(Clearwisdom.net) Two local practitioners did not pass the test when facing illness karma. At the beginning, I learned, they had been steadfast. However, when facing setbacks or weakness, they did not hold onto their righteous thoughts.
One fellow practitioner coughed up large amounts of blood, yet he put up with the fatigue and discomfort and continued doing the Three Things. But a few months later when he coughed up blood again, he was confused, and he wavered. He was not sure where he was stuck. He even developed the thought that he might have been arranged by the old forces to sabotage the Fa. He then went to the hospital.
Another practitioner had symptoms of diabetes. Still he continued to do the Three Things. Later he had fever and was suffering from discomfort all over his body. When he saw that what he had coughed up was black, he wavered and went to the hospital.
Prior to these events, both practitioners had experiences of not passing the test of illness karma. Recently, the first practitioner recalled that at the beginning of his cultivation practice, the other practitioners had dared to give up all attachments regarding the Fa that Teacher taught about illness karma, yet he had wondered what he would do if he had symptoms of pneumonia or appendicitis. He had rather strong human notions. Although he improved along the way, he had not reached the point where as long as there was a single breath left, he would hold firm his belief in the Dafa. He has made up his mind to adjust himself and will strive forward more diligently.
I feel that there must be reasons why tests are piled upon tests. One possible reason is that the previous tests accumulated to that extent. Another reason could be that they were to test them to see if they had truly let go of human thoughts. When we face the moment of life and death, it could very well be that we are at the stage where we are facing a critical step to break through and get over the old forces' interferences. It is true that one faces tremendous difficulty when in a test. Fellow practitioners who are under severe persecution, you may think of it this way: It is mentioned in Zhuan Falun that at the moment when one dies, one feels no pain. So as long as you feel pain, you are not facing death. Why not simply make up your mind to let go of the fundamental attachments. As long as you have a breath left, you will stay steadfast!
If you keep bargaining with Teacher, even fellow practitioners will feel like you don't meet the standard, let alone the old forces. They would rather destroy you as long as you're not fully above the standard. In order not to disappoint the sentient beings who have placed all their hopes in us, in order not to have Teacher bear everything for us in vain, and for the sake of our eternal future, let us regain our confidence from now on.
This is my personal understanding. Please pardon and correct any of my inappropriate thoughts.
