The True Purpose of Life Is to Return to Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance
By a practitioner in China
(Clearwisdom.net) I always believed that I did not have good inborn
quality. Yet, through my predestined relationship with Teacher, a seed was
planted within me to obtain the Fa. Guided by Teacher Li, I gradually
enlightened to many things. I feel ever so lucky. The Chinese Communist Party branded my grandfather as a "landlord"
because my family owned some property. My father was unyielding to the communist
dogma, so he became a target of the regime's attacks. Few people helped us.
Instead, many people went along with the regime and felt that they could walk
all over us. During my childhood, it was painful and depressing to witness how
people treated us. When I read Zhuan Falun for the first
time, it was as if a window to heaven had been opened for me. Many of my
questions were answered. I was a very emotional person and believed in
predestined relationship. Early on, when I was watching a video of one of
Teacher's lectures, I saw Teacher's face and just cried. Although I did not
understand what cultivation was about and did not know what Dafa would mean to
me, I was enticed by the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance.
With Teacher Li holding my hand, I stepped through the door of cultivation. I have come a long way from someone who knew nothing about cultivation or the
life of a cultivator. Through the gradual process of returning to one's true
self, I realized that cultivation is difficult and full of hardships.
Fortunately, when I began practicing, I studied the Fa, did the exercises and
shared experiences with other practitioners. I benefited a lot from the
righteous environment. Soon after the persecution began on July 20, 1999, faced
with a harsh environment and the suspicious thoughts I had toward Dafa, and due
to my karma, I did not know what to do. I pleaded with Teacher Li to let me see
the truth through my third eye. I thought I would know for sure and would not
waver. Of course, according to Fa principles, one cannot use what one sees
through the third eye to come to such a conclusion. Because of my gratitude toward Teacher Li, I also went to Beijing to appeal
for justice for Dafa. At that time, many practitioners congregated in Beijing.
To help me gain confidence in cultivation, I was most interested in hearing
other practitioners' stories of extraordinary experiences. Yet my suspicions
were still with me. I had followed the example of solid practitioners, hoping to
obtain some tips and insights or shortcuts about cultivation. I came back
empty-handed. I really worried for myself. However, I still had the thought of returning to my true self. While I
studied the Fa diligently, Teacher eliminated karma from me several times. One
day I woke up and felt entirely different. All those negativities that had
affected me were gone. I was like a white sheet of paper, not polluted at all.
Teacher Li, it was your mercy that purified my internal environment. Then, I
gradually woke up as if I had been in a slumber for hundreds of years. I truly
woke up. Teacher came for Fa-rectification, with the most all-encompassing Fa to
rectify all that is not righteous in the cosmos, to awaken the Buddha nature in
all sentient beings and to resolve fundamental issues such as selfishness and
deviation, with benevolent solutions. Teacher will then take all saved beings to
the new cosmos. We came from higher levels to this human world to obtain the Fa
and assimilate to the Fa, which is the only hope for saving sentient beings.
People have been misled by fame, personal gain and feelings. Coupled with all
deviated elements of life, people have separated themselves from Truthfulness,
Compassion, Forbearance. When Teacher Li first began to teach the Fa, he told us
that cultivation is for returning to one's original, true self. Now I realize
that with Teacher's assistance, we can rid ourselves of all things that are not
good or part of our true selves, and return to Truthfulness, Compassion,
Forbearance. I know that the new me is a result of Teacher's mercy. I continue to deepen
my understanding of how serious and magnificent cultivation is. If I have any
bad thoughts in my mind, I am very sure that the thoughts are not me, and I try
to eliminate them. I am again studying Teacher's early articles: "As a matter of fact, when you agonize over infringements upon your
reputation, self-interest, and feelings among everyday people, it already
indicates that you cannot let go of ordinary human attachments. You must
remember this: Cultivation itself is not painful--the key lies in your
inability to let go of ordinary human attachments. Only when you are about to
let go of your reputation, interests, and feelings will you feel pain."
("True Cultivation" from Essentials for Further Advancement) "In practicing cultivation, you are not making real, solid progress on
your own, which would effect great, fundamental changes internally. Instead,
you rely on my power and take advantage of powerful external factors. This can
never transform your human nature into Buddha-nature. If every one of you can
understand the Fa from the depths of your mind, that will truly be the
manifestation of the Fa whose power knows no boundary--the reappearance of the
mighty Buddha Fa in the human world!" ("Cautionary Advice" from
Essentials for Further Advancement") "Be aware: I am not asking you to intentionally do something. I am
only trying to make you understand the principles of the Fa so that you will
have a clear understanding of this. In fact, Dafa is not only to save human
beings--it is also taught to all beings in the various dimensions. Your
enlightened, original nature will automatically know what to do. Cherishing
your human side enables you to enlighten to and ascend in the Fa. Dafa is
harmonizing all sentient beings, and all sentient beings are also harmonizing
Dafa. I have told you the solemnity and sacredness of the Fa in order to
eliminate your confusion about and misunderstanding of the Fa."
("Expounding on the Fa" from Essentials for Further Advancement) After several years of practice, I am able to understand more and more of
Teacher's words. We have to go through the process of getting rid of
attachments. Then we realize the inner meanings of certain things. During this
process, I was lost and puzzled, and I even fell. Because my heart was still
focused on Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance, Teacher Li picked me up and
saw me through all the tribulations that seemed impossible to pass. I have come
a long way from someone who was very emotional to someone who lives rationally.
I have come to understand the sacredness and solemnity of Fa study, sending
forth righteous thoughts, and truth-clarification, which are not things a
non-practitioner can do. Only Falun Dafa practitioners are privileged to do
these. They are the most scared things in the world. If we have righteous
thoughts, Teacher Li can endow us with divine power. He gives us the Fa,
enabling us to fulfill our historic vows. I am fearless because the purpose of life is to return to Truthfulness,
Compassion, Forbearance. The old forces and all the elements arranged by them
were supposed to be rectified by Teacher, but they are causing damage to
themselves with so-called noble reasons. In the end, they will have to pay for
what they have done. They should be afraid. I firmly believe that since the purpose of life is to return to Truthfulness,
Compassion, Forbearance, awakening our original nature and clearheaded thinking
are truly natural. Thank you to the great Teacher. Thank you. July 20, 2005
Chinese version available at
http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2005/7/21/106640.html
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