(Clearwisdom.net)

We often talk about the old forces arrangements. When we see other practitioners going through disease karma or other tribulations, we clearly realize where the practitioners have gaps in their cultivation which leave loopholes for the evil to exploit. However, when the tribulations happen to ourselves, we may not soberly realize that they are actually persecution arranged by the old forces, and we follow these arrangements unknowingly. I think the reason for this is that our main consciousness and righteous thoughts are not strong enough.

Recently, a lot of thought karma surfaced in my mind. Sometimes I even followed these bad thoughts for a while before I suddenly woke up and realized what it was. I was very surprised: how could these bad thoughts appear for no reason? When I carefully examined the issue, I realized that it was because my main consciousness was not strong enough. When the bad thoughts appeared in my mind, I did not fight them with my righteous thoughts. Instead, I tolerated them and thus allowed them to become stronger. This is another form of persecution arranged by the old evil forces. They want the thought karma and bad thoughts to take control over our righteous thoughts. The only way to break these arrangements is to study the Fa well and leave no loopholes for the old evil forces to exploit. When we study the Fa well, thought karma rarely appears in our minds, and even when it does surface we can soberly eliminate it with our strong main consciousness. If we do not study the Fa well, the bad thoughts can appear frequently, and it is very hard to deal with using an ordinary human being's will power.

We all know the importance of studying the Fa, yet many of us make excuses for ourselves and do not study the Fa with a calm mind. I know some practitioners who have not read the book, practiced the exercises, or sent forth righteous thoughts for a long time. The three things that Teacher asked us to do apply to every Dafa practitioner. In "To All Students at the Nordic Fa Conference" (Essentials for Further Advancement II), Teacher said, "Pay attention: no matter how busy you are, you cannot neglect Fa-study. This is what fundamentally assures that you move toward Consummation and do Dafa work well." Through studying the Fa, I realized that the environment around me is a reflection of my cultivation state. The reason I encountered these problems is that I was not diligent in my cultivation and I had not studied the Fa for a long time.

In my cultivation, I used to divide fellow practitioners into categories, and base my judgment of situations on their words or deeds. Sometimes when I saw other practitioners' improper deeds, I followed them instead of correcting these improper deeds with my righteous thoughts. When my main consciousness was not strong enough, I was easily controlled by the old forces and even by ordinary human sentiments and notions. I think the basic reason for this is that I did not use Dafa to judge everything. When I lacked righteous thinking based on Dafa, I naturally wanted to see what other practitioners' words or deeds were.

There was another big obstacle in my cultivation: I often thought that I had not cultivated well. On the surface, it seemed like I was looking inward and trying to find my shortcomings. In fact, I was making up excuses for not being diligent and responsible in my cultivation: "See, I have not cultivated well. If I make any mistakes it is because of that and the mistakes SHOULD happen." When conflicts and interference occurred, I did not truly look in my heart for the reason, let alone clearly realize the persecution by the old forces. I depended on others in my cultivation. Now I realize that cultivation is up to oneself. When I study the Fa a lot, treat the Fa as teacher, follow the Fa in every thought and deed, and clearly differentiate Fa rectification cultivation from personal cultivation, I can strengthen my main consciousness and righteous thoughts, and do the three things well as a Dafa disciple, clearly recognizing all the manifestations of the old forces and breaking their arrangements. I should not wait or rely on others, but should soberly walk on my path of Fa rectification.

My own level is limited, so please kindly point out anything improper.

02/21/2003