Some Thoughts on the Meaning of Forbearance

By a Dafa practitioner in US

(Clearwisdom.net)

A practitioner's words: Since you have talked about "forbearance," actually, the real meaning behind "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" cannot be explained in one or two sentences. Here, I am only talking about a very small portion of the three principles, based on my own understanding. For example, regarding "forbearance:" Buddhism instructs to "tolerate shame;" Catholics say, "If people strike your left cheek, you should turn your right cheek." In China, the elderly often say, "Take one step back, and the sky is as broad as the ocean." These are all different understandings of "forbearance" at different levels. In Zhuan Falun, Teacher Li states, "you shouldn't hit back when attacked, or talk back when insulted." This is what a practitioner should achieve first.

In our every day life, "forbearance" also involves tolerance and forgiveness. Let me tell you a story...

When the Berlin Wall was still up, people from East Berlin decided to give some "presents" to their neighbors in West Berlin. They filled a truck with a pile of smelly garbage, broken bricks and construction waste, and slowly drove up to the border between East and West Germany. Then, they tipped the rubbish over the wall.

Of course, the people in West Berlin were very angry and believed that they had to take revenge. Everyone started to think of all kinds of ways to get even. A wise man stopped everyone's angry suggestions with a different approach, and surprisingly, everyone agreed. They started to collect everything that East Berliners needed and filled a truck. Everyone donated clothes, food and medical supplies and drove the truck to the Berlin Wall and carefully placed everything down into a neat pile and wrote sign that said, "Everyone tried their best to donate."

Just think about it. When people from East Berlin saw this "revenge" and the moving words on the sign, what would they have said?

What we give to others definitely communicates a strong and effective message. This shows what kind of people we are. Your reaction when faced with people who are harsh, rude and ungrateful will fully reveal your true nature.

I remember when a friend said to me, "Falun Gong's 'Truthfulness and Compassion' are good, but there is nothing good about 'forbearance'." Actually, she doesn't understand that the principles of "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" are in perfect harmony. Truthfulness involves "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance"-- Compassion involves "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance"-- and Forbearance involves "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance." To treat others with forgiveness and tolerance involves sincerity and kindness.

Realms

A wicked person is born of jealousy.
Out of selfishness and anger he complains about unfairness towards himself.

A benevolent person always has a heart of compassion.
With no discontentment or hatred, he takes hardship as joy.

An enlightened person has no attachments at all.
He quietly observes the people of the world deluded by illusions.

Li Hongzhi

September 25, 1995

(from Essentials for Further Advancement)

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What I just described was forbearance between ordinary people. Actually, "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" are the basic principles of the universe. All life has these principles as well.

For example, back to "Forbearance:" A person's blood in a normal state is around neutral: PH = 7.43, regulated by the level of carbon dioxide (CO2) and HCO3-. As soon as the blood becomes too acidic or alkaline, the body will return it to neutral very quickly -- this means that the blood system is also tolerant. However, if someone loses his or her temper and yells (intolerance), or when a person becomes very angry, he or she will get a headache. Everyone has had this experience, during which the alkaline levels become elevated, which is slightly toxic. (When a person screams, he or she breathes out too much carbon dioxide, raising the alkalinity.) On the other hand, some people don't display anger, but they brood, which results in too much acid in their blood. Of course, if you become too acidic, you can add alkaline, and if you become too basic, you can add acid. However, this will not solve the root of the problem. If you can become calm inside, you have solved the root of the problem. In this aspect, Chinese medicine is superior because it targets the root of the problem.

This example shows that physical "forbearance" and mental "forbearance" are connected. If you become calm mentally, then you will naturally become healthy. Didn't Zhuan Falun say "matter and mind are one and the same"? This example addresses this issue from one perspective.

What is Forbearance (Ren)?

Forbearance is the key to improving one's xinxing. To endure with anger, grievance, or tears is the forbearance of an everyday person who is attached to his concerns. To endure completely without anger or grievance is the forbearance of a cultivator.

Li Hongzhi

January 21, 1996

(from Essentials for Further Advancement)

The previous example about forbearance related to a system of the physical human body. Now, let me give another example of "Forbearance," relating to a larger system...the Earth.

Under normal conditions, the Earth's atmosphere, ocean and rivers have natural abilities to become clean. If you leave some rubbish, it will disappear very quickly and disintegrate. Material waste in rivers, oceans and soil can be broken down by bacteria, generating carbon dioxide and other substances. Through transformations in the whole earth's system, the waste will finally become part of the ocean and the ground. This demonstrates that our Earth can also "tolerate." However, if the rate of our waste exceeds the planet's ability to digest, break down and transform, as everyone knows, then we have environmental pollution.

If the environment is unable to tolerate, the problem is really due to ourselves, because we are unable to tolerate. Human beings look for further "advancement" and entertainment and excessively take from nature, ruining its balance. This is not compassionate, nor is it forbearance. Therefore, people within the environment should also take into consideration "compassion" and "forbearance". In fact, any system within the universe that follows the principles of "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" is also supporting the universe's life and stability. People and systems that compromise these principles will cause disintegration and decay.

When the ancient Chinese wisdom said that people and the heavens should reflect each other, it appears that they had very good foresight.

June 18, 2003

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2003/6/24/52493.html

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