(Minghui.org) I am an outspoken and straightforward person. Whenever a practitioner encountered a problem and told me about it, I did not hesitate to harshly criticize him or her.
I said things like, “You have such and such attachments, and this is what you need to do.” This kind of behavior became a habit over time. It gave me a feeling of satisfaction after I reprimanded them. My belief was that being open with them instead of beating around the bush was the way a cultivator should be.
Last year I said to a practitioner whom I had just met, “Now that you are divorced, you should not have custody of your child. If your ex-husband doesn’t pay you alimony, you’re doomed. You are too dependent and will easily become overly attached to your child. I see that you often scold your child, I think you should look within.” I had lots of advice for them.
My sister informed me that our younger brother had stopped working some time ago, causing the family business to be shorthanded. I blamed my brother, “He says he reads Dafa books, but he is on his mobile phone all day and does not act like a practitioner. Now he is not working, and is becoming lazy!”
As I was complaining about my brother my tooth began to hurt, and felt loose. I was upset and anxious because of the pain. I looked within and discovered a few attachments, but I still had pain. I could not do anything, and was unable to eat. I recited the Fa silently.
Master said,
“For cultivators, in the course of cultivation there are so many attachments to be relinquished, such as the mentality of showing off, jealousy, the competitive mentality, and zealotry. Many different attachments must be discarded...” (Lecture Four, Zhuan Falun)
I remembered that when I was a child, people used to take medicine to relieve toothaches. I was able to forbear the pain and did not take medicine, and I wanted others to see my willpower. I realized that for all of my life I liked to show off.
My eagerness to give advice to others, looking down on them, and complaining about my brother all stemmed from the mentality of showing off and jealousy. It was not helpful. It was hurtful.
An incredible thing happened after I enlightened to this Fa principle. The pain disappeared and my tooth was no longer loose!
I took this opportunity to look deeper. I recalled that when I thought I was helping practitioners, I was imposing my opinions and telling them to look within. I had an inflated ego. Master is looking after every practitioner. I should not be so overbearing. I was embarrassed by my behavior. At this point the pain in my tooth was completely gone.
Thank you Master for your compassionate salvation!