(Minghui.org) I recently ran into a practitioner who said to me, “This period of time can be considered a test of letting go of life and death, and we have made it. You may have forgotten that you told me two months ago, ‘Remember we have Master.’ With that thought, I was able to overcome my tribulation.”
To be honest, I really don’t remember what I had said, but that practitioner’s words shocked me. We are students of the same Master and cultivating the same practice, but why couldn’t I do well? Isn’t this fundamentally not believing in Master Li Hongzhi (the founder of Falun Dafa) and Dafa (the Great Way)?
If my fundamental problem of lacking faith is not resolved, how can I continue to cultivate? I shouldn’t even think about reaching enlightenment! That exchange exposed the gap between myself and other practitioners, and also became the driving force for me to become more diligent.
Three months ago, two practitioners from our area were arrested, causing some pressure among our group. I left home for a while due to fear of being persecuted.
I sent forth righteous thoughts every day for the two practitioners and to eliminate my attachment to fear, yet I was still not at ease.
There are many examples of practitioners who have firm faith in Master and Dafa while in the midst of overcoming an ordeal.
Upon reflecting on how I left home to avoid tribulation, I can see my attachment to fear more clearly.
Master said,
“I have answered all of the questions. No matter how much I say, you still have to walk the path of cultivation yourselves. To walk this path well and progress to its end--nothing is more extraordinary. I say that because during the journey you will have hardships, tests of every sort, unforeseen ordeals, and you will have unexpected interference from all kinds of attachments and emotion. The interference will come from family, society, good friends, and even fellow cultivators. And along with this there is interference from changes in the state of human society and from human notions that were formed in society. All of those things can drag you back to being like an ordinary person. But if you can break through all of it, you can advance towards godhood. So as a cultivator, what is truly remarkable is when you can be steadfast and have righteous thoughts so firm that nothing can sway you. Be solid and firm like diamond, or granite, and then nothing can affect you--evil will be afraid at the mere sight of you.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Western U.S. International Fa Conference”, Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. VII)
I hope that practitioners will remember Master and the Fa teachings in the midst of ordeals, and come through in an upright and dignified manner. I also hope to commit myself to being more diligent in cultivation.
Above is my limited understanding, please correct me if anything is inappropriate.
Editor’s note: Views expressed in this article represent the author’s own opinions, for which the author is solely responsible. Readers should evaluate the article’s merits on their own.