Reflection on the Story "Taking Credit for the Accomplishments of the Gods"

(Clearwisdom.net) I was quite moved after reading the story "Taking Credit for the Accomplishments of the Gods" on a website today. The story took place during the "Spring and Autumn Period" (722-481 BC) in China and was about King Jinwengong.

After many years of having to wander in destitute exile, Jinwengong finally returned to his homeland and became the ruler of his country. To express his gratitude to all the people who had assisted him during his exile, he gave rewards to people according to three different criteria: the first category was for the people who had accompanied him during the exile; the second category was for the people who had assisted him in other ways; and the third category was for the people who had welcomed him back to his country. King Jinwengong also issued an imperial order, "Whoever hasn't been recognized for helping me, please come forward and let me know."

Jiezitui was the one person being forgotten. During his exile, King Jinwengong often ate whatever was offered to him. Once, Jiezitui cut a piece of flesh from his own leg to make a soup for King Jinwengong to eat. As Jiezitui was making a living by weaving straw shoes when the announcement was made, his neighbor told him to step forward to get the reward. Jiezitui told them, "The former King Jinxiangong has nine sons, and my master, King Jinwengong, is the most capable and virtuous of them. It is God's will that the Jin Dynasty belongs to my King; yet, some people have mistakenly thought it was their doing." He also told them: "Stealing other's property is being a thief; to take credit for returning our King is like claiming credit for the accomplishments of the Gods. It's even more shameful. I'd rather be weaving straw shoes for the rest of my life than to claim the credit." Later, he and his mother went to live in seclusion in the mountains.

Jiezitui would rather weave straw shoes for a living than claim credit for the accomplishments of the Gods. His moral integrity and willingness to live in poverty contently is worthy of our respect; his respect for God's will and accepting one's destiny was most extraordinary. As Falun Dafa practitioners, we understand from the Fa that "cultivation is up to you, gong is up to the master." Whatever we gain during our cultivation is from the Fa and Teacher's immense compassion. As practitioners during the Fa-Rectification period, we participate in many different kinds of projects. When some projects are very successful, some practitioners show self-contentment and joy. Actually, all of what happened is just like "cultivation is up to you, gong is up to the master." When xinxing reaches a certain level, a project will be successful by itself. Yet, behind all these, Teacher has done so much for us, and we have no way of knowing.

We should always be full of gratitude for our Teacher and never take credit for the accomplishments of the Gods.

The above is my own understanding; please kindly correct me if there is anything inappropriate.
Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2003/12/3/61732.html

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