(Minghui.org) When Minghui called for papers to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day, I thought I didn’t have anything to say, and probably hadn’t cultivated well enough to tell an inspiring cultivation story. That hesitance would be an attachment to reputation. I wanted to write something people would admire!
Our local group was joined by a relatively new practitioner. He sent us all a reminder that cultivation papers were due soon.
He made me think of when Master said, “Cultivate with the heart you once had, and success is certain.” (“Fa Teaching on World Falun Dafa Day,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. XII)
The new practitioner’s eyes shone with sincerity as he asked me “Have you ever done anything to clarify the truth?” I felt so much respect for his practitioner’s heart. He asked because he wanted to do it correctly. When I saw his eagerness to do the three things well, I remembered that I should just write a paper whether I thought I had anything important (or impressive) to say or not.
Sharing a Trivial Story
So here is a small, trivial story, about cultivating xinxing.
My husband and I needed to buy a new dishwasher and refrigerator. I did some research about the best rated ones and sent him a link. He yelled at me, and I said that he must not yell.
He said I was a snowflake.
I said I was not a snowflake, but a delicate, exotic orchid.
As you see, I was not super angry, retaining my sense of humor, but my heart was a little bit moved.
As Master wrote in “Don’t Argue,” in Hong Yin III:
“Don’t argue when people argue with youCultivation is looking within for the causeWanting to explain just feeds the attachmentBreadth of mind, unattached, brings true insight”
Immediately after our conversation, this poem came to mind. I have been memorizing Hong Yin, because I think I can manage those short poems when compared to the longer passages in Zhuan Falun. They often help me to consider things from the perspective of a cultivator.
When looking within, I saw my attachment. I wanted to be the queen of kitchen appliances. I wanted to choose what I wanted, and not confer with him, and the message I sent suggested that. I also anticipated that he was likely to disagree with my choice or hinder me in doing what I wanted. This was not considerate at all. It also lacked humility, a cardinal virtue. It was an unrighteous thought. No wonder he felt irritated.
Long story short, when I saw that, I resolved to get rid of it. It’s not respectful, and I would not like it if he was similarly negative towards me. So I remembered to try to see it from his point of view. I’m the practitioner in our household, and I am responsible to think and behave as one. My field was affecting him.
Master said,
“If a Dafa disciple’s heart is unsteady, it will cause changes in his or her surroundings. When you have fear, for instance, you will find that the sentient beings around you are not quite right. When you change such that your presence is refreshing and uplifting to people, and your mind becomes broad and full of optimism, you will find the things around you to be correspondingly different. When clarifying the truth, when validating the Fa, and when encountering challenges as you do things, adjust yourself and look at things with righteous thoughts. It might just prove to be effective.” (“Fa Teaching Given at the 2009 Washington, D.C. International Fa Conference,” Collected Teachings Given Around the World Volume IX)
Sometimes I imagine that getting rid of attachments must be an arduous process, in which you force yourself to change. That is not always how it works. Sometimes you just become aware of your problem and think, “I don't want that,” and the test is then passed.
It’s funny—a few minutes after I looked within, he called out to me as I researched the appliances, “It’s fine if you pick out the refrigerator and dishwasher you want.”
(Selected submission to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day on Minghui.org)
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