(Minghui.org) Nowadays in a disagreement, the question of “who-was-right-and-who-was-wrong” can persist for much longer than the actual argument itself. In addition, the saga of right and wrong in everyday society is usually judged by human notions rather than morality. What is a Falun Dafa practitioner supposed to do in a conflict?
The answer is simple.
Regardless of what everyday people’s opinions are, Dafa practitioners should always look for their own wrongdoing in every conflict or problem they encounter. Practitioners understand that tribulations occur to help us find our own problems so we can make advancements in our cultivation. Only by looking within can our xinxing improve.
However, as we are human beings cultivating, some of us still have a tendency to blame others instead of ourselves when a conflict arises.
Human Notions
It is hard for people to realize that they are controlled mostly by their acquired human notions when they encounter difficulties. People live in their individual environments and form various notions as a result. A short-tempered person may become impatient with those who are slow paced; a cautious person may dislike the careless; a loud person can be annoyed by the quiet; and a clean and tidy person may not be able to put up with those who are dirty and disorderly.
It is common understanding that people should possess good personal qualities, and if someone deviates from these expectations, eventually they will be frowned upon and complained about.
Given that Falun Dafa practitioners now walk a righteous path of cultivation, is it really alright for them to judge others as everyday people do?
There are standards for people to decide what is right and wrong in human society, but Dafa practitioners are supposed to adhere to higher standards. In my understanding, cultivation is about continually ridding ourselves of acquired human notions. Only by abandoning these, maintaining our righteous thoughts and upgrading our xinxing, can we come to understand the deeper meanings of Master’s Fa.
Human notions are not our true selves. Being unable to discern our true selves from our acquired notions is the greatest hurdle along our cultivation path, for it will create conflicts and misunderstanding between practitioners. Only by looking within, can we find the root cause of the problems and correct ourselves according to the Fa.
Paying Off One’s Karma
There are instances in which practitioners have been said to be wrongfully accused by others. In a few instances, fellow practitioners have tearfully told me that they had been wrongfully judged by other practitioners, either being accused of betraying other practitioners, engaging in extramarital affairs, or failing to pay their debts.
How could these practitioners be unfairly treated? How could others side with these rumors?
However, my actions were not correct. I had been deluded by my attachment to affection and protection, and did not deal with the issues using Dafa's principles.
Master said:
“In cultivation practice, there may be two scenarios when dealing with specific conflicts or when others treat you badly. One is that you might have treated this person badly in your previous life. You feel in your heart that it is unfair, "How can this person treat me like this?" Then why did you treat this person that way in the past? You might claim that you actually did not know it at that time, and this life has nothing to do with the other life. That does not work.” (Lecture Four, Zhuan Falun)
Master has told us about the possible cause of Dafa practitioners’ tribulations. We cry over our suffering and injustices, but we need to consider how badly we may have mistreated others in our previous lifetimes.
As Dafa practitioners, we should understand more clearly that it is highly possible that the negative things that happen to us are caused by our karma accrued from the wrongdoings that we have previously done.
If we do not rid ourselves of our attachments we can end up becoming burdened with all our grievances and karma. Master has already shouldered the majority of our karma, and only left a little for us to pay off.
How could we miss the chance to pay off our karmic debts, let go of our attachments, and at the same time, improve our xinxing?
Cherishing Fellow Practitioners
When one expresses the desire to cultivate in Dafa and takes responsibility to help Master in the Fa-rectification period, no matter how high that practitioners' cultivation level is, their life becomes precious in the eyes of high-level beings.
Since we are cherished by Master and high-level beings, how could we oppose and look down on one another? Our judgment of others is driven by our human notions and attachments. A true practitioner should assimilate to the Fa and cherish all practitioners, as Master does.
It is normal, at this time, for us to have failed to understand that the imperfections in other practitioners are not their true selves. With the help of Master and the Fa, all of this can be rectified on the path of cultivation.
Master said:
“Cultivation is about cultivating one's heart and cultivating oneself. When there are problems, conflicts, difficulties, and unfair treatment, one is still able to search oneself and look inside, and that's real cultivation, and only then will one be able to continuously improve, walk straight on the path of cultivation, and head toward Consummation!” (“A Congratulatory Message to the Taiwan Fa Conference”)
What does “cultivating oneself” really mean?
My understanding is that when there is a conflict or a problem our first reaction should be to look inside, to find out what is wrong on our part.
Only by unconditionally looking inward can we become true Dafa practitioners and “head toward Consummation.”
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Category: Improving Oneself
