(Minghui.org) I would like to share my understanding of following other practitioners after reading an article about this.
I tried very hard to help an elderly practitioner who was somewhat confined. I was not able to help her much and contributed to her dependence instead. She said, “I treat you as my leader, and I follow you. Can you guarantee that I get to read all of Master's lectures?”
I was quite surprised and said, “I hand copy the lectures. Would you be willing to follow that?” She did not say anything.
This experience alerted me. People who are worshipped or depended on are usually quite capable, know how to motivate others, and are approachable. These qualities can be advantageous or sometimes negative. As practitioners, we can bring ourselves tribulations if we do not guard against the attachments to showing off and zealotry.
Master said, “...the appearance stems from the mind.”(“Fa Teaching Given at the Epoch Times Meeting,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. X)
Divine beings and negative entities can see your attachments. No one will admire you if you do not care about fame. No one will ask you for favors if you do not brag about yourself. No negative entity would dare to interfere with you if you were not attached to self or ego. No one can move you if you have no human notions. You will not step off your cultivation path if you can continue to look inward and cultivate yourself.
Not only should we truly believe in Master’s words, but we should also be able to put them into action. Master said,
“The human world is a deluding place, a dimension where you cannot see the universe or lives as they truly are. But for exactly this reason people are able to develop spiritually here. When a person cannot see things as they truly are, yet still believes in the divine; still resists the currents of this world and even transcends it; and still looks inward when experiencing friction or strife, difficulties, or injustice and makes a priority of virtuous thought and conduct on his part, then what he is doing is indeed developing spiritually. Any higher beings that witness this will find the person worthy of becoming divine. And doing this is what makes it possible for you to achieve spiritual perfection. You are beings of that caliber.”(“Greetings to the Dafa Disciples Attending the Fa Conference of Europe,” Team Yellow Translation)