(Minghui.org) I finally came to understand what it means to let go of sentimentality when helping other practitioners. This relates to an elderly practitioner who had severe sickness karma after being released from years of imprisonment. She was paralyzed and couldn’t speak. When I saw she lived in a dilapidated house and had to rely on caregivers, I couldn’t hold back my tears.
For several weeks, I could not let go of sentimentality. I developed a strong attachment to pursuit and was hoping to help her regain her abilities to speak and move right away.
When I was studying the Fa, Master Li gave me many hints that my mindset was not righteous, but I didn’t take it to heart. I just wanted this practitioner’s health to improve!
My intention to help her seemed to be correct on the surface. However, it was driven by human notions. My sentimentality grew so strong that I wept whenever I read reports about the ongoing persecution on the Minghui website.
I couldn’t focus on anything because I only thought about this practitioner’s situation. When I read articles about being absentminded, I thought about her again. I didn’t understand why she was like this, especially since she had come this far without renouncing her faith in Dafa.
Discovering a New Perspective
Suddenly, a big magnifying glass appeared in front of an article I was reading. I was stunned and immediately realized that I had overblown the issue. But what exactly was I magnifying? In the article, I read about a group of persecuted practitioners.
I understood I had magnified the persecution. Was I trapped in sentimentality? Was the purpose of this report to make me feel sad? Did I look like a practitioner when I wept like this? Could this alleviate the tribulations practitioners were suffering?
I realized I had indulged in sentimentality. If a lot of practitioners were like this, they could form a negative energy field, which could cause additional tribulations in our group.
Master said,
“...Those who claim abundant wisdom,Do wield their skills so dexterously,but all is done in emotion.” (Looking Back, Hong Yin)
I wouldn’t be able to help practitioners if I was filled with sentimentality and likely waver in my faith in Dafa.
Sentimentality stems from selfishness. How could I help others improve from the Fa’s perspective with emotions? Only the power of true compassion can help practitioners to return to cultivating diligently and to overcome tribulations.
It is dangerous to look at the persecution the same way ordinary people do, because we will find the atrocities hard to accept. This elderly practitioner could not sense the power of the Fa when I was trapped in negative thoughts. In fact, my human notions would only decrease her righteous thoughts and make it difficult for her to see through the illusion.
True practitioners have righteous energy fields, which can rectify incorrect states. We can only help dissolve the persecution by studying the Fa well and having righteous thoughts. Only by having firm faith in Master and the Fa can we help fellow practitioners strengthen their righteous thoughts.
If practitioners have negative thoughts, the old forces will take advantage of the loophole and make the situation worse, more confusing, and more difficult to accept.
How is it possible that Master would arrange for a practitioner to be paralyzed and unable to speak at this critical moment when we must save people? This was a cultivation issue on how to look at her situation.
After I realized this, I was much calmer. I then slowly eliminated my ordinary notions and could focus on studying the Fa. I no longer felt sad. Everything had to do with my xinxing!
Master said,
“I can tell you that if a person doesn’t have that much karma, he absolutely won’t have tribulations that severe.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Western U.S. Fa Conference,” Guiding the Voyage)
“The next person’s things are your things, and your things are his things. We don’t talk about the “unity” everyday people do, which is a forced, superficial thing. You are cultivators, and your realms are higher.” (“Fa Teaching Given at the 2002 Conference in Washington, D.C.,” Collected Teachings Given Around the World Volume II)
We are one body, so her tribulations manifested as a test for me to pass. I began to change my way of thinking. I not only took care of her daily needs, but I also began supporting her from a cultivation perspective.
I read Minghui Weekly to her so that she could catch up with the state of Fa-rectification. More importantly, I told her that studying the Fa is the key to improving xinxing and disintegrating the persecution. I gave an example of how practitioners in Changchun started memorizing the Fa 20 years ago. So I helped her develop the habit of memorizing the Fa. I also reminded her of the importance of sending righteous thoughts.
The practitioner’s righteous thoughts became stronger and stronger. Although she had not yet recovered and couldn’t do the exercises, she studied the Fa and started to look inward.
Master has suffered countless hardships to save us, but he has not said anything about this or taken it to heart. We shouldn’t take our troubles to heart either. Do not magnify the difficulties of fellow practitioners; this only creates additional obstacles.
I Could Not Recognize My Own Name
I haven’t clarified the truth face to face due to the attachment of fear. Because I couldn’t overcome this, I always felt ashamed that Master had saved me.
I once had a good opportunity to tell my supervisor the truth about the persecution. Unfortunately, I couldn’t open my mouth because I was afraid of being reported to the police. I didn’t have confidence and didn’t feel I had enough time to get to the heart of the matter.
I became frustrated when I thought of this. Without thinking, I then wrote my name on a piece of paper. I suddenly thought that my name looked very strange. Although I knew how to pronounce it, I didn’t know whose name it was.
I suddenly realized that Master saw my attachment to fear. He used this to make me understand it was not my true self that was afraid. How could I accept the false self as my true self? How could I let the false self control me?
I quickly adjusted my state. My true self made a vow to save people, so I told myself not to be afraid. I found another chance to approach my supervisor. I first told her I appreciated her hard work. I also thanked her for her kindness when she protected me from being persecuted. I then told her why practitioners are firm in their faith and explained the true nature of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
In the end, she said practitioners should be treated with compassion. I was happy she no longer misunderstood Dafa.
I appreciate Master’s hints. He doesn’t want anyone to be left behind. We should be diligent in our cultivation.
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Category: Improving Oneself
