(Minghui.org) Many street performers recently appeared in my neighborhood and they like to play their favorite music in the evenings. I live upstairs, and sometimes I want to study the Fa or send forth righteous thoughts, but their high-decibel music disturbs me. I get annoyed and complain.
I went out last night and saw a street performer playing a wind instrument. He used a speaker to amplify his music and lit the area with colorful lights to attract attention. I thought, “If you don’t want to bother your neighbors, then it’s fine to play your instrument outside. But why are you using a tweeter? Are you trying to show off? This is noise pollution!”
Then I recalled Master’s teachings—to look inward unconditionally and cultivate ourselves. So I wondered, “Why am I bothered by the music and which attachment am I supposed to eliminate? I’m domineering! I only think of my personal likes and feelings, and I don’t consider others’ feelings.
A practitioner I met recently is very devout when she studies the Fa. She always sits upright, double crosses her legs, and holds Zhuan Falum, the main Falun Dafa book, in front of her with both hands. When she makes a mistake reading and someone corrects her, she reads the sentence twice.
Although this is a good attitude, it bothers me. When I study the Fa with other practitioners and we make mistakes, we normally just reread the words correctly and move on. Making mistakes is already disrupting the flow of Fa study, thus we correct ourselves and continue reading. But, when this practitioner repeats the sentence twice, is it to let me see my hidden attachment. Does this mean I want to be in charge?
A practitioner wrote in an experience sharing, “When people in Taiwan participate in group activities and want others to do something, they usually ask for their opinion and take back their request if others don’t want to do it. They don’t force people to do things. Whereas in China, although students are encouraged to showcase their talents at the annual parties in elementary schools, students often yell out, ‘So and so should perform!’ This embarrasses those who don’t want to perform. When adults in China get together for a drink, they often force each other to drink more. Aren’t these indications of the domineering traits of the Chinese Communist Party?”
Although I’m a cultivator, I haven’t thoroughly understood many Fa principles. When I think I’m right, I like to force others and get them to agree. There is also another trait that I haven’t gotten rid of, and that is, I feel good when I let things all out. Therefore, I have a loud voice and I’m eager to express my opinion. I’d rather talk than listen to others. Isn’t this a typical dominant characteristic of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)?
How is my behavior different from the street performers who force their music on others? Therefore, being forceful and making others feel uncomfortable is a shortcoming I need to let go.
I get annoyed and like to complain when things bother me, especially when other people’s behavior affects me. This goes to show that I don’t cultivate my speech and I’m not tolerant. I need to let go of these attachments.
Master said,
“But it’s cultivation—whatever happened to being “free of gaps” (wu-lou)? There are no little things.” (“Fa Teaching at the 2015 West Coast Fa Conference,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. XIII)
The above are some thoughts about my recent experiences. I’m sharing them with practitioners so we can all improve.
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Category: Cultivation Insights
