(Minghui.org) When some practitioners express their concern for others, it often manifests as an attachment. For example, they might tell a fellow practitioner who is experiencing a bout of sickness karma: “If you don't straighten yourself out, it could lead to dire consequences!”
Of course, their intention was to have the other party understand the seriousness of cultivation and the importance of ridding oneself of attachments. However, the way that I see it, they failed to cultivate their speech.
We should think of the consequences of our words before we speak, or else we might make matters worse for the other party. Moreover, when a person is going through a tribulation, it's hard for them to maintain strong righteous thoughts. Thus, speaking harshly to them won't bring them any benefits.
If the person going through a tribulation has deep-rooted attachments, then we cannot approach them in an aggressive manner, even if it's done with the best of intentions, such as trying to stimulate their righteous thoughts. Doing so might cause the other party to complain that others are unfairly criticizing them.
We must remember to guard our speech and not apply our notions and opinions to other people's lives. Everyone has to follow their own path and cultivate at their own pace.
If a person thinks that he's doing well in his cultivation practice, and someone tells him that he is doing poorly, he might feel that the other party is not on the Fa and is wrongly judging him.
Some practitioners who offer unsolicited advice, believe that their understandings are in line with the Fa, and that others should listen to them. This way of thinking is especially true among coordinators who appear to be diligent, but in fact are not.
When we comment on other people's cultivation state, we unknowingly expose the limitation of our thinking.
For example, if a person is poor, he might think that a fellow practitioner who runs a big company is “exchanging his De or virtue for money, and therefore will be unable to return to his true home.”
When a wealthy practitioner sees an impoverished practitioner, he might think, “Look at this guy, he's so poor! He's damaging the image of Falun Dafa!”
Practitioners who choose not to get married, might think that getting married is “immersing oneself in lust and desire, thus adversely effecting their cultivation.”
Those who are married might think, “Practitioners who choose to remain single only think about themselves. They don't consider the feelings and wishes of their family members, who long for them to get married and raise a family.”
Instead of getting lost in who's wrong and who's right, or who's good and who's bad, we should work hard on guarding our speech, validating Dafa, and saving sentient beings!
When we see that a fellow practitioner is going through a tribulation, we can kindly talk to them, making sure not to complain or criticize them. When we cultivate our speech, we're truly being responsible to ourselves and others.
Practitioners who are going through a tribulation are looking for someone who knows what to do, so that they can overcome the tribulation together.
It's therefore important that we are compassionate, rational, and have strong righteous thoughts. If we can say something positive to the other person or give them a little hope and encouragement, it could have a profound effect on their thinking.
At the very least, we could use this opportunity to cultivate our xingxing, instead of promoting ourselves and indulging in our demon nature!
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Category: Improving Oneself
