Inferiority Complexes

By a Practitioner from China

(Clearwisdom.net)

Over a long period of time during their cultivation some practitioners might have developed an inferiority complex. For example, a practitioner who wrote the so-called "Three Statements"* in a forced labor camp did so under the coercion, so his mind was not against Dafa and his mind did not betray Dafa. He was taken advantage of by the evil at that very moment because he failed to set aside human emotion or because he had strong fear. When released, he may have declared on Minghui that his words forced under coercion were null and void, yet the practitioner may still have had a very heavy weight on his mind. As a result of self-blame, he developed an inferiority complex. "I've done things unworthy of Dafa. I'm the worst of all practitioners. Will I still be able to catch up? Will I still be able to reach consummation?"

I met with one such practitioner who would mention this blemish every time she talked to me. I reminded her many times that what happened was that she just slipped and fell in the cultivation process, that she should get up and keep on going; the road ahead of her could still be successfully traveled. Nevertheless, she still has a mental barrier in this regard.

There is also another situation. When we read other practitioners' experience-sharing articles, sometimes we have feelings that others are superior to us, "why didn't I enlighten to such a high Fa-principle, why have I not done as good a job or how come my character is not as developed. Too much self-blame can also lead to an inferiority complex, always feeling that you are inferior to others, and that you are not savable.

In day-to-day personal cultivation, some practitioners have also developed an inferiority complex, thinking that a lot of their words and conduct do not conform to Dafa's requirements, or do not conform to the character standard of a Dafa practitioner, even to the point of giving themselves a hard time over some trivial matters on a long-term basis. When ordinary human thoughts surface, he didn't resist or reject them rationally, instead he developed an inferiority complex, thinking, "How could I be like that after cultivating and practicing Dafa?" He could not quiet down when he sat in meditation. He could not focus his mind when he sent forth righteous thoughts. He had this feeling of being unworthy of Teacher's salvation and unworthy of Dafa in his mind. Sometimes the thought of giving up cultivation crossed his mind. Actually, these are not the true thoughts of his true self; these are probably thought-karma, a direct external interference, or a mixture of both.

There are still some practitioners who thought that their families were not well situated or not well educated, therefore they developed an inferiority complex. When interacting with other practitioners, they felt incompatible with others, or felt inferior to others. When they shared experiences with others they purposely belittled themselves and they thought that they had a poor base and could not cultivate to a high level. As a matter of a fact, this is a manifestation of their not studying the Fa deeply and a manifestation of their lacking righteous belief in Dafa.

The negative effect an inferiority complex has on cultivation is huge. Because he had humanly restrained his divine side, he therefore failed to handle himself properly. Teacher has told us in the Fa that everyone's situation is different, and that a different path is set for each practitioner. We were all scooped out of hell at the same time by Teacher. As long as we constantly follow Dafa to cultivate and do the three things that a Dafa disciple should do well, there will not be the issue of not being capable enough. That is just the reflection of an ordinary human's attachment. Is this not a result of lacking righteous belief in Teacher and Dafa? Perhaps this also strongly reflects selfishness.

The mind of a Fa-rectification Dafa disciple can accommodate sentient beings of the world. The mission and responsibility bestowed upon a disciple by history is magnificent and solemn. Whether we view a problem or take action, we should base it on the standpoint of Dafa. We should not base it on an ordinary human's standpoint, and we should put our minds on validating Dafa and saving sentient beings. If you indulge yourself in the human state to understand Dafa and you fail to overcome it, the evil will then take advantage of your gaps and trap you in the human understanding and let you circle around in a loop. Of course, it is the process of looking inward when a cultivator is able to see his own shortcomings and mistakes, and this is good for making improvements and striving forward diligently, but it is not meant to determine his final ending or to limit himself. We should not develop attachments to that either.

Bear in mind and strive to do the three things Teacher has requested: Study the Fa/practice the exercises, send forth righteous thoughts, and clarify the truth, and don't have attachments to other things. Whatever is yours will be yours. Lastly, I would like to inspire others with Teacher's words:

"With attachments left behind, the lightened boats sail swiftly,
With a preoccupied human heart, crossing the ocean proves arduous"

("The Knowing Heart" from Essentials for Further Advancement II)

"Cultivating until no attachments are left,
With bitterness gone and sweetness coming, true happiness arrives."

("Cultivating in Maze" from Hongyin)

* The "Three Statements" - Practitioners are coerced under brainwashing and torture to write these as proof that they have given up their belief. Created by the "610 Office," the three statements consist of a letter of repentance, a guarantee to never again practice Falun Gong, and a list of names and addresses of all family members, friends and acquaintances who are practitioners.

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