On Quoting Master's Words

By a practitioner from Beijing

(Clearwisdom.net) It is common for practitioners to quote Master's words in discussions or explanations. Sometimes these are fitting quotations that precisely reflect one's understanding brought about by enlightening to cultivation principles. Some others, however, have to do with attachments, in which Master's words are used as shields to ward off others to cover oneself. This is a reflection of human emotions. The incidents cited below are the circumstances that taught me a lesson.

To cover myself in cultivation exchanges, when someone is about to indicate that my behaviors are not grounded in the Fa, I would quote Master's statements to express opposite views, or a different side of the same issue. This way it becomes difficult for others to continue the discussion, and so the problem is covered up. I then feel gratified and at ease with myself. But what is glossed over is emotion. It remains hidden and unrecognized, and I failed to elevate my xinxing. I got to slip through, so that others couldn't really say that I did not cultivate myself well, since I had quoted Master's words with the intention of shutting down their criticism.

When someone was trying to speak words that might be a principle I could enlighten to, I would always talk and interrupt their train of thought before they finished stating their experience or understanding. It wasn't that I disagreed with them. Perhaps I even agreed with them. However, I would quote Master's words to show that I had the same insight, and that I even knew Master's original words on the issue, and to show off how well I was cultivating. I wanted to make it clear that I was not worse off than others; perhaps even better than others. However, I did not finish listening to what others had to say and did not understand what others wanted to express in the first place. I did not understand that a practitioner's personal experience of the Fa from going through a tribulation is the real and vivid manifestation of the power of Fa.

In discussions of how to do some specific things, I had similar behavior. On the surface it appears I have a good command of the Fa and am good at applying the Fa, but in effect the issue of substance is evaded, and there is no closure of the topic being discussed. So the outcome is negative.

The only real thing in our practice is the cultivation of one's mind. There are many superficial manifestations, but they are nothing, and they mean nothing. Quoting Master's words - something that is sacred and common for disciples - does not mean too much on its surface. It may even manifest an attachment for a practitioner.

Nothing is more real and meaningful than looking within and cultivating one's own mind. The Fa is so great and so sacred, yet sometimes we don't treat it with pure hearts, instead utilizing the Fa to cover our own shortcomings. Thinking this, I felt ashamed and horrified.

By writing this down, I hope, above all, to not repeat these mistakes; to genuinely cultivate from within. It would be great if this can be of help to fellow practitioners.

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2008/1/11/169903.html

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