(Clearwisdom.net) As for the creation of arts – be it poetry, music, or paintings – good works build on the foundation of the artist's high-level xinxing. When artists work with a pure and clean mind, the divine will bestow inspiration upon them to produce outstanding pieces.
Other work follows the same principle. Whether we make phone calls persuading people to quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations, produce truth-clarification materials, run newspapers, or promote Shen Yun, it's all the same. What is truly in play is the power of Dafa. When we maintain a pure and clean state of mind, then righteous elements will support us. When cultivators do things with righteous thoughts and from the standpoint of the Fa, they can carry the power of Dafa, and what has been done carries the mighty virtue of cultivators.
Everyday people can also do things to validate the Fa, but they don't gain mighty virtue. There are things that can't be achieved by ordinary companies, no matter how big they are in society. For example, ordinary companies cannot promote Shen Yun tickets because promoting Shen Yun is equivalent to saving people. Only Dafa disciples' righteous thoughts can clear away the interference of the old forces. This can only be done with a pure intention of salvation. The mission of ordinary companies however, is to make a profit. This cannot save people and is easily affected by the old forces' interference. Only Dafa cultivators deserve to promote Shen Yun. However, if it's done with human attachments, that won't do.
Therefore, formalities are important but they are only superficial. What's truly in play is the power of Dafa. Many practitioners, upon finishing a project, think very highly of themselves. They think that the success is due to their efforts and their capabilities. They therefore work hard on the formalities and human details. Human beings always think they are capable and forget the element of Dafa, which is the key. They forget that everything has been arranged by the divine.
For example, when we are selling Shen Yun tickets, it looks like we have overcome many difficulties and have created success through our efforts. However, the true picture is that everything has been arranged by the divine. The path has been created and laid out by the divine. We simply complete it with our righteous thoughts and actions.
All successes of cultivators result from our being aligned with the characteristics of the universe. All miracles are manifestations of the Fa. However, humans view things with human eyes. They can't see the core issues and can't let go of self.
Master taught us in “A Heavy Blow” in Essentials for Further Advancement,
“No matter how much work a person in charge has done among everyday people, he is working for Dafa out of his own will. The success of his work is only a manifestation among ordinary humans. It is the mighty power of Dafa itself and the specific arrangements made by my Law Bodies that enable people to obtain the Fa and spread the Fa widely. Without my Law Bodies doing these things, even protecting the people in charge could hardly be ensured, let alone spreading the Fa widely. So don’t always think of yourselves too highly. There is no fame, self-interest, or official titles in Dafa, but only cultivation practice.”
Sometimes I write something and feel very elated after seeing my article published. During the process, I focus on myself and emphasize myself. I think I am capable and talented. I forget that all of this is bestowed upon me by the divine. At the same time, when I emphasize too much of myself, I unknowingly stray off the Fa. When I'm stuck on myself, I consider myself superior and important. When I'm able to go beyond self, I become humble.
My high school teacher once illustrated the Chinese character “smelly” to us. He said, “What is smelly? Arrogance is smelly.” The Chinese character of “smelly” (臭) is composed of “self” (自) and “big” (大) with an additional point on the top right corner of “big” (大). “Self big” (自大) in Chinese means arrogance and big ego. This is Chinese people's humorous understanding of the character “smelly.” It is a nice reminder for us to be modest, discreet and humble. When a person is “smelly,” others will try to avoid him.
