(Minghui.org) I’d like to take this opportunity to remind fellow practitioners not to be the “novice monk” who complains about the degrading work he has to endure, or the “senior monk” who is opinionated and arrogant. Just be a true Dafa disciple who focuses on saving sentient beings.
1. Do Not Complain Like the Novice Monk Who Has to Do Degrading Work
I play different roles in different groups in my truth clarification work. I am the coordinator of the telephone group. In another group, I am just a member and in other groups, I support coordinators.
To many fellow practitioners, I am a coordinator. However, people do not realize that I spend a lot of time supporting other people behind the scenes. When I do not study the Fa well, I complain a lot like a “novice monk.” I feel that despite the endless, tedious work I have put in, many other practitioners don’t seem to understand me or cooperate with me, or are satisfied with what I do.
Especially when some of my team members were transferred to another project without much advance notice, I felt that I was pushed to the limit; however, I did understand the reason behind the move. As a result of a shortage of hands, the project I coordinated was falling apart and I could not keep up with my commitments to other projects. In addition, I have to keep my full-time job. I felt like there were, “A hundred hardships falling all at once” (“Tempering One’s Heart and Will,” Hong Yin, Translation Version B)
I did not realize that it was a great opportunity for me to improve my xinxing. I thought that the practitioners who left were trying to undermine me by leaving the group. After I studied the Fa, I realized that it was Master’s arrangement. I must improve my xinxing and elevate myself to be more tolerant, to think from others’ point of view and let go of all that is not righteous. During that period of time, I repeatedly studied “Dafa Disciples Must Study the Fa,” “What is a Dafa Disciple?” and “20th Anniversary Fa Teaching.”
Master teaches us,
“If you can’t manage to conduct yourselves according to Dafa when you do things, can’t manage to think things over with righteous thoughts, or are not on the Fa in dealing with problems, then you are an ordinary person. There isn’t any difference, then.” (“What is a Dafa Disciple?” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. XI)
After studying the Fa intensively, I could look at things from others’ perspectives. Every practitioner has his or her own challenges; the coordinator needs to balance resources for the various projects under them. I just need to be more tolerant and understanding of the criticism and complaints that come my way. This is a good chance for me to eliminate my karma and is a good thing. We are one body and should let go of self and cooperate with the coordinator unconditionally.
It was easier said than done. My bitterness kept coming back to haunt me whenever I heard complaints and gossip. I tried to remind myself not to be affected by what others said and at the same time remind other practitioners to focus on what we have to do. However, I still harbored negative feelings towards these practitioners. When I came across those who left my group, I was still upset about them departing.
One day when I was doing the first exercise, I skipped the movement of Arhat Carrying a Mountain on His Back twice in a row, and went straight to the next movement, Vajra Toppling a Mountain. This never happened before. When I was doing it the third time, I enlightened that Master is asking us to shoulder the mountain-like responsibilities like an Arhat.
It was only after my xinxing was improved could I solve the problems with “Thought is like a diamond will” (“Fa Rectifies All Things,” Hong Yin Volume II, Translation Version B). My understanding improved and I was able to let go of my resentment. Thank you, Master, for the reminder.
After this, I found that I would not be easily affected by any challenges. I just sent righteous thoughts to eliminate them. Everything has been arranged by Master. As long as we improve our xinxing, Master will reveal the solution to us.
Looking back, I was ashamed of how I reacted to the re-staffing of my group. I complained bitterly about it to the coordinator when she apologized for the situation. I realized how much more responsibility she had and the pressure she was under.
In truth-clarification work, we take on different roles such as “novice monk” and “senior monk.” We all put in the hard work. My job is to cooperate with others and put saving the sentient beings as the priority instead of thinking about myself. That’s what a true Dafa disciple is supposed to do.
2. Don’t Be the Opinionated and Arrogant “Senior Monk”
Recently I listened to the podcasts of the Cultivation Story of Milarepa (Episode 14). Milarepa was quoted, saying that he eliminated five different things that caused him trouble, namely, greed, anger, ignorance, self-conceit, and jealousy. I didn’t know what self-conceit meant at first. As I listened to the story more, when I saw how Milarepa gave the person who tried to poison him and challenge him many opportunities to correct his mistakes, I knew it really means arrogance. This is what we must eliminate. An enlightened being does not have arrogance towards any sentient being, only boundless compassion and appreciation towards lives.
I realized the problems I encountered amidst changes were because I lost my patience with my colleagues. I thought that I was the boss and it was about saving people. I had the license to be rude. I did not think about what others had been through. I was arrogant and self-conceited. They pushed back when I was demanding. As a result, our project did not go as planned. Reflecting on what happened, I enlightened that we have all been kings at some point in time. What we are doing now is our responsibility; it is not about glory. We are so lucky to be Dafa disciples. We gave up a lot to follow the Creator to come down to this realm to save people. What is keeping us from apologizing when we make a mistake? What great predestined relationship we have to be working together, which we should cherish all the more.
Recently at a meeting, two practitioners were in a heated discussion about how to carry out a particular task. As I saw them raising their voices, I asked myself if I had an attachment to proving that I was right. There must be a reason why I was part of this. At times like this, I must look inward: how can I do better as a coordinator so we can leverage the participants’ respective strengths? I need to help them repair their relationship. So I apologized for my mistakes and acknowledged their good intentions and asked everyone to take a step back; the conflict was deescalated.
In the end, everyone agreed that we should meet weekly to improve our communication. Looking back, I didn’t see myself as a “senior monk.” Instead, I saw myself as a particle of Dafa and cherished every one of the fellow practitioners. It was a great honor to be able to bring everyone together to work towards a common goal: saving people. Everyone is trying to do their very best. We should not make any distinction between “novice monk” and “senior monk.” We complement each other. Nowadays, our truth-clarifying articles are being viewed by people from China every day and several people reached out to us to quit the Chinese Communist Party.
I am grateful for the tolerance, understanding and support of my fellow practitioners. I am honored to be working with them to clarify the truth to save sentient beings. In the New Year, we must work well with each other, cherish our time together, and fulfill our vow to save more people.
The above is my limited understanding. Kindly point out anything inappropriate.
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Category: Improving Oneself
