(Clearwisdom.net) Recently, I learned that some fellow practitioners had developed an attachment toward the "42 months" phenomenon as discussed in Revelations from the Bible and I would like to express my opinions.
As close as I can remember, the time when many practitioners became attached to time was from late 2000 until spring 2001. I was detained at that time. Practitioners in Beijing, Hebei Province, Henan Province and many other places all talked about the end of the persecution. A practitioner who went to Tiananmen Square seven times to uphold the Fa asserted firmly to the local "610" Officers that the persecution will end within several months, and he even bet with the thugs. (The "610 Office" is an agency specifically created to persecute Falun Gong, with absolute powers over each level of administration in the Party and all other political and judiciary systems). Because I had not study the Fa well at that time, I blindly thought that since so many practitioners are certain about this - and among them were those I judged to be "well-cultivated" practitioners - then it must be true. Driven by such an attachment, I resolutely said to my family, "This persecution will end before x [date] on x [month] for sure, or I'll give up cultivation!" In the end, that day passed and the persecution continued. I did not give up cultivation of course, but for a long time I became the laughingstock of my family, who had great mental barriers when I later tried to promote the Fa to them. Every time I recall this, I still feel very ashamed!
Below are some of Master's words that I think are relevant to this issue:
Regarding the end of persecution, Master told us, "When Dafa has consummated everything amidst the tribulation, all of the evil that persecutes Dafa will end" ("What Are Supernormal Abilities", Essentials For Further Advancement II).
Regarding how to treat the time when persecution will end, Master told us many times during lectures, "But I've revealed this because things have changed, although not too much. Don't get too happy about this. Those of you who haven't done well, in particular, should know that time is pressing. Don't think about anything else" ("Teaching the Fa at the Washington, D.C. International Fa Conference," Guiding the Voyage).
"The future of the cosmos that beings at different levels have seen actually doesn't exist and is an illusion. At present, humankind's every day is arranged according to Dafa's needs" ("What Are Supernormal Abilities", Essentials For Further Advancement II).
"Think about it, isn't that using ordinary human thinking to look at these things? [New paragraph] If one person thinks this way, or two people think this way, or maybe three people think this way, it's not a big deal, but if Dafa disciples as a whole, or if more people are thinking this way, then isn't that a strong attachment, a strong obstacle? Instead of truly using this period of time well, you're hoping that it will end soon. Think about it, if we ended it today, how many people in China would die? ... You are Dafa disciples; history has bestowed upon you magnificent responsibilities. We should make good use of this time. Since this hasn't ended it's a chance to save sentient beings" (Touring North America to Teach the Fa, paraphrased translation).
Master also mentioned the old forces in Touring North America to Teach the Fa: "They would rather make him turn bad in order to get rid of your ordinary human thoughts." Maybe our attachment to time will give the old force an excuse to continue its existence.
Dafa practitioners are one whole body. Master Li tells us that Fa-rectification is at the end of the final phase, so we should take this issue more seriously and truly give up our attachments. Do well what we are supposed to do as Fa-rectification disciples and not give the old force any gap to take advantage of. One practitioner's gap would be a gap in our whole body, and this gap will be heightened and used by the old force! Let's remember Master's words:
"No matter what, though, as a cultivator, you shouldn't get too happy about anything you hear. Maybe what Master just said is itself a test for you. Get rid of any attachment you have, and don't think about anything. Just do everything a Dafa disciple should do, and everything will be covered" ("Teaching the Fa at the Washington, D.C. International Fa Conference," Guiding the Voyage).
Not becoming attached to time doesn't mean we don't take the elimination of evil with righteous thoughts as a serious matter. If we do according to Fa's requirement at all times, the result will certainly be the best.
October 18, 2002