(Clearwisdom Net) After reading Master's article "Fa-Rectification Period Dafa Disciples," I understood more clearly how dangerous comfort and passiveness are for a practitioner during Fa-rectification. Master is very explicit, "If during the evil's persecution a Dafa disciple doesn't do well or slacks off, it's very possible all his previous efforts will have been for nothing." The mentality of seeking comfort does not merely refer to physical comfort. It can bring into play the notion of "routine" or "habit" -- falling into rigid set patterns of activities and thinking in doing Fa-rectification work (so as to avoid having to do things that requires increasing arduous demands of a Fa-rectification disciple). Even more subtle is the notion of a "tomorrow" which leads to not having a sense of urgency and not being proactive. Plainly put, not being proactive is seeking comfort, which is just wanting to maintain the "status quo." Isn't this exactly what the old forces want?
However, Master has said that this time is meant for Dafa and Dafa disciples. We are creating history and references for how to handle things for the future cosmos and its sentient beings. Everything we do is being recorded and we are actually creating the new that replaces the old and deviated. In order to do this, we have to step outside our self-imposed limits and continuously break through to higher levels. The human notion and pursuit of comfort is a great barrier, and it keeps us from being proactive and taking the initiative to do Fa-rectification work.
Master talked in Zhuan Falun about unknowingly practicing an evil cultivation way. He also said, "If you are still unclear about what Fa-rectification disciples are, you won't be able to step forward in the current tribulation, and you will be led by the human world's pursuit of comfort to 'enlighten' along an evil path." (Fa-Rectification Period Dafa Disciples) If we are not clear about being a Fa-rectification disciple, we can unknowingly let ourselves be led by this pursuit of comfort and "enlighten" along an evil path. Seeking comfort can be very subtle in our thoughts and actions. If we are not diligent, we can indeed unknowingly follow an evil path.
On many levels, I can observe this notion in myself. For example, when handing out flyers, after I run out of the supply of flyers I tend to think that that was the end of the work. However, I could have proactively found another practitioner nearby with extra flyers, or even stop by an instant copy place to make more copies. This is that mentality Master talked about when a practitioner is "reluctant to do things that are for eliminating the evil and clarifying the truth--as if that would be doing something for Master, or as if that would be putting in extra for Dafa." I think omissions like this are really what the evil forces look for and take advantage off.
Sometimes when I hear friends and co-workers in conversations express certain deviated notions, I tend to think passively that this is just because they are everyday people, or I would be tired and not in a mood to correct their notions. Therefore, I would not say much. This is also the sentimentality of not wanting to be rude and interfere in people's affairs. However, if we are creating the future as Fa-rectification disciples, this is not being proactive. We should try, using our wisdom, to correct deviated notions in people all around us because, at the least effect, we are planting seeds that can sprout in the new era of mankind.
Many disciples understand this Fa-rectification period as a war between Buddhas and demons. Even in everyday society, during war times, especially when the people know that the battle is approaching their city, people do not go about their routines in a normal manner. They still go about their routines but they realize that there is no guarantee that the world they know will continue to exist tomorrow. As the Fa-rectification is approaching our surface dimension at an unprecedented speed, we should not have a notion that there will definitely be a tomorrow. Everything we do should have a sense of urgency, even though we go about our daily routines. As Master said, "When the force of Fa-rectification arrives, everything will end in an instant." (The Effects of Righteous Thoughts)
A most notable manifestation of this mentality for me concerns studying the Fa. Master has repeatedly and explicitly stated the importance of Fa study no matter how busy we are. When I get extremely busy, before bedtime is the most time I have to read. When I'm tired and sleepy, I usually tell myself that I'll make up the reading the next day. Of course, the next day would be busy also and I don't even have much time for that day's study. As a result, I fall behind and have to spend much effort catching up. Indeed, how do we know for sure that this precious period of Fa-rectification will not end tomorrow?
The evil has lost its mind, knowing the inevitable outcome and its coming demise. Therefore it is running rampant now, using any and all means, no matter how vile or despicable, to interfere with Dafa practitioners and Fa-rectification. In the face of this, Dafa disciples must not fall into rigid ways of thinking. Just as we cannot accept the way things are now like they were during personal cultivation, we cannot accept previous ways of thinking during earlier stages of Fa-rectification. Especially now, Master is regularly guiding disciples. We should thoroughly study and understand Master's latest articles to keep up with the meteoric speed of Fa-rectification. In this final stage, we must proactively "Clarify the truth thoroughly, eliminate the evil with righteous thoughts, save all beings, and safeguard the Fa with determination." (Dafa is Indestructible) We cannot wait and look at other practitioners to get cues for when, what and how to do things.
Finally, as I introspect about being proactive, I find that most the work for Fa that I did in the past were not self-initiated. I become awakened when I realize if we want to become Great Enlightened Beings, how can we not take the initiative for the sentient beings in our future universes? "If in the future you are a Great Enlightened Being who's reached Consummation, it can't be that there are no beings in your dimension and in the domain of your own paradise. That's why during your cultivation you need to demonstrate your compassion in saving sentient beings, and make your own paradise rich and full." (Lecture on the Fa at the Washington, D.C. International Conference)
Cultivation is hard, and Fa-rectification cultivation is even harder. The standards are of the highest and the demands are most rigorous. But then, this is only how it could be for Fa-rectification disciples, "This period of time will not last long, but it can forge the mighty virtue of magnificent Enlightened Beings, Buddhas, Daos, and Gods of different levels, and even Lords of different levels." (Fa-Rectification Period Dafa Disciples)
This is my own limited understanding. Please point out any shortcomings.