooted in the universe. If anyone can harm you, he or she would be able to harm me. Put simply, that person would be able to harm this universe ." (Zhuan Falun) Therefore, we should have a clear understanding of the Fa and not leave any loopholes for the vicious forces to exploit.
At the same time, we should not think too much about how karma is transformed, etc., because this is the notion of emphasizing one's personal cultivation, which could be exploited by the vicious forces. We should put emphasis on studying the Fa, breaking through conventional notions, getting rid of attachments, and catching up with the process of the Fa-rectification, while validating Dafa, revealing the truth and spreading the Fa to people, and exposing the evil. Those vicious beings are nothing to us. We can completely suffocate and eliminate them during the Fa-rectification process.
Of course, we should still be very careful. Some practitioners say they're not afraid of anything and they often leave a big loophole for the vicious forces. That's not good. There are often "Showing off" and "Zealotry" attachments behind this. It will be exploited by the vicious forces and bring losses upon cultivation and the Fa-rectification.
2. Advance Together With Great Compassion in Our Hearts
Currently, although the situation is difficult, the communication between practitioners is very important. Through sharing experiences, practitioners who have already stepped forward can find their shortcomings, improve themselves and closely follow the process of Fa-rectification; for practitioners who have not stepped forward, it can inspire them and encourage them to catch up with the Fa- rectifying process. Some practitioners say that it is difficult to communicate with those who have not stepped forward; this is also an illustration of human consciousness and will create man-made difficulties. We should have a benevolent heart, a peaceful mind and study the Fa together. Teacher said: "While working, your tone of voice, your kindheartedness, and your reasoning can change a person's heart". ("Sober-Minded" in Essentials for Further Advancement) Our purpose is for others; we do not force others to accept our own understanding. It is the Fa that can change people, not our abilities.
Everything we do has something to do with our own cultivation; there are factors inside for us to improve. We should not be governed by pride based on the attachment of zealotry.
Neither should we hesitate too much governed by the notion that it is dangerous to do the work related to Dafa. These very thoughts can create troubles for us because we are unwittingly seeking troubles. We should break through our human notions and understand the Fa from the Fa's point of view. We should behave rationally and conform to the state of ordinary human society as much as possible, and do it in an open and aboveboard manner.
From another point of view, we should have a clear mind about the dangers and difficulties, communicate properly and make all reasonable efforts but not insist if it seems to cause too much disturbance. Being overly insistent can bring about losses.
Arranged by Practitioners from Mainland China
March 21, 2001