Breaking through Old Force Arrangements; Walking the Path Arranged by Teacher - Part 2
(Clearwisdom.net) (continued) Part 1: http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2006/12/22/81065.html 5. Digging out Impure Selfishness and Making the Best Use of Time to Save
Sentient Beings I shared cultivation experiences with other fellow practitioners. Many of
their family members resigned from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Yet my
daughter still misunderstood me. My daughter once said, "There are many
Dafa practitioners living safe lives. However, you are always being
illegally arrested, if not today - then tomorrow." I knew that my daughter was very hurt by the persecution I have endured. She
is hindered by my attachments, as well. Once I learned about Dafa, I knew how
precious it was. I was very anxious that all of my family take up cultivation
practice, immediately. I saw the family members of fellow practitioners doing
Dafa work quietly, and became very worried about my family members. I wished
they would quit the CCP and speak out against the persecution. I came home
occasionally and could not stop myself from clarifying the truth to
all of them. These thoughts of pushing them to learn Dafa became a large
attachment. Two years ago, I desperately wanted to buy a small computer. I
planned to play Dafa articles and music on the computer, so they could see how
magnificent Dafa is. A good thought, but the more I considered it, the more
clearly I saw the selfish attachment. I risked my life to get and play the video
for my daughter, but she never looked at it. I was very frustrated and despaired of saving my daughter. One of Teacher's
lectures made me realize that the more emphasis I put on my family members, the
more powerfully the old forces would block me. I understood Teacher speaking
about all the people in the world today having been his family members. Teacher
is concerned about all people, but I was selfishly concerned only with my
daughter and sister. My selfishness keeps them from taking up cultivation
practice. Evil came to my daughter's and sister's homes to harass and threaten
them this year. Oh Teacher, it is my attachments that gave the old forces an
excuse to block them. My life was given by Teacher and I devote myself to the saving of sentiment
beings. I will dig out the roots of the old universe that are based on
selfishness. I will eliminate all the impure elements from millions of years of
reincarnation and descending through the cosmos level by level. Truly, I will
treat others as I do my daughter. I will make the best use of my time to do what
a Dafa practitioner should do. I found my deeply hidden selfishness and eliminated my sentimentality toward
my daughter and relatives. I devoted myself to saving sentient beings, and then
the situation changed. Some fellow practitioners tried to find my daughter and
clarify the truth to her. My uncle told my daughter and son-in-law about
withdrawing from the Chinese Communist Party and its associated organizations.
People told my daughter that her mother is a good woman. My daughter told me
people have great respect for me. She was surprised that so many held me in high
regard given the situation. My younger brother, sister-in-law, niece, older
sister, brother-in-law and other relatives have resigned from the CCP now that I
have removed my attachments. Teacher, everything is under your control. When we remove our deeply hidden
selfishness, make the best use of our time to save sentient beings and do what
Dafa practitioners should do, then nothing can stop us. Every obstacle will be
resolved by Teacher. 6. See Your Own Deficiencies I saw the determined heart of a Dafa disciple when I was doing Fa work with
Zengzeng. He did not let the bitter cold of winter, the heat of summer, the
distance, the difficulties or lack of food stop him from sending data and
materials to fellow practitioners when they needed them. Sometimes he was too
busy to read the Fa, so he would listen to an MP3 player hung around his neck to
make good use of time. After we finished the basic part of our work, Zengzeng
mentioned that we should work separately. I could not bear his suggestion. I had
a serious attachment to fear at that time. Many local people knew me and I was
afraid they would blame me for any trouble at my rental house afterwards. My whole family lived in such a depressed atmosphere, because my father was
persecuted by the CCP during my childhood. I married a poor farmer with a bad
temper when I grew up. He would yell at me all day long, making me very timid
and afraid of doing anything wrong. I did everything as perfectly as I could, to
avoid being criticized. I was afraid of hurting others during everyday life. My
classmates, colleagues and fellow practitioners admired me for being very kind
and tender-hearted. Yet in cultivation, you need to confront what you fear. If you are afraid of
mistakes, then you will not do well. If you are afraid of contradictions, then
contradictions will occur. My serious attachment to reputation arose during
conflicts, especially when someone spoke in a solemn manner or angered me. I
could not stand it and wanted an excuse for myself. I always put stress on
myself instead of looking within myself, thereby letting the evil take advantage
of the loopholes. I clearly realized the real meaning of benevolence by continuously studying
Fa and sharing experiences with fellow practitioners. Real benevolence is when
someone is angry with us and we can think of him first, by taking a step back.
This is real benevolence. Interference by the old forces is intended to confuse
us and sew discord. I realized that I was not doing well during my conflicts
with Zengzeng. Although I passed through cruel and evil persecutions without
leaving stains, I left stains on my cultivation path through conflicts with
fellow practitioners and by not looking within myself first. I saw my deficiencies through encounters with these practitioners. At key
junctures they thought first of their fellow practitioners and did not fear. I
saw a police car parked near the entrance to my home when I went out one day. A
fellow practitioner told me not to be afraid, that he fears nothing, and asked
what I was scared of? You just do what you should do, in a dignified and upright
manner. One day I took care of my errands outdoors and came back with a sun hat
on my head. A policeman looked at me when I entered the yard. I casually pushed
my bike to my door. I entered my home and told fellow practitioner Li Min that
there was a policeman in the yard today. He told me that there was a policeman
living upstairs, it means the evil is afraid of us. I didn't grumble when I saw
the policeman or his car after that. I just did what a Dafa disciple should in a
grand and upright manner. I saw fellow practitioners arrange their jobs methodically. They were busy,
but not disordered. They did not hide any deficiencies in their work. Being busy
caused me confusion.. Teacher said, "...be full of great aspirations while minding minor
details..."("Sage" from Essentials for Further Advancement) If we do not do well with the minor details, we will cause losses. I found my
omissions of showing off and reputation, fear of criticism and my lack of a
steadfast mind through contact with fellow practitioners. I tried my best to
eliminate all of these omissions. Teacher told us in the "To the Chicago Fa Conference," "Whatever you experience during your cultivation--whether good or
bad--is good, for it comes about only because you are cultivating. A cultivator
cannot achieve Consummation when laden with human thoughts, laden with karmic
debts, or laden with attachments." I grasped that no matter who the contact is with, where you are, no matter
how disordered everything looks, everything is arranged by Teacher and
everything is under His control. Our cultivation is the process of eliminating our attachments and improving
ourselves. Teacher arranged it for us. Everything looks difficult at the time,
but if we strengthen our wills, Master will turn everything into the best. 7. Eliminate Selfishness and Improve as a Whole Many Dafa practitioners were arrested in my city during May 2006. We had to
choose whether to send the materials to other places, maintain them here or
transfer the materials at the house. The first thought to come to my mind was
that we could not let the fellow practitioners' materials get damaged, and they
are waiting for them. In another place, I met a female practitioner with a similar problem. When
she learned I was on the evil's list in my area, she wanted me to come to her
place. She thought that we should save sentient beings everywhere, and that we
should go if it is safe. I met other practitioners who wanted to meet
practitioners in my area. They want all the parts to link together as a whole. I
analyzed this suggestion. It was important to manage materials in other places.
My sister and I collected the local persecution facts, as we were familiar with
our area. I realized that if one does perfectly, that is only yourself
improving. If the whole improves and cooperates together well, it will produce a
greater effect. There were practitioners in the city who could be arrested. I
could do Dafa work in safer places, but when the Fa rectification ended, I would
bitterly regret so many sentient beings left unsaved. I always recite Teacher's "Nothing Kept" from Hong Yin: In life, nothing sought, I will devote all I have to facilitate what Teacher wants. I decided to
return soon and co-operate with other practitioners voluntarily. I edited local
materials based on my homeless situation and local conditions. I published a
booklet almost every month. I had a lot to deal with when I returned. All of it
urgent. I actively and diligently executed projects suggested by other
practitioners first. I kept the things I could do by myself for last. I put my
exercises and Fa study last, too. I eliminated my selfishness by putting others'
ideas first and helping them accomplish those ideas. I then felt so comfortable
and light. The content of the local materials became more rich, more
well-rounded and more accurate. I could focus more easily when I studied the Fa. I realized Teacher's teaching, "With no attachment to anything ("No Obstacles" from Hong Yin Volume II) Nothing can stop us once we put down our egotism and selfishness. I know that I still have attachments and many omissions. For example, I hope
there are no contradictions, but if there are, then I sometimes become angry. I
know Dafa is very precious, but I didn't begin memorizing it until recently.
Sleep sometimes interferes with my sending forth righteous thoughts. I will make
the best use of my time to cooperate with every practitioner and facilitate what
Master wants, positively and actively.
In death, regretting naught;
Washing away all wrong thought,
Buddhahood, with less adversity, is wrought.
The path underfoot is naturally clear"
Chinese version available at
http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2006/12/9/144221.html
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