(Minghui.org) I am a Falun Dafa practitioner from the countryside. Having cultivated for over 20 years under the compassionate protection of our revered Master and through looking inward, my cultivation environment has gradually become more harmonious and peaceful. Below, I would like to report two examples to Master Li and share them with you.
Once, while I was sending forth righteous thoughts in one room, my husband was talking to me from another. When he didn’t receive any response, he grew increasingly irritated and eventually began throwing things—including my DVD player. I remained unmoved and didn’t say anything. Then, in his anger, he stood in front of me and tore up our last 800 yuan savings. Still, I didn’t react.
He picked up the torn money and went to the bank to exchange it.
After he left, I reflected on what had happened.
Master said in” Fa Teaching Given at the 2004 Chicago Fa Conference” from Collected Teachings Given Around the World Volume IV, “... nothing that happens to a cultivator is by accident.” I knew there must be an attachment I needed to remove. Looking inward, I saw that I harbored contempt for my husband. When he didn’t do things the way I wanted, I would go behind his back and redo them my way. When he found out, he would get angry, and I would feel wronged, thinking, “You didn’t do it right, what’s wrong with me fixing it?”
Now I understand that I was being self-centered and not considering his feelings. I shouldn’t do that anymore. When my husband came home, I sincerely said, “I’m sorry, I was wrong. Please don’t be angry.” He immediately calmed down.
Another incident occurred when I decided to repaint the walls of our home. Some of them had turned black, so I bought two buckets of paint and planned for my husband and me to do the work over the weekend. But he said he didn’t know how to paint and walked away. I thought, “Fine, I will do it myself.”
When he returned for lunch, I said, “Painting alone is tiring. Can you help me?” He refused and left. I had no choice but to finish the painting myself. By four or five in the afternoon, I was done and resting on the sofa, reading Minghui Weekly.
When my husband came home and saw that dinner wasn’t ready, he snapped, “Why aren’t you cooking?” I replied, “I’m exhausted. Can you please heat up the leftovers?” He grew angrier, saying, “You are sitting there doing nothing.” I thought to myself, “Isn’t that exactly what you are doing too?” But as a practitioner, I knew I shouldn’t argue. Still, resentment arose in my heart. The negative thoughts seemed to make him even angrier. He started throwing things again: first a stack of small bowls, then two large bowls. Seeing me still sitting there, he dragged the dinner table over, smashed it to pieces, and stormed out.
After he left, I began cleaning and reflecting, “Why did I feel wronged by such a small hardship? Suffering can eliminate karma, yet I treat it as unfairness. I truly feel ashamed for failing to appreciate Master’s thoughtful arrangement. I must eliminate the resentment.”
Soon, my husband returned, and I started heating the food. During dinner, he asked, “How can we eat without bowls?” I replied, “We can use plates.” My calm response moved him. From then on, he never threw anything again. He even began helping with the housework.
Every day, I go out to clarify the truth. Sometimes, if I return late, he prepares dinner for me. One day, while we were cooking together, he started criticizing me. I smiled and said, “These days, most people are like that,” before I could finish, he laughed and said, “I have been looking outward instead of inward.” I was surprised, “You have started looking inward, too?” He smiled, “After all these years with you, how could I not be influenced?”
I now truly understand that a good environment is created through cultivation. Thank you, Master, for your thoughtful arrangements.
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Category: Improving Oneself
