(Clearwisdom.net) Recently I noticed a problem. While practitioners were discussing their understandings of the Fa, sometimes there were differences in opinions. The practitioners sometimes used Master's words to support their own viewpoints, which actually emphasized a certain aspect which one was more inclined towards. However, this is not understanding the Fa in an encompassing way. As to how to interpret the Fa in an encompassing way, I have had some understandings recently that I would like to share them with my fellow practitioners. If there is anything inappropriate, please point it out with compassion.
Always Use the Stricter Standards of the Fa to Measure Oneself and the Lenient Standards of the Fa to Measure Fellow Practitioners
In Master's lectures, there are requirements in the Fa that are strict as well as portions that are said with a heart of understanding towards things in which we did not do well. As to when we use which requirement to measure ourselves, it is also a manifestation of our cultivation level. My understanding is that the strict requirements should always be used to measure ourselves so that one can continually elevate upwards. The lenient standards, on the other hand, should always be used to measure our fellow practitioners. This way we have a heart of understanding towards their shortcomings in cultivation. In contrast, if we are lenient towards ourselves and strict on our fellow practitioners, it will become a barrier in our cultivation.
One day a fellow practitioner confided in me about a tribulation at home that she had been unable to overcome for quite a while. I said to her, "It has been such a long time. Why are you still stuck at this cultivation level?" She replied, "I am a human being doing cultivation, so human attachments are inevitably hard to avoid." I thought to myself that I should hold a heart of understanding towards her difficulties. The words I said to her were too cold and harsh. However, if she let up on herself in this respect, it would not be good for her. If she always kept forgiving herself this way, how could she elevate in her cultivation?
There was another situation that was frequently used in the reverse manner by fellow practitioners. When other practitioners were being persecuted by the evil, they would criticize the practitioner for having loopholes in their cultivation. Master pointed out in the article "Shed the Human Mindset,"
"The most prominent manifestation of this is the severe persecution many students face as a result of their strong human mindset and lack of righteous thoughts."
These words were meant to warn those practitioners who were being persecuted badly to look inward and discover their shortcomings. They were not, however, meant to be used as an excuse for other practitioners to shirk their responsibilities of rescuing these persecuted practitioners. The words should also not be used as an excuse for these practitioners to not look inwards at their own shortcomings. Didn't Master also mention before in the Fa that some practitioners were persecuted by the evil old forces because of the mindsets of their fellow practitioners around them? Why didn't they think of this Fa? Why did they keep finding parts of the Fa that adhered to their own perceptions? Actually, many times when we were not able to interpret the Fa in a more encompassing manner, it was still due to problems of our own mind nature.
For example, Master said in the lecture "Teaching the Fa in Canada, 2006,"
"Put frankly, when it comes to the questions of whether someone can obtain the Fa and whether someone can cultivate all the way, there will be different forms of interference for different people. Those troubles all stem from the person's own past actions, so no one should complain. Who can obtain the Fa? Who can break out of the shell? And who can truly, rationally see this Fa for what it is? Viewed in this light, things are indeed fair for sentient beings."
Those practitioners who had more or bigger tribulations and who had feelings of resentment should now understand that since the Dafa of the cosmos formed the fundamentals of the cosmos, how could it not be fair to sentient beings? Even a little bit of resentment is being disrespectful to Dafa. Yet compassionate Master still patiently lectured the Fa to practitioners and opened up the heart strings of practitioners who had resentment due to their human attachments. However, practitioners who have comparatively fewer tribulations or are in less stringent environments (for example the practitioners not in China) should not think that the environments they are in are to enjoy because of what they did in the past. They should instead treasure and make use of their more advantageous environment to be more diligent in cultivation and do well the three things required by Master. They should also try their best to help those practitioners who are experiencing tribulations.
Looking Inward and Pointing out the Shortcomings of Fellow Practitioners in an Encompassing Way
Master told us that as practitioners we should look inward when encountering conflicts. We can also point out the problems of fellow practitioners compassionately. Thus, some practitioners, after looking inward at their own problems, also point out the problems of fellow practitioners. However, sometimes the other practitioner cannot accept their criticisms. I realized that this was because practitioners regard looking inwards and helping fellow practitioners to look inwards as two different things. They do not understand the encompassing relationship between these two acts. Actually, at this time, the act of looking inward has become conditional. It has become superficial, and the root of the problem is thus not easily found. Thus, one also cannot see the root of the problem of the other party's shortcomings. Actually, looking inwards is not a task in cultivation. Instead, it is a powerful weapon in solving all problems. Only when one really looks inward can one understand the root of the conflict. Not only can one see one's own shortcomings, one can also see where the problem lies with the other party. In this way, one can really help fellow practitioners. Looking inward not only involves realizing the attachment that presented itself through the incident. It also involves identifying the areas which have not assimilated to the cosmic characteristics of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance." One must also correct one's thinking and behavior to assimilate to the Fa. At this time, when you look at the other party in the conflict, you will realize that your viewpoint will change. Maybe there was no problem with the other party after all. Perhaps before you even say anything, the other party will have realized his or her own problem.
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