Whether Right or Wrong, One Should Look at the Root Cause and Not Just the Surface

After the suppression of Falun Gong began in July 1999 began, the assistant coordinator and many diligent practitioners in my area were persecuted. Those who were not persecuted no longer came out to tell people about the persecution of Falun Gong. The entire area was in a state of disarray. Under these circumstances, a coordinator in my area and several practitioners began to work together, thus, unifying our local group. However, the coordinator did not cultivate well, so some practitioners who disagreed with him sought other practitioners and formed another group. Because the new group of practitioners did not want to deal with the local coordinator, the two groups could not cooperate with each other. As a result, our local group was divided into two.

At the time, I did not have a clear understanding of the principles of Falun Dafa. I thought that it did not matter who I worked with as long as we were clarifying the facts about Falun Gong. Moreover, the leaders of the new group were in my Fa study group. Since we knew each other already, I began to work with the new group. In order to expose the persecution and let people know the truth about Falun Gong, I submitted many articles to minghui.ca (Chinese version of Clearwisdom.net) and distributed flyers in the local area. This created a strong reaction amongst the public and within the public security department, and frightened many people who were persecuting Falun Gong practitioners. Later on, one of the leaders of the new group was illegally arrested, as a result, practitioners in the new group re-united with the main group. Eventually, two other leaders from the new group were also arrested. At present, all three have been released.

I did not think much about this incident afterward. I have always thought that I had utilized my skills and created a large impact when validating the Fa, and was quite satisfied with what I did. Then a practitioner pointed out to me, "Although on the surface you were doing things according to Teacher's words and validating the Fa as required, nevertheless, the basis of your actions was wrong. Consequently, you followed the old forces arrangements. You need to look at this issue clearly so that you can validate the Fa with righteousness and rid yourself of the old forces arrangements."

I felt that I was wronged and was very upset. I had spent all my energy writing many articles to explain the truth about Falun Gong and to save sentient beings. I risked everything to do Dafa work and I contributed greatly. How could this practitioner say that I was following the old forces arrangements? Fellow practitioners calmly explained their understanding based on the Fa regarding my problem.

Teacher said in "Be Clearheaded,"

"If you, as a student [of Dafa], do not follow Master's requirements, it is definitely no simple thing. The old forces have arranged for all Dafa disciples a set of their things, so if a Dafa disciple doesn't follow Master's requirements, he must be following the old forces' arrangements." (May 8, 2004)

Teacher has clearly explained many times in his lectures that Dafa practitioners should form one body. This is something most practitioners are aware of. Therefore, it is one's responsibility and duty to maintain the one body. We should harmonize and coordinate with each other and not do anything that separates or damages the unified body.

Teacher said,

"If certain students have issues with the coordinator and make known the coordinator's shortcomings among some students, then the problem doesn't just involve the coordinator. You're cultivating, so why aren't you looking inside? You're stirring up antagonism among students toward the coordinator, you're leading a group of people to go against the coordinator, and that is being irresponsible to both yourself and Dafa." (Teaching the Fa at the Meeting with Asia-Pacific Students, April 12, 2004, New York)

"Yes, things like this have happened, where the coordinator didn't think of certain things or the coordinator really didn't do well in certain respects. And some students have seen [what was lacking] and took the initiative to remedy it themselves--these things have happened a lot, too. But when the group wanted to do something, some students would disagree, wanting to do their own things, and then pull some people away to work with them. I want to tell all of you that you should work together with others regardless of whether the coordinator has done an adequate job on something, and together you should get it done better. You can't pull out and go off to do your own thing. Whoever does that is wrong. And as your master, I don't approve of that." ("Teaching the Fa in the City of Los Angeles", February 25, 2006)

After reading Teacher's lectures, I realized the three practitioners that formed the new group did not look inside to cultivate themselves. Although they also actively clarified the truth, they did not cultivate themselves amidst conflicts. Moreover, they failed to follow Teacher's words and took a group of practitioners with them. Because the starting point of their action was wrong, they followed the old forces arrangements and walked further away from the Fa.

There are different levels of Fa principles. Although I did not take a group of practitioners with me, I participated in the new group. Not only had I failed to stop practitioners from forming a new group, I actually helped them. By doing so, I followed the old forces arrangements and interfered with the one body. I was actually helping the unrighteous elements and providing an opportunity for them to interfere with the Fa. Although on the surface I was validating the Fa, because the root of my action was wrong, not only did I not accomplish anything, I committed more wrongdoing. Had I not recognized my mistakes, the old forces would not have let go of me on this issue. One must understand the Fa principles clearly in order to walk out of the old forces' arrangements and consummate.