It’s Essential to Change Our Way of Thinking

(Minghui.org) I have made considerable mistakes in the past on my cultivation journey and was always haunted by my own misplaced logic that the old forces would sooner or later target me for persecution. The more my imagination dreamed up dangerous situations, the more they manifested. They included receiving calls from someone I thought was from the police, police cars hanging around my residence and a fellow practitioner telling me that the police wanted to arrest me at work.

Another potentially dangerous incident occurred when I was driving home after finishing a Dafa-related activity. During the 13 hour drive on the highway, I felt a tremendous suction force from the passing cars, which were constantly pulling our car towards them. It could have been because I was tired and could not see very well in the dark. I tightly held onto the steering wheel while pleading for the founder of Falun Dafa, Master Li’s, help. With Master’s help and my strong righteous thoughts I got home safely. The clothes on my back were soaked in sweat.

Master said,

“If you, as a student [of Dafa], do not follow Master's requirements, it is definitely no simple thing. The old forces have arranged for all Dafa disciples a set of their things, so if a Dafa disciple doesn't follow Master's requirements, he must be following the old forces' arrangements. The old forces are in essence gigantic trials and tribulations that accompany you at all times, focused on whether in Fa-rectification Dafa disciples are able to step forward.” (“Be Clearheaded”)

It’s my understanding that the old forces prepare our every thought as we reincarnate lifetime after lifetime. Therefore, we can attribute the old forces to anything we think or do that are not aligned with Dafa—it’s either the old forces’ way or Master’s. The tribulations we encounter in the forms of illness, incarceration, displacement or loss of income can all be a manifestation of the old forces’ arrangements. I strongly believed I could atone for my sins by rectifying myself in accordance to the Fa. I emphatically rejected the old forces’ arrangements. 

I kept reminding myself: “All the wrongs I have committed were arranged by the old forces [of which I had no control over] thus, I do not accept them as being a part of me. I have come to assist Master in Fa-rectification, to validate the Fa and to tell people about the persecution. I will not be a target of the evil’s persecution. People can choose the right side by not taking part in the persecution. Even for those who are beyond help, they are not allowed to meddle with me. I follow Master’s arrangements, not the old forces’.” With that in mind, I feel a strong energy field around me whenever I sent forth righteous thoughts.

I found many practitioners have the mentality that it’s risky to carry out any Fa- validation activities. This seems to be more common with the recently intensified harassment [from the authorities].

Last year, I began to scrutinize my every thought. I found whenever I went out to validate the Fa, in the back of my mind I was always thinking about the risk of being caught. In the beginning, I sent forth righteous thoughts to eliminate these incorrect thoughts. But soon I was able to discern that these thoughts were not my own, rather, they have been imposed on me by the old forces. I chose to concentrate my mind on the people I wanted to reach – let me be the bearer of good news to anyone I happen to meet and they will be there waiting for me to talk to them. I was no longer worrying about my own safety.

As time passed, I noticed the fear slowly faded away and my righteous thoughts became stronger. The fear still surfaces sometimes, but it is very easy for me to ignore it. I believe our own positive mentality has a major effect on the people around us. Instead of turning against us, they will want to align themselves with Dafa and be a force for good. This is the power of Dafa when we have strong righteous thoughts.

Master said, “Cultivate with the heart you once had, and consummation is certain.” (“Fa Teaching at the 2013 Greater New York Fa Conference”)

My understanding of Master’s words is twofold. First, we are to be as diligent in our cultivation as when we first started. Second, before the persecution, our desire to validate the Fa was pure and simple. There was no reason to be afraid. To regain the heart we once had, our minds need to be just as pure as before. Time is running out, so a change in our thinking is essential.

Master said in this excerpt from "Born Anew" in Hong Yin, Translation Version A):

"And human notions change,
The degenerate things purged,
Brightness now shines forth."

By following what Master said, I have stepped out from the shadow of fear by changing my human notions. Now I always feel safe and protected by Master. 

Master said in this excerpt from "The Master-Disciple Bond" (Hong Yin Volume II, Translation Version A):

"When disciples have ample righteous thoughts
Master has the power to turn back the tide"

I am grateful for Master’s immense mercy. I cannot count the times over the last 20 years when Master’s hand was evident in the miracles I encountered.