(Clearwisdom.net) I believe that Teacher and the old forces made arrangements for the cultivation of each practitioner. On the surface, it seems like the old forces want to help practitioners improve and rise in cultivation level, but in fact, their intention is just the opposite. The old forces want to deepen practitioners' attachments and strengthen their pursuits of everyday people's happiness and comfort, as they wish to ruin practitioners.

Young practitioners pursue lust, money and affection from the opposite sex. These pursuits are to satisfy personal desires. Yet, after a practitioner gets what he wants, often through much effort, his heart still feels empty. The momentary feeling of satisfaction can't prevent another wave of emptiness. He will fall especially hard if he is taken over by lust.

Comfort is pursued by everyday people. The elderly wish to be comfortable and enjoy their later years of life, while young people want to enjoy life without pressure. To a practitioner however, pursuit of comfort is a tremendous obstacle, preventing him from being diligent and advancing in cultivation. He forgets the vows made before descending to the human world.

The old forces will present a false reality, making a practitioner see superficial harmony, peace, and false happiness. If that practitioner becomes immersed in such a reality, he is ruined and has lost his predestined opportunity, for which he waited thousands of years.

On a superficial level, cultivation seems to be full of hardship and tiring tribulations, often filled with loneliness. But isn't this the moment we have waited for, for these thousands of years? Remaining firm on the path of true cultivation will lead one to a splendid eternity. Conquering tribulations is not too difficult if one can let go of attachments. One is only faced with hardship when one can't let go of attachments and human notions. The old forces arrange superficial comfort to make practitioners fail.

Master said,

“Once the illusion that you cannot let go of disappears, you will realize what you have lost.” ("Practicing Cultivation After Retirement," from Essentials for Further Advancement)

The closer it is to the end, the stricter the cultivation standards. We will fall short of the standard if we are not careful. It also may cause a practitioner to think that his cultivation level came to a standstill, despite attachments having been removed layer by layer.

Master said,

“...the part you have cultivated is separated for you in the microcosm. The part that is yet to complete cultivation may have the same problem and have to continue cultivating; it will be separated when it finishes cultivation.” ("Teaching the Fa at the Western U.S. Fa Conference")

Only if we walk each cultivation step well can we fully appreciate the hardship at each level on our cultivation path, and understand the preciousness behind the enlightenment at each level of the Fa.

The Fa's power knows no limit. As long as we have strong righteous thoughts, there is no doubt that every practitioner will improve quickly.

It is my deepest hope that all practitioners will eventually return to their true homes, bringing with them many sentient beings that were saved along the way.