(Minghui.org) I took on the responsibility of project coordination on Saturdays and Sundays at a particular tourist site in Tainan, Taiwan because I felt it would be easy to manage. However, as the days went by, the more phone calls I made to practitioners, the more I felt exhausted and fatigued. That piece of paper listing practitioners' phone numbers became heavy. Things didn't turn out to be as easy as it seemed.
I neglected the fact that I didn't really know practitioners in various practice sites that well. I also overlooked weekends and holidays; practitioners needed to do housework, shopping, getting together with relatives and friends, not to mention studying the Fa, working on projects, and so on. How could I find people with just a few phone calls? Sometimes unanticipated things came up, such as kids getting sick, elderly parents needing extra care, or overtime was required at work. After awhile, people began to refer to me as the “rescue team” because I became an expert at providing backup when needed.
Looking Within
So I stumbled along in coordinating the tourist site until one day, practitioner Xiao [alias] told me at the last minute that she couldn't come to the site to help with the project that day. I didn't like it but there wasn't much I could do. Then it happened again sometime later, also with practitioner Xiao, at the very last minute. I became moody, and all the negativity, frustration, resentment and blame came out. Why? Why? I vented at one of the practitioners who was driving practitioners to the tourist site.
After listening to me for a while, the practitioner didn't get angry, but rather, replied softly, “You are so attached to doing work!”
Teacher says,
“When someone is irrationally shouting and screaming or venting, that's his demon-nature acting out--that is, his demon-nature side is at work. When a person is very benevolent, kind and genial, affable, and gentle, that is his good side coming into play.” (Teaching the Fa in the City of Los Angeles)
Teacher tells us that:
“When you cultivate an upright Fa and [are achieving] righteous Enlightenment, you are to restrain and eliminate your demon-nature.” (Teaching the Fa in the City of Los Angeles)
I stared at the practitioner and recalled Teacher's words. I was a coordinator and was still cultivating. How could I be so unkind? Why would I allow myself to blurt out like that? I tried to control my emotions and stay calm, but the words of “attached to doing work” rang in my ears for a long time. I took out the sheet with practitioners' phone numbers. I stared at it for quite a while and then began to clear my mind one layer after another. It was like a strike of lightning–I must look inside.
It was so true that I did not perform my coordinating task well, and I did not act according to the Fa. I was doing Dafa work with the mentality of a human mind.
Teacher says,
“If whatever it is that you’re doing is not grounded in the Fa, if it does not have the power of the Fa, and if you haven’t cultivated well, you will not do those things well. Although you might have done whatever it is, it has not achieved any effect and simply cannot save people, for you are ineffective in dissolving evil factors.” (“Dafa Disciples Must Study the Fa” from Teaching the Fa at the Conference XI)
I Changed My Attitude
After this realization, I readjusted myself and looked at the entire thing from a practitioner's perspective. I made phone calls with a compassionate tone and asked practitioners if they were able to schedule a time to attend the tourist site activity.
When practitioners had difficulty making a commitment because of their family situations, I tried to understand their dilemma and to be open-minded. I also encouraged them not to get frustrated, as all things that we encounter are good things that help us move forward. I said I would contact them again when we needed people to support us at the tourist site.
My attitude was positive, and my sharing with practitioners was grounded in the Fa. As a result, things changed drastically. More and more practitioners came out to the tourist site.
I'd like to give an example to illustrate the positive changes after the shift of my mentality. Once, I wanted to attend a training session. When I was about to go, a practitioner called to say that he couldn't go to the tourist site. I was a little bit uneasy about it but tried not to let my heart be moved. I said, “No problem. I'll find someone else to replace you.” It was already night time, and I wasn't sure who could go. Then, around 10:00 p.m., a practitioner called to ask if there was a driver available because he could go to support a tourist site. It was a big relief. I thanked Teacher for such a perfect arrangement. It was truly like Teacher said:
“Cultivation depends on one’s own efforts, while the transformation of gong is done by one’s master.” (Zhuan Falun)
Resolving Conflicts
Since everyone's cultivation state and Fa understandings varied, how to clarify the facts at tourist sites was an individual’s choice. It was natural that everyone had an opinion. Therefore, conflicts were unavoidable. When faced with this issue, I usually listened to people's concerns and encouraged them to speak to me openly. It was important to know all the facts and clear out interference before any discussions. I took my time and tried to deal with matters in a harmonious way. This approach yielded good results. Thus, conflicts were easy to resolve.
Fa-rectification is nearing the end. We didn't want to waste any more time. Having discussed with practitioners at our tourist site, we decided to take righteous actions; that is, not to take a break at all once we were at the site. Sometimes it rained when we started heading to the site, but when we got there, the rain stopped. It really showed that Teacher's law bodies are always by our side. Everything would be successful when we have righteous thoughts and when our hearts are set on saving sentient beings.
I encouraged practitioners to participate in the weekly group exercises and reciting the Fa on Sundays before heading to the tourist sites. Practitioners recited Lunyu and sent righteous thoughts while driving to and from the site. They also shared stories and experiences on clarifying the facts to tourists. The three things that we should do were all completed within half a day. This accomplishment made us feel great.
A Model Truth-Clarification Site
The tourist site itself was a truth-clarification display model. Practitioners dressed appropriately and always wore a smile. Practitioners were invited by a practice site assistant so they would not feel isolated. They were given simple tasks such as giving out pamphlets or helping to send righteous thoughts. These were to help them clear out the attachment of fear. Over time, they were guided by those who were more experienced. Everything was successful when we had righteous thoughts and when our hearts were set on saving sentient beings.
Looking back, I saw that through the coordination of the tourist site, many of my attachments surfaced and were gradually reduced. More and more practitioners took the initiative to participate in this project. I have come to an understanding that all these changes were a reflection of Dafa's power. I have learned to use the Fa principles to improve myself and treat practitioners with more compassion. I wholeheartedly thank Teacher for giving me such great opportunities to cultivate!
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Category: Improving Oneself
