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Understanding the Concepts of "Self" and Purging Our Own Problems A practitioner from China
(Clearwisdom.net) Some practitioners have recently shared their understanding that "the
old forces are in fact yourself." I disagree with this sentiment and would like to discuss my
own understanding on this issue. The old forces insist on testing Dafa practitioners based on the practitioner's attachments. When
the practitioners regard the Fa as Teacher and continue looking inward to break through their own
postnatally acquired notions, this indeed can break through the arrangements of the old forces. But
we cannot simply make a substitution based on that and deduce the conclusion that "the old
forces are in fact yourself." It's clear from Master's lectures that there is a clear
distinction between one's postnatally acquired notions and oneself. This is an important distinction
to make. Whether you regard your "self" as the old forces or a Fa-rectification Dafa disciple is
the foundation of your position. This position determines whether you are a life of the new universe
or one of the old universe, and whether you regard yourself as "a particle of Dafa." When we made our wish to save sentient beings and came down the celestial body of the universe
step by step, it was the layers of beings of the old forces who arranged everything for us according
to their own standards. Consequently, we took on the degeneration at each level because of their
arrangements. Without the Fa-rectification, we will never be able to go back. Master rectifies us
from our origin out of his benevolence. Therefore, we are now beings whose essence is dissolving
more and more thoroughly into the Fa. The old forces are the beings in the old universe involved in damaging the Fa. They are the true
evils and are destined to be eliminated in the Fa-rectification. Though their arrangements are not
in accordance with the true principles of the universe, they keep using their arrangements to shake
the righteous thoughts of the practitioners. They make us feel that we are insignificant, low and
tiny. They make us feel guilty by thinking that going to Beijing [to validate Dafa] is
getting involved in politics and we might be arrested if we clarify the truth. Some practitioners
who are on the wanted list would feel afraid whenever they read anything in the newspaper about
capturing people who are on the wanted list. Isn't it that the old forces are influencing these
practitioners? I would like to ask them, "What are you afraid of? Are you criminals? Remember
you are Fa-rectification period Dafa disciples, the most indestructible beings in the whole
universe. It's the rotten demons who sought to ruin the Fa that are destined to be eliminated." Master said, "As a Dafa disciple, your steadfast, righteous thoughts are absolutely
unshakable, because your renewed being is formed precisely amidst the
Fa-rectification"("Dafa is Indestructible"). 3. Let our original nature play a role; purge our own problems with supernormal abilities The old forces are very rampant since they know they are doomed. They desperately try to control
the surface karma and postnatal notions of Dafa practitioners and magnify our attachments that
haven't been eliminated. Therefore, some individual practitioners have become indifferent and have a
passive attitude of having no way out when the tribulations come. They cannot clearly hold on to
their own selves and therefore let the evils take advantage of the loopholes. What should we do
then? We already know that our cultivated side has been separated from our surface. After studying Touring
North America to Teach the Fa repeatedly, I understand it is the old forces that have separated
our surface from our nature; they use the human dimension to seal our much more powerful abilities.
In fact, Master has pushed his disciples to each one's highest level. To those beings under our
levels, we have boundless power; therefore we can purge all degenerated matter within the celestial
bodies that we represent. When our human side understands this principle, we will be able to break the separation and allow
our original nature to play a role and to purge our own self with supernormal abilities. Therefore,
during this critical historic period, we can completely break through the evil arrangements that
take advantage of our own loopholes. There was no such principle for cultivation in the past. The
attachments of a cultivator had to be gradually and slowly worn away during a long, harsh period of
time. Instead of just using water to clean a glass stained with a thick layer of accumulated dirt,
which would be very difficult, we should use a powerful cleaner to clean it. Master has taught us clearly, "Our students can quiet their minds for five minutes, sitting
with their hands in Jieyin and thinking about eliminating the bad thoughts, karma, bad
notions, and external interference in their minds. As you're like this, think that they die, and
then they will be eliminated. Five minutes will do." (Teaching the Fa at the 2001 Canada Fa
Conference) Let's study again Master's latest article "Righteous Thoughts," "So, in order to
do Fa-rectification more effectively, while you clarify the facts you have to take sending righteous
thoughts very seriously, and in a timely manner purge the evil and your own problems so that you
won't be taken advantage of by the evil." The above is my personal understanding. Please point out anything improper so that we can improve
together. November 20, 2002 Posting date: 11/29/2002 |