(Clearwisdom.net) In "Take the Middle Way" from Essentials for Further Advancement, Master said: "Because of disciples' differences in understanding, some disciples always go from one extreme to the other. Whenever they read the Fa I have written they take extreme actions, thereby causing new problems."
In his Fa teachings recently, Master has placed great emphasis on the importance of looking within. Some fellow practitioners have taken extreme actions, believing that when faced with problems, they should only look within and it is not necessary for them to point out other practitioners' weaknesses. Whenever they hear other practitioners talk about or disagree with them or discuss the reasons for many practitioners being illegally arrested, they believe that those practitioners who talk about those things are only looking outward and not cultivating themselves. Even worse, they refuse to discuss anything with other practitioners, which makes some practitioners not want to speak anymore.
To cultivate in Dafa, it is right to look within. However, "to look within" is not the same as simply not pointing out others' shortcomings nor is it the same as becoming enlightened all by oneself (without asking questions, receiving help from others, or discussing with others) as in Zen Buddhism. For practitioners to upgrade themselves to a higher level by attending experience sharing conferences and exchanging ideas with fellow practitioners is the cultivation way that Master has left for us, so we should follow it. We can exchange ideas, such as our experiences in "looking within," our thoughts on other practitioners' shortcomings, understandings of incidents that occur among practitioners, and offer advice to fellow practitioners to correct their defects. The purpose of exchanging ideas is not to find soul mates, but to heed advice in order to correct our faults and elevate to a higher level together.
From the Fa, we know that to point out fellow practitioners' shortcomings is both Master's requirement and practitioners' responsibility to harmonize Dafa. It is also the benevolence cultivated by Dafa practitioners. There is an old saying: "The onlookers see most clearly." When a practitioner faces a problem, the practitioners closest to him or her should judge the problem based on the Fa and give their opinions truthfully. This can help the practitioner facing a problem become more clearheaded. At the same time, it is also a cultivation process for fellow practitioners to recognize their own faults by "looking within" and learning from this problem to understand things more clearly according to the Fa principles.
To kindly point out whatever is improper conforms to the Fa principles. The human mentalities that get uncovered during the process of pointing out improper aspects are those we should get rid of. As Dafa practitioners we should trust one another and kindly forgive each other. We should also let go of the attachments to being self protective and of being cautious towards others. Instead, we should exchange ideas in a completely honest way and elevate towards higher levels together. Perhaps this will help Dafa practitioners as a whole become more mature.
This is my understanding. I hope fellow practitioners will kindly point out whatever is improper.
Written on August 17th, 2009.
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