(Minghui.org) For a long time, many practitioners had a big shortcoming: They praised fellow practitioners, telling them how well they cultivated and how wonderful they were, instead of encouraging them to be more diligent in cultivation. Some practitioners would also boast about how well they cultivated.
This adulation of practitioners stirred up many attachments. On some level, it may also show a lack of solid belief in Master and the Fa, or not taking the Fa as the master. In addition, it has played a negative role in practitioners' ability to validate the Fa.
Master told us to take the Fa as the master. When we praise fellow practitioners, we say it with human attachments and are not in the Fa. We only see that practitioners did well in one or two aspects; we cannot see whether they did well in other respects. Furthermore, although we may say that they did well, they may not have met Master's requirements for them or the criteria of the new cosmos.
Practitioners in the Fa-rectification period have big responsibilities and will achieve a high Fruit Status.
Practitioners come from different levels. Some come from higher and more remote cosmoses than others, and they may shoulder a greater mission and have to meet higher requirements of the Fa. Although it may seem on the surface that they have done quite well here, they may not have reached the standard that Dafa has set for them.
When you say that they did quite well, you say it with human attachments and thus throw bad substances into their dimension. Therefore, you actually put obstacles in their path. Didn't you play a negative role unknowingly then?
Some practitioners could have done better and developed more abilities. Because many practitioners praised them, and they themselves were also satisfied with their achievements, their greater abilities were blocked. That is very regrettable.
If many practitioners acted like this or spoke like this in the same area, there would form a very big negative energy field. Because Dafa practitioners' thoughts have energy, this energy would interfere with practitioners in validating the Fa or cultivation as a whole. This would bring big losses to Dafa.
Some practitioners were persecuted and passed away. Some had done quite well before, but made a detour in cultivation later on. Some were severely persecuted. All of these scenarios may have been caused not only because these practitioners had shortcomings, but also if they followed fellow practitioners instead of the Fa. This is a result of the unrighteousness of the whole body. There are many examples of this.
We have big lessons to learn. I almost lost my way because many practitioners praised me excessively. Master dissolved this attachment for me through His tremendous suffering, but there was still a big loss.
When we praise or stand in awe of other practitioners, Gods will look down upon us, because they would think that we put practitioners up on the pedestal and put Dafa in second place. Then we wouldn't have practiced the guideline of “respecting Master and respecting the Fa.”
There is no reason to praise ourselves. We should let Gods judge whether we have done well or not. As a matter of fact, only Master can know clearly whether practitioners have cultivated well or not. We cannot see this. We may think that we have done well by comparing ourselves to other practitioners or with our past, but this is not using the standard of the Fa.
Master wrote in “A Dialogue with Time” from Essentials for Further Advancement:
“Divine Being: Some of them have come looking for the aspect of the Fa that they consider good, but they are unable to let go of the aspect that prevents them from having a complete understanding of the Fa.
Master: There are also such people among veteran disciples. And the most outstanding evidence of that is that they always compare themselves with humans and with their own past, but fail to examine themselves with the requirements of the Fa at different levels.
Divine Being: These problems have already become very serious. It would be good if they could manage to search within themselves for the things that they have been able to find in others.
Master: It’s time for them to become clearheaded so that their environment can turn into one for true cultivation practice, and thus they will be able to become real gods.”
It is fine to encourage practitioners in a positive way. We should say it with a pure heart. We can say something like: “It is amazing that you have done so well this time. The Fa is so powerful and Master is great.”
We could also say: “You have been doing very well all these years because Master has been protecting and strengthening you. Let's do better and become even more diligent in the future to fulfill our missions.”
When we hear other practitioners' compliments, our hearts should not be moved. We should be in the Fa all the time. Then we'll be able to rectify practitioners' wrong words. We shouldn't let bad substances form in our field, as that can negatively affect our cultivation and validating the Fa.
Actually, I think practitioners shouldn't praise each other at all. We should encourage each other, help each other, and look within. This way, the field of the whole body will become purer and more beneficial for us to validate the Fa and save sentient beings.
Master said:
“When you Dafa disciples develop even stronger righteous thoughts among you, that will be what's most magnificent. Starting from each person, let's truly make our environment a very righteous one, and then all the unrighteous factors will dissolve, and all the students who haven't conducted themselves well will see where they fall short, and it will make them do better.” (“Teaching the Fa at the 2004 Chicago Conference” from Teaching the Fa at the Conference IV)
From Master's words, I can feel Master's great concern and expectations.
We should not let Master be concerned about us anymore. Let us really respect Master, respect the Fa and take the Fa as the master. Let us become more diligent in cultivation and harmonize with what Master wants. Let's encourage each other and help each other improve.
Due to my limited level, please point out anything inappropriate.
Thank you, Master! Heshi.