My Understandings from a Toothache

I wrote this article as a reminder to share my understanding with fellow practitioners who have the same shortcoming as I do.

One day, when I began reading Clearwisdom articles, my tooth suddenly started to ache. The pain became unbearable for me, which stirred up my human thoughts and I decided to go to a dentist to remove the bad tooth.

Later I realised that I had not viewed this thing from the principles taught in Falun Gong, the Fa. I deeply regretted what I had done. A few months later a neighbouring tooth started to ache. I knew that thing had returned, and this time I surely would not be defeated. The pain grew stronger and stronger until I burst into tears. I told myself that this time I won't have the tooth removed even if it pains me to death. Then I realised that this thought was not correct at all. What am I here for? Wasn't I pursuing the sickness? I remember Master said that in time of a tribulation why not ask Master for help? It is also a test of faith and enlightenment. I then adjusted my mindset and sent forth righteous thoughts. In the meantime I asked Master to strengthen my righteous thoughts. Two hours later, my toothache went away. Afterwards I did not search inward and just let it go.

Later I had a toothache again and it was very severe and long-lasting. When I initially asked Master for help and sent forth righteous thoughts, it did not work right away. Thought karma came into play and tried to convince me to have the tooth pulled. I knew this thought was not from my true self. I sent out a thought to tell the being sternly, "You want to deceive me with a misleading appearance, but this time I won't be fooled." I thought that if it was due to debts I owed in my previous reincarnations, I would resolve it in a compassionate manner. But if it was the evil's persecution, I would never accept it, acknowledge it or permit its existence.

The pain came up one wave after another, each time worse than before, which made me unable to sleep. Amid the torment, I recalled what Master said in Zhuan Falun:

"Because of this body, everyday people will encounter this problem: They cannot stand being cold, hot, thirsty, hungry, or tired, and yet they will still have birth, old age, illness, and death. In any case, one will not be comfortable."

I suddenly realised how wonderful it is to cultivate. Only when one becomes an enlightened being through cultivation can he transcend the secular world. I fell asleep with these thoughts in mind and had a dream. In the dream I also had a toothache. Master told me that he had replaced my bad tooth with new one. My toothache was gone and I felt very light and comfortable in the dream.

When I woke up I realised it was a dream, yet the scene was so vivid. I realised that Master was giving me a hint by fixing my tooth in the dream. I also realised that the toothache was caused by my strong human attachments. After understanding the Fa principle, my mind elevated. After sending forth righteous thoughts my tooth was still in pain. I thought about how in the past several days I spent too much time doing everyday errands and did not practise the standing exercises as much as I should have. I decided to do them right away. After finishing the four sets of standing exercises my tooth felt much better.