(Minghui.org) Several years ago, a fellow practitioner mentioned that a colleague of mine (who later also became a Falun Gong practitioner), had persuaded all the staff at my old workplace to quit the Chinese Communist Party organizations. After hearing this, I suddenly wondered how she was able to do this. After the persecution began on July 20, 1999, I had already started to mail truth-clarifying materials to them. In fact, I had sent more than one piece of mail to over 100 co-workers. The flyers I gave them were varied so that those who received them could exchange them and have an opportunity to read all of them. When I was released from jail after several years of persecution, I mailed the materials to them again… Having this thought, I suddenly realized that I was displaying the attachment of jealousy. I was jealous that my colleague, who was also a fellow practitioner, had done very well.
I heard another practitioner mention that there were several practitioners who had translated a book together in 2005, but now, in 2012, the editing of the book was still not completed. Was it that whoever participated in the translation of the book was competing for mighty virtue?
I thought then that I should send forth righteous thoughts for them, so that the task might be completed. However, after several months of sending forth righteous thoughts, I heard that these practitioners had still not finished and could hardly stand to meet together. I enlightened to the fact that in order to do such a sacred job, it is necessary to dissolve any impure thoughts and actions that would interfere with the translation. I wondered why these practitioners had not enlightened to this fact themselves as the reason why they could not resolve the problem after so many years. They even dared to pursue mighty virtue, which is so selfish. Even Master and the righteous gods would have been concerned for them. When practitioners have such impure hearts, who could help them? It was no wonder sending forth righteous thoughts for them did not help. A fellow practitioner said that instead of getting mighty virtue, they were actually committing a serious crime. Since there has been such a long delay in completing the translation, how many sentient beings have lost their opportunities to be saved and drifted away, and now might not get another opportunity? Some people have reached old age and they might pass away before they come into contact with Dafa again. This is actually akin to committing a serious crime.
Master said:
"Some people don’t get it. Their teachers tell them, ‘Don’t go seek it, don’t go seek it,’ but they just don’t believe it and they keep on seeking after it so stubbornly, and they get the exact opposite of what they wanted."
"Cultivation is up to you, gong is up to the master." ("The Second Talk" from Zhuan Falun)
In validating Dafa, there have always been gods helping. Without gods' help, what can human beings actually achieve? Even if they do it, it is without the gods' divine power. Gods can see things very clearly and if they see that someone is pursuing mighty virtue, of course they won't help them. That is why it’s hard to achieve it or do it well. With selfishness added to it, a practitioner’s field is not clean.
In sending forth righteous thoughts for them, I again suddenly enlightened that when I was jealous of my colleague who persuaded my co-workers to quit the CCP organizations, I also had the attachment of "competing for mighty virtue." I was also very angry. The attachments of "competing for mighty virtue, competing for sentient beings," were deeply hidden, and I didn't discover them until several years later.
As a result, little by little I came to understand the situation from the Fa perspective. I gradually came to realize that my attachments were very strong. I enlightened in the process of dismantling these selfish, bad substances, and I would like to share what I enlightened to.
In Cultivation, We Should Not Pursue Mighty Virtue
I understand that in cultivating Dafa, it is Master who saves us. Everything is created by Dafa. Without Master, there is nothing.
Master said:
"In fact, today's human race would have been destroyed a long time ago if it weren't for the Fa-rectification. The standard of the human race's thinking is already at a level lower than hell. It's because of the Fa-rectification that I atoned for the sins of all sentient beings in the Three Realms. (Applause) So think about it, as far as our students are concerned, it was as if I scooped you out of hell back then. (Applause) I have truly borne for you the sins you committed over hundreds and thousands of years. And it doesn't stop at just that. Because of this, I will also save you and turn you into Gods." ("Fa-Lecture During the 2003 Lantern Festival at the U.S. West Fa Conference")
From Master's lecture, I enlightened that in this reincarnation I am very dirty. If it were not for obtaining Dafa and believing that the Fa-rectification would for sure succeed, I would not even be worthy of being saved by Dafa. Master has saved my life. What I have obtained is immeasurable. All the "gods' glories" and "all fortunes" are given to me with Master's immeasurable suffering. It is only with Master's protection that I am able to still move forward. I have nothing myself except the wish to follow Master and save sentient beings in an unselfish way, in order to fulfill my pre-historic vows. Only in this way can I return home. If I cannot fulfill my pre-historic vows, I will not be able to go back to where I came from. Master talks about mighty virtue, but I don't believe that I should continually think of obtaining mighty virtue for myself.
I also enlightened that mighty virtue is given to us by Master.
Master said:
"I’ve observed that in San Francisco there are some students who for quite some time haven’t stepped forward. I don’t want to lose them. I’d like to see this group come out and do some simple things as a start, having them first of all step forward, and secondly have a chance to establish a certain amount of mighty virtue. Otherwise, what will happen to them in the future?" ("Fa Teaching Given at the NTDTV Meeting")
Even if practitioners are not diligent, Master still tries to create opportunities for them. It is not that one should be proud when one obtains mighty virtue, as it is given by Master.
We have noticed that some practitioners keep talking about obtaining mighty virtue. It seems that whatever they do, they think of gaining mighty virtue. Some practitioners even compete for projects, considering which one they believe has more mighty virtue, and then competing for it. They don't use what other people have done but instead do it by themselves. For many years there have been practitioners who have done many things by themselves, without giving other practitioners the opportunities. There are also some practitioners who have gone to different places to share with practitioners and motivate them to become coordinators. However, they overemphasized the mighty virtue that would be obtained. Some even vowed to co-ordinate larger areas, just like doing business to get more share of the market. As a result, there were some practitioners who became coordinators, but they were interfered with and arrested. The practitioner doing this was himself arrested more than once, causing great loss to the whole body. Practitioners had to rescue him, which took them away from their projects. The incident also interfered with other projects to save sentient beings. How can this be what Master wants?
When doing things selfishly, the result is exactly the opposite of Master’s requirements.
Master said:
"Did you know that in order to save you the Buddha once begged for food among everyday people? Today, I once again make the door wide open, and teach this Dafa to save you. I have never felt bitter for the numerous hardships I have suffered. Then what do you have that still can’t be abandoned? " (“True Cultivation” from Essentials for Further Advancement)
We Dafa disciples have obtained so much, and we don't really sacrifice much at all. We just have to let go of attachments, and this is even sometimes too difficult and too painful to do. The old forces use the opportunity to test us. It is only in the process of letting go of attachments that we feel that we are sacrificing. Actually, if only we could let go of our human attachments, our Master would give us "divine glory" and "all fortunes" after Master suffers greatly for us. Master has positioned his disciples at such a high level.
I understand that having obtained the Fa, if I don't go about saving sentient beings, don't bother to do what Master asks, and instead I just use the power of the Fa to get what I want, it is as good as being shameless.
When pursuing mighty virtue and facing the old forces, how dangerous is that?
In Validating the Fa, I Should Not Claim Credit for Others' Achievements
Sometimes when I did things, I was arrogant, conceited, and complacent. When I spoke, I was harsh and hurtful. Instead of cultivating myself, I tried to cultivate others. I was protecting my own fame and self-interest, and was claiming credit for others' achievements.
After studying the Fa, I wondered, "What is actually done by me? What can actually be done by human beings?" I sometimes understand only the parts that I need to do. This is actually what Master gives to disciples for cultivation. If we disciples do things according to the Fa principles, without adding any human elements, it is guaranteed that we will do them well. The path is paved well by Master, and the things are done by Master. Everything is achieved by Master. What qualifies me to claim credit for the achievements of others? How shameless it is to exhibit the CCP culture of self-importance.
From Master's teachings, I understand the role of Dafa disciples. Master uses his tremendous efforts and suffering to pave the path, and in essence does everything for us. As Dafa disciples we just need to follow Master's requirements to do the superficial things, and as a result we will be given glorious honor. I feel extremely thankful. How could I possibly lecture people and claim credit for other people's achievements? In just doing little things on the surface, if I claim credit for other people's achievements, when it comes to the final judgement, will I have a clear conscience to face Master?
We have less and less time, and still so many places that the truth of Dafa has not yet reached in China. Especially in remote areas, sentient beings are waiting. If I am still focusing on the past little "achievements," how trivial this is compared to the Dafa of the universe? In the future, I will let go of all my attachments and make good use of my time to save sentient beings.
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