(Minghui.org) I would like to share my thoughts on a recent Minghui article, “Thoughts on the End Time for Fa Rectification and Prophecies.”
This article has caused considerable discussion among practitioners. I won’t comment on the predictions, but I feel we should think about some issues.
I learned my lesson when I was emotionally attached to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, so this time my heart was not moved by the U.S. presidential election. I thought that Fa-rectification would end soon after the CCP virus (coronavirus) broke out. When President Trump was not inaugurated for a second term, I felt that the Fa-rectification would be extended again. I felt that Trump might help bring down the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Since he was not inaugurated again, it might mean the prolonged existence of the CCP.
I have practiced Falun Dafa for more than twenty years, but my cultivation wavered. I still had many attachments and I did not do the exercises every day. Master gave me several hints to be diligent, but I still did not do well.
When the article mentioned that Fa-rectification would end in seven or eight years I even felt relieved because it meant that I had more time to catch up.
When I examined my thoughts, I felt guilty. The morality of people continues to rapidly deteriorate. People create large amounts of sin every second, which adds countless troubles and suffering for Master. How could I feel relieved when I thought that Fa-rectification was extended again?
Master is so compassionate and caring. He has endured so much, and never gives up on the practitioners who slack off.
Focus on Fulfilling Our Responsibilities: How Diligent Are We?
Over the millennia and eons of time, we have repeatedly reincarnated in the human world and waited for Master and Fa-rectification. What’s most important is focusing on saving sentient beings. However, there are still so many people who have not yet been saved because we practitioners did not do well. There will be too many regrets if Fa-rectification ends now.
Last year I was detained in the brainwashing center for three months. While I was there I saw my many shortcomings. Except for a few poems from Hong Yin, I had not memorized any Fa, including “On Dafa.” In an environment where I could not study the Fa or do the exercises, my righteous thoughts faded away.
That tribulation was tremendous. I broke through it with Master’s hints, step by step. Master didn’t give up on me and did not want to see my cultivation ruined. He hinted a lot to help me go through the persecution. Since I could not memorize Master’s Fa, I frequently said, “Falun Dafa is good. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good,” to cheer myself up.
I also often recited Master’s verse,
“Returning to tradition, that is the path that leads to heaven.” (“Re-creation,” Hong Yin V, Team Blue Translation)
Patriotism in ancient China had a profound and moral connotation. So I encouraged myself by thinking of the stories about how people endured hardship in history.
I remembered the Story of Wen Tianxiang, whose loyalty and courage encouraged me. Wen Tianxiang (1236-1283 A.D.) was a Chinese poet and politician in the last years of the Southern Song Dynasty. He is a well-known symbol of patriotism and uprightness. He protected the Song Dynasty and refused to yield after being captured by the Yuan Emperor, Kublai Khan. Wen was offered a position in the Yuan government, but he refused adamantly. He wrote the famous classic, “Passing by Lingdingyang.” Which ended with the following lines, “All men are mortal, but my loyalty will illuminate the annals of history forever.”
The story of Su Wu the shepherd reminded me what it means to endure hardship. During one of the Hun invasions, Su Wu was taken and jailed in a remote farm and made to herd male goats for 19 years. He endured a lot of suffering but never gave up his mission as a Han Dynasty representative.
Yue Fei (1103–1142), a renowned military general in the Southern Song Dynasty, is synonymous with the word “loyalty.” He led his troops to fight bravely to defend the country and was not defeated in 126 battles. He would rather die than be disloyal.
When I thought of these stories, I asked myself what tempered their diamond will. If all practitioners were as strong and solid as diamonds, we would not fear being tortured in prison or the persecution. We are beings forged by Dafa, so shouldn’t we do better? These historic figures were ordinary people. Unfortunately many of us cannot let go of various attachments, but give in when facing the persecution. Compared to these famous people and cultivators throughout history, I feel our cultivation is too easy and comfortable.
I remembered a story published on Minghui about a divine battle between righteous gods and evil. The righteous gods could not defeat the evil and were wounded and even killed. Master did not stop fighting even though all the righteous gods died. Then Master blew one breath and revived all the righteous gods. According to the story Master allowed those righteous gods to accumulate mighty virtue.
After reading the story, I thought about how many practitioners died during the persecution. However, most practitioners are still here! I think it was a test for every practitioner who read this article. We should all ask ourselves which of our attachments were exposed and how well we’ve cultivated ourselves.
Only Master knows when Fa-rectification will end. The path of cultivation is full of tribulations, and some practitioners are tired and don’t want to endure any more. We should remember however, that Master arranges every day according to the needs of Fa-rectification. No matter how many changes there are in the world, we should cultivate ourselves well and save as many people as we can. Only by doing so can we do as Master asks.
There are hundreds of thousands of Falun Dafa practitioners. The environment will improve if each of us takes a big step forward! No matter how long the road ahead is, the most important thing is to cherish every moment and not slack off.
Let’s read and reflect on Master’s two poems in Hong Yin:
“I close my eyes and doze offto sever all troubles hereUpon waking, endless things come alongNeither heaven nor earth canblock my road of Fa-rectificationBut disciples’ human hearts can”(“Troubles,” Hong Yin III)
“The autumn sky is high, the air is clearingThe dense dark haze is goneHours and days counted on fingersLittle remains as the vast firmament fadesLost beings each act recklesslyNot knowing great danger approachesWhile great efforts are made to prevent the breakdownHow can rotten ghosts be allowed to interfereWill and thought surpass diamondThe macro and the micro are done by me”(“A Diamond Will,”Hong Yin II, Translation Version B)
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Category: Improving Oneself
