My Understanding of Altruism

By a practitioner in China

(Clearwisdom.net) Recently, I exhibited a strong show-off mentality. The fellow practitioners around me often praised my enlightening to the Fa principles well. Unconsciously, I tended to show-off. I often imposed my understandings on others and hoped others would agree with what I had enlightened to at my level. At times, when a practitioner had not yet finished what he had to say, I had already started to point out his shortcomings. My show-off mentality eventually grew to such a state that whenever I met a fellow practitioner, I tried to find his attachment in order to show how well I understood the Fa. I knew my state was not right as soon as I got home. I knew it was a show-off mentality, the attachment of complacency and the attachment to reputation. Although I tried to eliminate it whenever it occurred, it was still very strong. I understood that I hadn't found the root cause, but I floundered when I did try to discover it.

A neighbor on the third floor came to me and complained that water from the clothes I hung outside the window to dry dripped on her window glass. (I live on the 5th floor). She said that this situation has gone on for a long time. She said that other neighbors on the first, second, and fourth floors didn't complain about it because they knew I had a two-year-old child and they were being understanding. I was not pleased about this, and I didn't realize that it was Master's hint.

A few days later, when I was in a practitioner's shop, she took my child to her home to use the bathroom. The practitioner had a shop that was about 100 meters from her home, and she lived with her parents. While I was in her shop, her father walked in and immediately accused me, "How can you let a disabled person take care of your child?" The fellow practitioner had poliomyelitis. She used to walk with two crutches, but she was able to walk without the crutches after she practiced Dafa. I realized that the incident was not that simple. I discussed it with another fellow practitioner. She said, "It is because you didn't think of others." I thought at that time, "I am not quite sure about this. I didn't ask the fellow practitioner to take care of my child." Not long after, the fellow practitioner came back with my child. I asked her opinion. She thought that the accusation might not be only about this thing, but it may involve some other things. Another practitioner in the shop even gave some examples of my behavior. However, I didn't think it over carefully.

I realize now that Master tried to give me hints, again and again, and how clear the hints were! However, I still didn't enlighten to it. I am really ashamed. I realized it this morning when I was doing meditation, and I suddenly understood it when writing this article. Master is taking care of us all the time and leads us step by step at every moment.

I was previously only able to practice the meditation exercise for half a hour with my legs in the single lotus position. This morning, when I was doing the exercise, I suddenly understood that my attachments to showing-off, complacency, reputation, and not thinking of others came from my inherent characteristics in the old universe--selfishness and concern for self. When those attachments emerged, my first thought was always about myself.

Master said,

"Whenever you encounter a problem, you should first consider whether others can put up with this matter or if it will hurt anyone. In doing so, there will not be any problems." ("Lecture Four" in Zhuan Falun)

Master said,

"Broadly speaking, the Fa is very immense. From the perspective of the very highest level, it is very simple, for the Fa resembles a pyramid in form."

I realized that when we encounter any situation, if we always think of others first and without any thoughts of ourselves, cultivation will become simple. You can pass any tests or difficulties.

I realized that I should not think about how painful my legs are when doing meditation because that thought is selfish and is about "me." As long as it is what Master wants us to do, just do it without any conditions. Master asks us to do the three things. Practicing the exercises is part of it. I just do it accordingly. We should keep just one thought, "Do what Master asks us to do," and assimilate to the Fa without any conditions. If we can truly achieve this, it will truly be "after passing the shady willow trees there will be bright flowers and another village ahead." I don't feel as much pain as I did before when I am doing the meditation. My mind is steady and I am able to sit calmly. If we can truly achieve this with anything, cultivation will become so simple.

Please kindly point out anything improper.

December 10, 2006

 Yearly Archive   Printer Version