by a Dafa Practitioner in China.

(Clearwisdom.net) There was a time I had quite a number of very serious problems. When I contacted fellow practitioners, I discovered that some of them were also in a similar situation, some with many and some with fewer problems, and they were causing many adverse affects amongst them. We would search within ourselves during sharings; cultivate ourselves, and purifying ourselves. Therefore, I am writing about my problems and the other phenomena that I have observed to provide fellow practitioners a wake-up call. I hope everyone will find them useful.

We clearly understand from the Fa-principles regarding cultivation of speech and searching within, but when discussing the Fa-principles we sometimes rave on and on not allowing others to interject. It may seem like we are cultivating better than others, but in fact, there may be many deficiencies in our actions.

Some of us, on hearing or seeing something, would quickly spread it around, and tell everyone: "You all should not spread this around." In fact, by so saying, we indeed have to cultivate to discard having such show-off mentality. We were afraid others would spread it around before we did ourselves.

When we read articles about sharing by fellow practitioners regarding some problems, we do agree with them, and express that the fellow practitioners have a good understanding and will immediately add: "Practitioner A has this problem, practitioner B has that problem, and this article seems to be written about so-and-so." As other practitioners expressed a different view, we would immediately tell fellow practitioners: "We must look within ourselves in everything." But you must ask yourself whether you have looked within yourself. Do we have the problems mentioned in the articles?

When we have a sharing with fellow practitioners, we are the only ones doing the talking, and do not pay attention to what others say. We keep on stressing: "What I say may not necessarily be correct. We are sharing and learning from each other by exchanging views." We are the only ones who are doing all the talking, can others be exchanging views with us? Did we allow others a chance to speak? Knowing that "what I say may not necessary be correct," why can't we calm down and listen to other's opinions?

When articles written by fellow practitioners from other regions are published on the net, we would read them with stable hearts. But when it is known that the articles are written by local practitioners, our hearts begin to churn and flutter. It then becomes necessary for us to find fault with the articles and even go to the extent of commenting: "There are such and such mistakes in the articles, these sections should not have been written, those sections should have been written in such and such a manner." In fact, we are only trying to clearly state: "Do not look up to that practitioner who wrote the article. He has not necessarily cultivated better than me!" It seems that we are more brilliant. We have cultivated to a higher realm. Oh! What a reflection of our jealousy!

When we quote Teacher's jingwen, we do not even do it earnestly. Sometimes we add: "What I say may not be correct," Yet we do it with excitement and scramble to say it. When fellow practitioners point out that quoting Teacher's jingwen is a serious matter, we still try to defend ourselves. If we know that what we say may not be correct, then why can we not be calm and listen to other people's opinions?

Teacher said,

"The cultivation of speech that we teach refers to: that which involves one's reputation and personal gain that cannot be given up among everyday people, that which has nothing to do with the actual work of practitioners in society, the senseless gossiping among practitioners in the same school of practice, attachments that cause one to show off, hearsay or circulating rumors, or those discussions on some social issues that one is excited about. I hold that these are all attachments of everyday people." (Zhuan Falun, Chapter Eight, "Cultivation of Speech")

When ordinary people want to know about Dafa, they will initially need to know Dafa practitioners. The people who know about Dafa know Dafa practitioners by the way they display themselves. How Dafa practitioners behave will be reflected directly on how people perceive Dafa. Actually, every act of a Dafa practitioner is being watched, hence every move we make is in reality, clarifying the facts.

We are busy doing the three things daily. We are also busy in our daily lives; yet there are details that we should not overlook. We must consider matters from the angle viewed by others, otherwise people will not feel comfortable with us, and that would hinder their knowing about Dafa.

Some practitioners even mentioned, "Why must practitioners be bothered with what everyday people say? When we have completed our cultivation we will depart, they can say whatever they like!" Do not forget, we have come to offer salvation to sentient beings. If everyone says Dafa is good, would there not be many people joining in the cultivation of Dafa? Many people will be saved! If we do not look at trifle matters carefully and thus hinder peoples understanding of Dafa, would that not run counter to our basic aim?

Teacher said,

"He is on a Providential mission in this world as well as in heaven above. He has bountiful virtue and also maintains a benevolent heart; he is full of great aspirations while minding minor details. With broad knowledge of the laws and principles, he is able to unravel uncertainties. Offering salvation to the world and its people, he builds up his merit naturally." (Essentials for Further Advancement, "Sage")

Teacher said,

"If all Chinese Dafa students can be more mindful of their conduct in daily life, be neater, and be considerate of others in everything they do, then that's the demeanor of Dafa disciples." (Comments on the Article "Some Ideas From Discussions Among Students Who Have Participated in the Sit-In Appeals in Front of the Chinese Embassies and Consulates")

Minghui website has the responsibility to bind Dafa practitioners together worldwide, delivering information, providing a forum for sharing experiences and understandings, and discussing our historical responsibilities. Minghui/Clearwisdom is a trustworthy website personally established by Teacher. In the eyes of the national security department, public security department and government officials of China, the governments worldwide, research organizations, news media and so forth, it is our "official" website. Hence its influence on everyday people's society and the fear it instills in the evil is extremely immense. It is necessary for fellow practitioners in China and overseas to jointly support, safeguard and cherish it.

From the articles published by Minghui Net, we should all be aware we need to treasure and safeguard it. Of course, the editors of Minghui are also practitioners, and they are not infallible, but this is not in conflict with the image of the website. If there were articles or views that we feel are not appropriate, we can discuss them with those concerned. We can also communicate with the editors of Minghui directly via the website. These are all ways and means we can safeguard the image of the website.

When we see articles that do not coincide with our viewpoint, sometimes we may say, without proper contemplation, "What is the use of publishing such articles? They do not have any positive effect and so forth and so on." Minghui is for our sharing and discussion. If we have good ideas, views, and understandings, we should write them down and let everyone benefit from them. This is the duty incumbent upon every practitioner. This is also the demeanor of Dafa practitioners.

To repeat, safeguarding the image of Minghui Net is safeguarding our own image, and it is being responsible to our fellow practitioners and ourselves.

Teacher said,

"It is not that Minghui Net does not make mistakes, however, on important matters, practitioners must pay attention to the attitude of Minghui Net. The purpose of posting my photo and the article 'The Knowing Heart' on Minghui Net was to build a trustworthy website for practitioners" (A Second Authentic New Article of Master Li Since July 22, 1999 Will Be Published in a Few Days -- A Notice From Minghui Editors: June 15, 2000)

In passing, there may be some practitioners who do not quite understand the meanings of "serious problems" and "the attitude adopted by Minghui Net." Whether we try to search for the basics from every sentence in an article or to find fault with it, it is in fact very difficult to really grasp the general direction. It could very well be a reflection that we have not really understood. As we understand the overall situation of Teacher's Fa-rectification, we are all in concert with the overall situation of Fa-rectification in the completion of our historical mission. If we can understand the following: What is the most important portion in each phase? What is the attitude of Minghui? What role should each of us be responsible for? How can we coordinate with the overall situation from our standpoint, to be in concert with the overall situation? If we can understand these issues, then it will be easy for us to comprehend the things we find presented by our fellow practitioners on the Minghui website. Regarding how we can coordinate better with the overall situation, this depends on the efforts that we put into Fa-study and cultivation of our hearts.

Posting date: 12/5/2003
Original article date: 12/4/2003
Category: Practitioners' Insights
Translated on 11/27/2003
Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2003/11/20/60898.html

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