(Minghui.org) I live on the third floor of an apartment building (the first two floors are empty) and my two bedroom windows face a hotel.
Poker Players Disturb My Life
The hotel parking lot is below the windows, but few cars typically park there. One morning, at around 8:00 a.m., a group of people came into the parking lot. I opened a window and saw several seniors who used to play poker in public, were moving their poker game to the parking lot.
They set up several tables right below my window and even set up umbrellas for shade. I was shocked to see how noisy they were. They stayed there from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., and didn't even go home for lunch. They just ate from their lunchboxes and continued to play poker.
They played under the baking sun. I thought that if they were as diligent in studying the Fa as they were with poker, they would be much better than me!
I hoped that they wouldn't be staying for long, but I didn't know when they would leave. I heard every sentence and all the dirty words they said so clearly. What should I do?
I had always disliked noisy environments, even before I practiced Falun Dafa. As a result of all the noise and foul language I was not calm. It seemed as if the situation was interference drummed up just to provoke me. It seriously disturbed my daily life.
I sent forth righteous thoughts and thought about what I should do. Should I call the police, or talk to the boss of the hotel? The moral level of people has deteriorated so much. How could these seniors just move to the parking lot and make lots of noise? Don't they consider others at all?
Other people in the building probably wouldn't hear much noise and thus wouldn't care about it. I was the only person who was suffering. I didn't know what I would do if it went on for much longer.
I hadn't made a decision, and decided to burn incense for Master. Then I pressed my hands together in front of my chest, and said, “Master, these old people who play poker are too noisy here. Should I call the police or talk to the hotel owner?”
Eliminating the Old Forces Interference
I looked at Master's photo and understood that I needed to send forth righteous thoughts to eliminate the old forces causing this interference. However, I should be tolerant, without resentment and hatred toward those people involved. I should take it lightly. I then calmed down.
I truly let go of my concerns for this matter. I walked to my reading room on the other side of my apartment and closed the door. I no longer heard their noise and I began doing whatever I needed to do.
I soon heard an ancient Chinese zither and bamboo flute duet on NTDTV, seemingly by chance. It was so peaceful and distant, and it showed the vicissitudes of life.
I felt as if I had seen myself walking from an ancient time, as tears rolled down my face. It wasn't easy for sentient beings to come to this earth from so far away. They are lost here, and might never be able to return to their true homes. How could I complain about them?
For the four times of sending forth righteous thoughts each day, I extended the time a little bit to eliminate the old forces that were manipulating people to interfere with me. The second morning, after 8:00 a.m., they came while I was doing the Falun Dafa exercises.
I listened to the exercise music, and didn't care about the noise outside. I closed my windows and turned on the air conditioning. I could hardly hear anything outside. After I had finished the exercises I went out to talk to people about Dafa.
A Bad Thing Turns Out to Be a Good Thing
I felt sleepy after doing the sitting meditation the following morning and wanted to sleep again. I was lazy and usually would go back to bed when I felt sleepy in the mornings. I slacked off sometimes after I retired, but was worried about this and wanted to change.
This time when I felt sleepy, I left the bedroom quickly, as I knew I should finish the rest of the exercises before the poker players arrived. I thought that from now on I shouldn't go back to sleep in the mornings, and that I must finish the five sets of exercises.
If I can let go of my lazy habit because of the poker players, wouldn't it be a good thing? A bad thing turns out to be a good thing. I should thank these people!
Master said:
“...Dafa disciples, being cultivators, should view problems in the opposite manner from how human beings do.” (“Dafa Disciples Must Study the Fa” from Teaching the Fa at the Conference XI)
These poker players provided me with an opportunity to improve my xinxing, so I should really thank them. I began to feel happy about it.
After I was done with the exercises, it was quiet outside. I opened the window and looked down. All the sun umbrellas were gone, and so were the tables and all of the people. Only a minivan was in the parking lot. Everything was quiet and no one was there. I could hardly believe it.
I was thinking of my problems out of selfishness and criticized everyday people, protecting my own interests. Later, I thought as a cultivator should.
Master said:
“You know, when a person reaches the Arhat level he’s not fazed by anything he comes across. He’s not the least bit concerned about any human things and he’s always upbeat. It doesn’t matter how much he loses out, he’s upbeat and doesn’t mind. When you can really do that, then you’ve achieved the initial Arhat Fruition.” (Zhuan Falun)
Dafa practitioners should have great endurance.
Later, my thoughts were corrected according to the Fa, and I truly thanked those people for giving me the opportunity to improve.
When my notions change fundamentally and I improve my xinxing, Master can help things change for the better.
Thank you Master!
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Category: Improving Oneself
