(Minghui.org) Many Falun Dafa practitioners experienced sickness karma and even passed away, regardless of their age.
There were approximately 30 Falun Dafa assistants before the persecution began, at eight of the practice sites in our area. More than half of them passed away. One was persecuted to death while in police custody, and the rest died at home.
The proportion of regular practitioners who passed away is similar. There are many reasons why practitioners are persecuted or pass away. I believe the main reason is having a deviation in one’s understanding of the Fa during the Fa-rectification period.
Master told us,
“But, until the force of Fa-rectification reaches the surface dimensions, the old Fa, the degenerated Fa of the cosmos, will still exist in the surface dimensions. Therefore, this old Fa will continue to govern all the beings in the old dimensions until Fa-rectification arrives.” Teachings From a Tour of North America
“At present, the old forces have already been completely weeded out.” (“Fa Teaching Given at the 2003 Washington, D.C. Fa Conference,” Collected Teachings Given Around the WorldVolume IV)
From this, we know that although the old forces have long since ceased to exist in the dimensions where the Fa-rectification has not yet arrived (including the surface world), the old universe’s laws and character and the old forces’ mutated arrangements and factors, are still playing a disruptive and destructive role.
Some practitioners suffered from severe or incurable diseases before they began practicing. They entered Dafa cultivation when they were in great pain and on the verge of death. Because Master purified their bodies and they recovered, some practitioners often say, “Master and Dafa gave me a second life.” Or, “My life should have ended long ago, and Master extended my life,” etc.
Let’s look at the above understandings from the perspectives of personal cultivation and Fa-rectification cultivation.
Cultivation During the Individual Cultivation Period
Master said,
“Yet some people have limited time left in their lives. Their years for living are numbered and may not be enough for cultivation. Our Falun Dafa can solve this problem and shorten the course of practice. Meanwhile, it is also a cultivation practice of mind and body. When you continually cultivate, you will constantly prolong your life. With consistent practice, your life will be constantly prolonged. Those elderly people with good inborn quality will have sufficient time for practice. There is a criterion, however, that the life prolonged beyond your predestined time to live is completely reserved for your practice. If your thoughts undergo even a little deviation, your life will be in danger because your lifetime should have long been over. You will have such a restriction until you reach Beyond-Triple-World-Fa cultivation. After that, one will be in another state.” (Lecture One, Zhuan Falun)
“How many years does a person still have in life? One will not know it oneself. Some people may be due for a serious illness after a year or half a year, and once they fall ill, it could be for several years. Some people may suffer a stroke or other illnesses and won’t be able to move at all. How will you be able to cultivate in the remaining course of your life? We must clean all of them out for you and prevent these things from occurring.” (Lecture Three, Zhuan Falun)
During the period of individual cultivation (before the persecution began on July 20, 1999), Master hadn’t yet told us about the true origin and realm of Dafa disciples’ lives or the reason they came to the human world.
Before the persecution began we understood the teachings mentioned above from the perspective of individual cultivation and believed we fell because we became corrupt and were no longer able to stay in a higher realm. Our lives did not initially have cultivation in them. It was only because we obtained the Fa and began cultivating that Master purified our bodies and changed our life paths.
It’s fine to have this understanding when we begin cultivating. Master purified our bodies, gave us a second chance, and extended our lives. There’s nothing wrong with thinking that way. We are grateful to Master and Dafa.
Understanding Cultivation During the Fa-rectification Period Cultivation
After the persecution began on July 20, 1999, our cultivation entered the Fa-Rectification period. Through reading the teachings, we gradually realized the origins of our true beings and the purpose of descending, layer by layer, until we reached the human realm, obtained the Fa, and cultivated in this lifetime.
When we combined Master’s Fa-rectification period Fa teachings with the perspective of Fa-rectification period Dafa disciples, our understanding of the teachings in Zhuan Falun changed.
We realize that Master already arranged the cultivation path for us in this lifetime before we descended from the highest realms to the human world to obtain the Fa. Therefore, our path in this lifetime involves cultivation.
According to Master’s arrangements, all Dafa disciples in the period of Fa-rectification need to transform their bodies in different dimensions into high-energy matter through Fa-rectification cultivation, until they have completed the cultivation path arranged by Master and then consummate and return with Master.
From this we can see that, with regard to the quotes from the first and third lectures in Zhuan Falun, the surface text of the Fa has stayed the same. However, when one understands this Fa from the perspectives of both personal cultivation and Fa-rectification period cultivation, the connotations of the Fa behind the surface text are different. The meanings and significance have all changed.
Master also said,
“As a matter of fact, this is because the same Fa has different transformations and forms of manifestation at different levels, and it can play different guiding roles for cultivators at different levels.” (Lecture One, Zhuan Falun)
As for those practitioners who were seriously ill before obtaining the Fa, we understand that Master arranged the Fa-rectification cultivation path for them to obtain the Fa in this lifetime long ago. Would Master let them die physically due to serious illness before obtaining the Fa in this life? Absolutely not!
Therefore, the illnesses and the pain wouldn’t cause them to die before they obtained the Fa because Master arranged for them to eliminate karma to the greatest extent before obtaining the Fa and to lay a foundation for obtaining the Fa.
Master also would not allow elderly practitioners to die because of their age while they are still cultivating in this lifetime.
Therefore, for practitioners who were seriously ill or elderly before they obtained the Fa, there is no question that, “Master gave me a second life; this life has been extended.” The only question is whether they can continue on the path of cultivation, fulfill the mission of saving people, and return to Master.
Now is the period of Fa-rectification cultivation, so we must use the meanings and connotations of Dafa that we understand at our level to guide our cultivation.
If we still understand this issue from the perspective of only individual cultivation, we may deviate in our understanding of the Fa and acknowledge the old forces’ arrangements. If we fail to correct and improve ourselves in the Fa promptly—in that case, a hidden danger will interfere with our Fa-rectification cultivation, and we won’t negate the old forces’ arrangements.
Additional Considerations
Practitioners who have been persecuted for a long time or who are in critical condition should think about this: What did Master arrange for me to do? What does Master want me to do? We should look to see if we have any understandings that deviate from the Fa. We should not simply find the attachments we have but also think about why we haven’t given them up for a long time.
If attachments drive one to do things that are not in line with Dafa, violate Dafa’s principles, or undermine the Fa, including giving speeches that violate the Fa, promising to be a spy or an insider, betraying fellow practitioners, deviate from the Fa, improper relationships outside of marriage, fundraising, repeatedly signing documents that denounce Dafa and then publishing solemn statements to negate one’s previous behavior, wasting Dafa’s resources and funds, using Dafa disciples to make money, or taking advantage of Dafa disciples’ kindness, then one must eliminate them.
Such attachments make it even more necessary to correct one’s understanding of the Fa and behavior and make changes as soon as possible. Start by issuing a solemn statement, cultivating anew, and redeeming the losses one has caused Dafa and the world’s people. Only in this way can one disintegrate the persecution and walk uprightly on the path arranged by Master.
This is my understanding at my current cultivation level. Please kindly point out anything that is not in line with the Fa.
Editor's note: This article only represents the author’s understanding in their current cultivation state meant for sharing among practitioners so that we can “Compare in studying, compare in cultivating.” (“Solid Cultivation,” Hong Yin)
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Category: Perspectives
