(Minghui.org) I would like to discuss my personal experience with sickness karma, and how to view the issue with righteous thoughts.
Although a Falun Dafa practitioner with sickness karma will experience the same symptoms as an everyday person, it's critical that he / she keeps their thinking straight.
Master said,
“We’d say that a good or bad outcome comes from one thought. The difference in one thought leads to different results.” (Zhuan Falun)
A practitioner's first thought, when faced with sickness karma, should be righteous: “I'm a practitioner, therefore I have no illnesses!” Any hesitation or impure thoughts could exacerbate the symptoms of sickness karma and the hardship endured.
About three years ago, I felt dizzy as soon as I got up to do the Falun Gong exercises. I knew that this was not normal. As I held onto the bed, I told myself, “I'm a practitioner. Master Li is always by my side. You old forces are not qualified to interfere!” Within a few seconds I felt fine again.
The same scenario played out a few times within a two-week period, then it completely stopped.
Whenever we feel unwell our belief in Master and the Fa is being tested. For example, I used to wear glasses before practicing Falun Gong. I was nearsighted in one eye and had astigmatism in the other.
One day, while waiting for a bus, my glasses fell off and both lens shattered on the ground. I realized that Master was hinting that I didn't need to wear glasses anymore.
After the incident I knew that my eyesight was perfectly normal. I never considered buying another pair of glasses, and over the course of the next two years my eyesight improved significantly.
When sickness karma shows up it's extremely important how we look at it and deal with it. When faced with this situation I maintain a fearless, upbeat mood.
Master said,
“A person has a master soul and an assistant soul(s), he has all kinds of notions that have been formed after birth, and both good and evil are part of his nature. Also there are external factors that play a part. A person's actions are the true reflection of that person.” (from “Teaching the Fa at the 2005 Manhattan International Fa Conference” in Teaching the Fa at the Conference V)
If the karma doesn't want me to practice the exercises, I practice them even more; if it doesn't want me to move, I go out and do whatever I should; if it wants me to feel miserable, I send righteous thoughts to eliminate it; if it doesn't allow me sleep, I go to bed and send righteous thoughts to eliminate its interference.
In addition, I don't harbor any self-pity or outwardly show that I'm feeling unwell. Walking around with a helpless look on my face will only prolong the sickness-karma.
I also hold strong righteous thoughts: “The cells in my body are filled with high-energy matter. All material things within the Three Realms have no effect on me. Master Li is always protecting me. No form of karma is qualified to interfere!”
In this way, I manage to quickly pass each test that comes my way, sometimes within a few minutes or a few hours -True practitioners have no illnesses!
Master said,
“The moment you say 'health problem' I don’t want to listen.” (from Zhuan Falun)
Some elderly practitioners with sickness karma pick out their so-called “coffin clothes” or write out their last will and testament. These people carry around a lot of human notions and attachments.
Instead of asking Master to help them straighten out their righteous thoughts, they ask their family members to call an ambulance for them.
Some practitioners worry about coming down with a hereditary disease or illness, while others have no qualms taking the advice of fortune tellers. Since they fail to recognize their notions and attachments, they eventually get persecuted.
Some practitioners spend a vast amount of time watching TV, reading novels, or socializing. Some have longstanding conflicts with their family members or fellow practitioners, and harbor deep resentment towards them. They don't bother to look within and deal with their own issues.
Some practitioners always pursue comfort, and don't often practice the exercises. Some pay undue attention to consuming nutritional products. Some use electric blankets or hot water bottles when the weather turns a little cold. Some enjoy reading legendary tales or listening to the advice they receive from beings in various dimensions.
In the same way that a large hole in a roof will let wind and rain in, having lot of loopholes in our cultivation will give the old forces an excuse to persecute us.
Master doesn't want to see his disciples persecuted, but if we don't continually correct our thinking, what can Master do? I feel the best way to avoid being persecuted is to cultivate ourselves well. Countless divine beings are watching our every thought!
Some practitioners may not have obvious shortcomings in their cultivation, however, they spend too much time regretting their past actions or reprimanding themselves.This negative, obsessive thinking can make it hard for them to move forward in their cultivation. Holding onto this attachment is another factor that can help precipitate different forms of persecution.
Master said,
“Don't dwell on your past mistakes--if you've made mistakes, then do well from now on. Don't think about the things that have happened. Think about how to do well from now on, and become truly responsible to yourself and to sentient beings.” (from Touring North America to Teach the Fa)
Instead of feeling dispirited over past mistakes, we need to think: “I didn't do well before, but I will do better now that I see my shortcomings. I'm determined to meet the Fa's requirements!”
There is nothing trivial about cultivation. During the limited time that we have left, we must wholeheartedly do well, and not just talk about it.
To meet the requirements of the Fa at different levels, and to avoid being persecuted, it's imperative that we sincerely cultivate ourselves and maintain our righteous beliefs!