(Minghui.org) Twenty-nine years have passed since 1992, when Falun Dafa was first introduced to the public. Many of us have practiced for years, but do we really understand the Fa’s principles? How much have we removed our human notions, attachments and desires? How many times have we inadvertently used our notions to define the Fa’s principles, and the people and things we encounter?
Master said, “Mercy can melt heaven and earth into spring.” (“Fa Rectifies the Cosmos,” Hong Yin II)
It’s sometimes difficult to cultivate ourselves every second. If we can achieve this state, it means our knowing side is in charge and our minds are clear. When we’re led by our attachments we are blinded by them, and then our human notions, karma, and attachments are in charge.
According to a recently published article, a young practitioner saw some things through his celestial eye. Many practitioners like to read prophecies and were moved by what he said. After some discussion, some practitioners realized that they were moved, identified their attachments and took this as a good opportunity to cultivate. They let go of their attachments and improved themselves.
Some practitioners measure everything with the Fa’s standards and can maintain a steady mind. Others became emotional when other practitioners disagreed with them and they even commented on those practitioners’ cultivation states.
I realized this was a good opportunity to look within and cultivate myself. I read some of Master’s teachings about conflicts.
Master said,
“Just as I said, when in conflict with others, you need to examine your inner self and find the faults within yourself—don’t look externally. If you can do that, your xinxing will improve on a fundamental level.” (Teachings at the First Conference in North America)
“You should treat everyone compassionately and look for causes in yourself when encountering any problem. Even if others badmouth us or hit us, we should all look within ourselves—'Was it caused by my being wrong in some regard?' This enables you to find the root cause of the conflict, and it is the best way to remove the attachment to selfishness. Have a bigger and bigger heart, to the point where in your personal cultivation you can forgive anyone, including your enemies. That’s because what you refer to as enemies is defined as such by humans for the sake of their own benefit and gain, and that is not what a divine being would do.” (Teachings at the Conference in Australia)
“Whenever you encounter problems you should each look inward to search for the cause within, regardless of whether you’re to blame or not. Remember my words: Regardless of whether the problem is your fault or not, you should look inside yourself, and you will find a problem.” (Teachings at the Conference in Europe)
“When any conflict arises or anything happens, I've told you that not only should the two parties in the conflict look for reasons on their part, even any third party should think about himself--why are you the one who observed it? When you are a direct party in the conflict, that's even more the case, but why won't you cultivate yourself?” (“Teaching the Fa at the 2004 Chicago Conference,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. IV)
After reading Master’s teachings and observing some practitioners’ cultivation states, I remembered that I used to have a similar mindset. When I encountered people that did not meet my standards or understanding—which was limited to my cultivation state—I had little tolerance or compassion for them.
I later realized that I was led by emotion. I had very limited tolerance and didn’t care about anyone who disagreed with me.
As for whatever practitioners may have seen regarding Fa-rectification, they may have seen a reflection, but they cannot really know the truth. Specific things may have already changed, or they saw a very small portion of what will happen. There is no guarantee that the practitioner interpreted what he saw correctly, or that he saw the entire picture.
This time I looked inward to see if I was reacting emotionally, or if I was following my old understanding. No matter how I analyzed my mindset, the result was the same—whenever there is a conflict, by looking within, I can find where I should improve. I should remain patient, kind and unaffected. When facing problems I should look inward and cultivate myself based on the Fa. Master’s Fa speaks about everyone’s situation—we need to read it and apply it to ourselves. If we truly cultivate, we are then moving upwards.
The above reflects my current cultivation and understanding, and fellow practitioners encouraged me to share my thoughts with you.
Master said,
“...it's the law of mutual-generation and mutual-inhibition at work in the cosmos. Whenever somebody has a thought, it produces different elements that are from both the positive and the negative sides. When you have a thought of goodness, evil emerges as well, and when you have an evil thought, it too has an effect. That's why many cultivators have said that "both good and evil emerge out of one thought." But who really knows the truth behind those words?” (“Teaching the Fa at the Conference in Vancouver, Canada, in 2003,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. II)
I frequently read this Fa to remind myself of this.
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Category: Improving Oneself
