PureInsight | July 15, 2002
There are quite a few articles that talk about the old forces. I would like to join the discussion and exchange thoughts and understandings in this regard. I'd appreciate feedback and corrections from fellow practitioners.
1. Sudden Enlightenment versus Gradual Enlightenment
If we have great inborn qualities and special predestinated relationships, we might be able to reach the correct understanding on the subject of what the old forces really are in an instant. That would definitely be a great thing. But not every Dafa practitioner falls into the category. For those of us who don't belong to that category, the only way to reach the correct understanding and understand the Fa principles well is through analyzing the issue layer by layer. There are plenty of articles on Dafa websites that analyze the evil arrangements by the old forces in such a manner. In my humble opinion, if we could try to make the analysis based on the understanding of the Fa and try to find our inadequacies in the Fa, we would be within the Fa on this issue.
Even if a practitioner was able to reach sudden enlightenment on one matter, it is very unlikely that he would see the truth of everything else at the same time. So he would have no choice but to reach gradual enlightenment on other matters. In any case, Master has already talked about sudden enlightenment versus gradual enlightenment, "As to this principle, some may understand it all at once, while others may enlighten to it and understand it gradually. Does it matter how one enlightens? It is better if one can understand it all at once, but it is also fine if one gradually enlightens to it. Aren't both cases enlightenment? Both are enlightenment, so neither is wrong" (from "Enlightenment" in Chapter Nine of Zhuan Falun).
2. Eliminating the Arrangements Made by the Old Forces versus Eliminating the Old Forces Themselves
Are we supposed to eliminate the arrangements by the old forces, or the old forces themselves? Master said, "Did you know that I don't recognize at all this evil test that the old forces arranged? (From "A Suggestion" in Essentials for Further Advancement II.) Master also said, "A Dafa disciple completely opposes everything arranged by the evil old forces. Clarify the truth thoroughly, eliminate the evil with righteous thoughts, save all beings, and safeguard the Fa with determination, because you are a part of Dafa, indestructible; rectify all that is not righteous. Those who are 'reformed' and those who are being saved can only be beings who were deceived by the evil. Those who are being eliminated are the evil beings and the evil old forces. Those who are reaching Consummation through all this are Dafa disciples; and through all this Dafa's mighty virtue is established." (from "Dafa is Indestructible" in Essentials for Further Advancement II) In addition, Master said, "At present, the old forces are to be completely eradicated, regardless of whether the beings participating are positive or negative ones. All the evil beings who are participating in this are being eliminated during the Fa-rectification, no matter how high their levels are." (From "Path" in Essentials for Further Advancement II)
Based on these words, I believe that we must eliminate the arrangements by the old forces as well as the old forces themselves. It goes without saying that we are only assisting Teacher in Fa-rectification. It is Master who does the actual Fa-rectification, and we are only "assisting" him.
3. Are We Capable of Eliminating the Old Forces?
Of course we are capable of eliminating the old forces. Master said, "But no matter how difficult it is, you must steadfastly eliminate the evil with righteous thoughts, because while eliminating the evil, Dafa disciples are establishing their magnificent mighty virtue in the Fa-rectification. The effect you've had eliminating the evil with righteous thoughts is truly significant. A great number of evil beings have been eliminated, and some have been partially eliminated. This has knocked the life out of them, has eradicated the evil in many dimensions not yet reached by the Fa-rectification, and has had the effect of eliminating and frightening the evil persons." (from "The Effect of Righteous Thoughts" in Essentials for Further Advancement II)
Sometimes, our sending forth righteous thoughts may not yield immediate results in the surface dimension. Master said, "Sometimes the evil beings were clearly eliminated when Dafa disciples sent forth righteous thoughts, but then they were found to still exist in some of the segments and were continuing to do bad things. So, this is why some evil beings can be eliminated in one shot when Dafa disciples send forth righteous thoughts, while others can't be eliminated easily in one shot and it even takes many times to eliminate them. This is the case for those chief evil ones in Mainland China." (From "The Effect of Righteous Thoughts" in Essentials for Further Advancement II)
We keep enhancing our capabilities and enlarging our capacities. Last year, Clearwisdom editors first said, "Eradicating all of the evil within the three realms that damage Dafa" (from "Send Forth Righteous Thoughts" by Clearwisdom Editors). Then they said, "Eradicating all evil that damages Dafa" (from "Regarding Sending Forth Righteous Thoughts" by Clearwisdom Editors). Recently they said, "Clear away all of the evil in the cosmos that is damaging Dafa," (from "While Studying the Fa Well and Clarifying the Truth, Use Righteous Thoughts to Eliminate the Evil" by Clear Wisdom Editors). It is clear that as disciples of the Lord of Buddhas, we are the guardians of the cosmos.
4. A Correct Attitude Toward the Cultivation Experience Articles at Dafa Websites: Take the Fa as the Teacher
Master has said that for significant issues we should look to the Clearwisdom website for directions. Generally speaking, I think cultivation experience articles at ClearWisdom.net are very good although some practitioners may not be correct in their understandings of the Fa. In recent discussions on opposing the arrangements by the old forces, I personally think that one or two articles contained somewhat incorrect understandings of the Fa or perhaps the authors did not express their understandings clearly, which could mislead some fellow practitioners. In any case, the only solution to this is to study the Fa more and to take the Fa as Teacher. It is only when we are dissolved into the Fa that we will be able to do Fa-rectification well.
"Therefore, during the course of cultivation it is extremely crucial that each individual continuously keep on studying the Fa. If you don't study the Fa well, you will find it very difficult to position yourself righteously and do many things well while doing Dafa work. If you have studied the Fa well, many things will become easier to do and at the same time it will be less likely for problems to occur. Therefore, no matter how busy you are, you have to study the Fa." (From The North America Lecture Tour)
Translated from:
http://www.zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2002/6/7/16341.html
