(Minghui.org) I recently worked as a coordinator for the first time, and as a result, I came to realize that most of the conflicts related to coordination are different than those I was used to.
My understanding has also changed. I had to adjust my understanding on the Fa. I now understand why Master has explained so much in different lectures about how to understand and handle the conflicts among practitioners, coordinators and Falun Dafa associations.
I learned a lot more about why Master has repeatedly asked practitioners to let go of self and coordinate as one body, and why Master has emphasized over and over again that looking within is a magic tool.
The first challenge and the most direct conflict I encountered was that nobody's understanding is the same. In fact, sometimes they are even opposite. We had to discuss over and over again, and spent a lot of time and energy to get on the same page.
I often wondered, “Why is there such a huge discrepancy in understanding? Don't we cultivate the same Fa? Aren’t we doing the same things? Don't we share the same goal?”
Although we all read the same teachings, many factors may cause Dafa disciples to form different understandings and thoughts. Sometimes, if we do not guide our behavior with the Fa well, a lack of cooperation or even intentional sabotage may occur.
The first factor is that, as I understand it, Dafa disciples were all once kings. We are all very capable. Master said:
“With just one king, things are easy—whatever he says goes. But wow, here you’ve got so many kings all together, they’re full of ideas and approaches, and each has a strong tendency of wanting to make the decision and have others follow it. This is the biggest challenge that Dafa disciples face when they collaborate together, and it is an obstacle that stems from who you inherently are. Each person here is capable, with some being tremendously capable, and one of you alone can equal the strength of many ordinary persons. But, on the other hand, this spells trouble when it comes to working together.” (“Fa Teaching Given at the Epoch Times Meeting”)
A second factor is that every Dafa disciple’s level is different and of course the understandings and thoughts may be different. We are inclined to think that our understanding is right and others’ are not.
Master says:
“Perhaps two out of ten thousand people are at the same level.” (Zhuan Falun)
Dafa disciples often tend to think their own understanding is right.
The third factor is old force interference with our cooperation.
Master said:
“If each person thinks that he has some skills, they all think that they're capable, each of them thinks that he's right, and they refuse to give ground, then actually, at that point there are problems with those people who won't give ground. What they're thinking is, "This idea of mine can serve the Fa better," and they never think, "I'm showing off." But the old forces will latch on to his not giving ground and constantly strengthen it--"You're right, you're right, what you're doing is exactly right!" So at that time he's not clearheaded.” (“Explaining the Fa During the 2003 Lantern Festival at the U.S. West Fa Conference”)
“And besides, the old forces think that the less complete [an idea], the better. As that way, when you act on it and all kinds of flaws in it become apparent, if you are able to compensate for those things, then that is remarkable. The situation has given everyone an opportunity to cultivate together. That’s how they look at it.” (“Fa Teaching at the 2013 Greater New York Fa Conference”)
The fourth factor is that we are human beings who are cultivating, not gods. Therefore, different human attachments surface. Cultivators may sometimes be fooled by false impressions.
Master said,
“A person’s good side can’t be seen anymore, as it has been separated. What you see will always be the side that has not been cultivated yet. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a compassionate heart, or should look at people in rigid ways.” (“What is a Dafa Disciple”)
In other words, what we can see is the side that has not been cultivated yet, and as a result we often tend to feel that he or she didn’t cultivate well, or had other issues.
If we do not look inward, we often think that we cultivate better than the others and our own opinions are better. Thus we tend to reject others’ viewpoints.
The fifth factor relates to the need for us to improve as one body:
“If the coordinator were really like Master, or able to consider things from all angles and never be wrong, then a lot of people in that area couldn't cultivate successfully, since with him thinking things through so well there'd be nothing left for you to think about. If he were to do everything just right you wouldn't have a chance to show your great qualities. You see the idea, right?” (“Teaching the Fa at the Meeting with Asia-Pacific Students”)
“I want to tell all of you that you should work together with others regardless of whether the coordinator has done an adequate job on something, and together you should get it done better. You can't pull out and go off to do your own thing. Whoever does that is wrong. And as your master, I don't approve of that.” (“Teaching the Fa in the City of Los Angeles”)
Cultivating in a group environment often presents more issues than individual practitioners would encounter on their own. These conflicts may be quite acute and difficult to handle, making it easy for them to lose perspective.
However, I found out that although the conflicts in coordination are more complicated than typical interpersonal conflicts, the solution is the same: study the Fa more and look inward unconditionally.
Before I became a coordinator, I had issues with two practitioners around me: practitioners A and B. Their cultivation state appeared strange to me. However, a common theme in our relations was that as soon as we had to coordinate with one another to do things in saving sentient beings, we would all face serious xinxing tests.
I would often get angry with them. We couldn’t do well together. Later, as I improved in cultivation, I realized that A or B's state wasn't strange. It was my own human notions that caused the issues.
The other reason was that the old forces took advantage of our loopholes so we couldn’t save more people. Although I realized my own incorrect state, I wasn’t able to identify the specific attachment for a long time.
Then one day, I read the following in “Fa Teaching at the 2009 Washington DC International Fa Conference”:
“The majority of the time it's that [you are upset about] your suggestion not being adopted or that you looked down on someone. The manifestation of these two attachments tends to be the most intense.”
The issue I had with practitioner A was in fact my own issue. I looked down on him that he didn’t cultivate well enough. After I realized my human notions, I started seeing that he had cultivated really well in many areas.
I also noticed that I had resentment, grievance and complaints because A didn't help me as much as I hoped. Again, it was my own issue. Thus, I resolved the problem with cooperating with practitioner A.
How I resolved the conflict with practitioner B was more direct. One day, when we worked on a project together and couldn’t cooperate well. I became angry when I saw him and got annoyed as soon as he started talking.
I wasn’t affected by the false impression. I said to the old forces loudly in my heart: “Old forces, I will disintegrate you.” I started sending forth righteous thoughts in my mind for an hour. Then I was no longer angry. When I looked at practitioner B again, everything about him appeared to be normal.
As I improved further in my cultivation, I also noticed that I had a deeply rooted problem: selfishness. For a while, I have been complaining about practitioner A to another practitioner in my Fa-study group.
When I complained, I was merely venting, I wasn’t truly being responsible for practitioner A and pointing out his shortcomings to help him improve. I didn’t look to see what I could do to help him overcome the tribulations.
It turned out that everything I did was merely from a selfish angle. I was far from being considerate for others. From then on, I tried my best not to complain.
When I had the urge to complain, I told myself to think how to help the practitioner. The Fa principle seems so simple and easy. However, it took me so long to truly elevate and behave according to the principle. It wasn't easy.
With the foundation I built in my solid cultivation, I am able to search inward unconditionally upon taking up coordination work. No matter how strong the tribulation's impact is, I know to adjust myself and try my best to cooperate. I no longer complain, nor do I look down on others.
Please point out anything inappropriate.
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Category: Improving Oneself
