(Clearwisdom.net) Recently, during a sharing with fellow practitioners about validating Dafa and doing the three things well, I recognized some shortcomings in our cultivation environment. I wanted to write them down to exchange views with everyone, so that we can improve together.
1. Enlightening to nothing new while studying the Fa
This phenomenon mostly appears for practitioners whose thoughts are not clear, who are unable to concentrate on Fa study, and do not understand the importance of Fa study.
My personal understanding is that studying the Fa well is the fundamental way to improve in cultivation and validating the Fa. If we can't calm down and concentrate on Fa study, then the Fa will not reveal its meaning to us. Or if we are interfered with by notions, and every time we read, we always think that it is the same as we already read previously, then these notions can obstruct us.
Teacher told us that every character in Zhuan Falun has layers upon layers of Buddhas, Taos and gods behind them. Well, then every time we read it, it is like immeasurable Buddhas, Taos and gods are displaying Fa principles at different levels. They penetrate the connotations of Dafa principles into practitioners' minds. This is such a holy matter, how can we not realize this?
2. Complaints and unbalanced points of view
Some Falun Gong practitioners experience dissatisfaction with certain family members, and other practitioners even complain, condemn, and have irrational views toward other practitioners. It always appears to them as if they are right and others are wrong. But as practitioners, shouldn't we be tolerant? If we are not tolerant, we will become indignant and forcibly suppress our unbalanced points of view. This is actually the tolerance of an ordinary person.
Such a mindset exhibits one's attachments to pursuit and jealousy. One might feel that one has done something for others, or done more than others have. One dislikes others for not being helpful, and subconsciously seeks rewards. When the person's attachments are not satisfied, he or she does not speak out, and his or her innermost part becomes extremely unbalanced, leading to complaints, condemnation, anger and so on -- even evil thoughts might emerge. Finally, they view matters based on the selfishness of the old cosmos, that only wants to change others, and not oneself.
My personal understanding is: actually, if we can truly regard ourselves as Dafa practitioners, and always be considerate of others, then naturally our innermost heart will not experience any complaints or anger toward anyone.
3. Falun Gong practitioners looking down on others
Some practitioners feel that they are doing better than others in their cultivation, and therefore look down on others. This manifests as an unwillingness to respond to fellow practitioners that they regard as not cultivating well. They only want to share with practitioners who have the same understanding as they do. This attachment is used by the evil to create gaps and difficulties in validating the Fa.
I think that this is the manifestation of strong selfishness and a lack of compassion. Falun Gong practitioners are still cultivating, and still have human sides or bad things that have not been abandoned yet. When we notice the negative side of others, we have the responsibility to point it out and help others to improve. In fact, practitioners all have enlightened sides which are not seen by others. Why can't we look at a person comprehensively? Tolerance and compassion is developed through cultivation, isn't this a good chance? At the same time, isn't exposing gaps between practitioners denying the arrangements of the old forces and displaying the mighty power of Dafa as one body?
4. Being fond of one's job, difficult to guarantee doing the "three things"
Some practitioners were not well off financially due to the persecution. Plus they wanted to validate the Fa and do the "three things" better, so they started their own businesses. This was good, however during the process, they either got too engrossed in their business, became too intent on management and/or were too interested in business matters. They could not guarantee time for daily Fa study, exercise practice or sending forth righteous thoughts. They were not able to manage and balance well the relationship between work and validating the Fa. Some even regard dealing with problems and difficulties at work as removing interferences in Fa-rectification. They even took it as an essential element for sending forth righteous thoughts. (I think that we are supposed to eliminate the evil and interference with righteous thoughts, and clear away the poison of the Chinese Communist Party's culture indoctrinated into people's minds. But dealing with issues of gain and loss for individuals or a company as validating the Fa, I just feel is too far-fetched).
The work place is an environment for Falun Gong practitioners to cultivate and improve in the human world. It can also be used as a convenient condition for validating the Fa and saving sentient beings. If we can't position this relationship correctly, and we make our work a priority and more important than validating the Fa, and even delay studying the Fa and practicing the exercises, then I think this is a problem.
5. Quotes taken out of context to find excuses in the Fa, adhering stubbornly to ones own opinions
Previously, I was attached to self. When encountering different opinions or ordeals, I often used to say that Teacher had said this and that Dafa required that. I would emphasize that I was doing things according to the requirements of Teacher and Dafa and that I was not wrong. This sounded reasonable and not wrong at all, but after fellow practitioners pointed out similar issues several times, I finally discovered my attachment, which was stubborn and difficult to see - the attachment to self. The root cause was selfishness and protecting myself, which caused these troubles. I felt that I understood everything correctly, did nothing wrong, was not willing to give up my opinions, and even used Dafa to cover up my attachments.
When I found this fundamental attachment, I noticed that I had not let go of my personal notions and understanding all along. I am still far from meeting Dafa's requirements and I have not fundamentally melted into the Fa yet. I was always attached to what I had enlightened to, and how I did it, instead of truly treating myself as a Dafa particle, thinking how Dafa practitioners should do things, and looking at issues based on the Fa.
I discovered that finding one's deeply rooted attachment - selfishness, and getting rid of it, is the key point which determines whether one can exist in the new universe, versus the old. It is the dividing line of truly melting into Dafa that separates us from the old universe and helps us to become lives in the new cosmos. It is the elevating factor in developing enlightened and selfless beings who consider others first.
I sincerely wanted to share the above phenomena and my personal understandings with fellow practitioners. If there are any mistakes, please point them out.
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