(Minghui.org) With the help of fellow practitioners I was able to go on the Internet, and I established a small-scale truth-clarification materials production site at my home in 2008. I remember how excited I was the first time I saw so many New Year greeting cards to Master from all over the world on the Minghui website. I wished that I could make a greeting card someday which was as elegant as those published.
I only knew the basic steps to get online at that time and just what other practitioners had taught me, and I didn't know what to do if anything new appeared on my screen. With their help and encouragement, I downloaded instructions on how to make greeting cards from the Minghui website in 2011. After working on it for several nights, I finally made a greeting card with a blooming lotus on December 28. I wrote, “Happy New Year, Master!” I had tears in my eyes and was filled with gratitude. I woke up my entire family. We pressed our hands together in gratitude and respectfully wished Master a Happy New Year in front of the computer.
My little greeting card, which carried my family's deep gratitude and best wishes, was published on the Minghui website.
Another practitioner said that the greeting card she had sent wasn't very clear, and it might be because she wasn't in a good cultivation state. I took another look at the webpage with my greeting card, which I had bookmarked. It was crystal clear and radiant. I was thrilled. Ever since then, I have made greeting cards to Master for every holiday. I subconsciously compared mine with those of fellow practitioners. Before I realized it, my motive for making greeting cards became less and less pure.
I once read an article about a non-practitioner's experience of sending greetings to Master. Seeing so many people's greetings, he sent a New Year greeting to Master out of curiosity. The moment he clicked “send” his chronic sinus inflammation was suddenly gone. Ever since then he was able to breathe easily. He wrote a letter to Minghui, thanking Master for his compassion and praising the power of Dafa.
I told my daughter this story, hoping she would send a greeting card too. My daughter has been supportive of Dafa, and knows how to use PhotoShop. However, she wasn't willing to make one. I blamed her poor enlightenment quality, but didn't look inward for my own fault.
As more and more fellow practitioners are now able to break through the Internet blockade, more and more greeting cards to Master are published every year. I recently noticed that my greeting cards look dull in comparison. Even the color of the words didn't stand out well. I merely thought that I didn't do a good job combining colors, but I still failed to look inward.
The Mid Autumn Festival greeting card I made on behalf of my family didn't get published last year. I was in low spirits for quite a few days, wondering what had gone wrong.
Master told us,
“For a cultivator, looking within is a magical tool.” (Fa Teaching at the 2009 Washington DC International Fa Conference from Teaching the Fa at the Conference IX)
“Do you realize that as long as you’re a cultivator, in any environment or under any circumstances, I will use any troubles or unpleasant things you come across—even if they involve work for Dafa, or no matter how good or sacred you think they are—to eliminate your attachments and expose your demon-nature so that it can be eliminated, for your improvement is what’s most important.
“If you are able to succeed in improving yourself this way, what you do then, with a pure heart, will be the best and most sacred.” (Further Understanding from Essentials for Further Advancement)
The reason why my first greeting card looked clear and radiant was because my intentions were pure when I made it. The greeting cards I made later looked dull because my intentions were not pure. I became complacent when my card looked prettier than other practitioners'. I even showed it off several times. When I read how an ordinary person's long-term sinus infection was gone after sending a greeting card to Master, I tried to persuade my daughter to send one because she had sinus problems too. The reason why I always mentioned my family in my greetings was because I wanted Master to bless them. In the cards I never expressed my determination to do the three things well, because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to keep my promise.
Now that I've identified my attachments I feel very ashamed! I have cultivated myself for 18 years. Even though I can remember Master's teachings very well, I failed to apply them to my actions and to measure myself in accordance with the Fa.
In the coming New Year, I will start from scratch, strictly follow the Fa, do the three things well, and progress diligently.
Heshi to our compassionate great Master!
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Category: Improving Oneself
