(Clearwisdom.net)
Predestined Relationship
Teacher personally formed the Divine Land Marching Band at the end of 2005. Just two and a half months after being formed, the band started to participate in different parades, beginning with the Lunar New Year Parade in Flushing, New York, on January 28, 2006. I heard about this and thought that it would be wonderful if I could join the marching band to meet Teacher's requirement. Fortunately, our local practitioners formed a Divine Land Marching Band as well. I was really thankful to Teacher for this arrangement. I knew that it was not established to entertain ordinary people but to accomplish the great mission of saving sentient beings.
Improving Xinxing
Every member practiced very hard so that the band could perform publicly in a very short time. I selected a suitable Fa instrument and soon was able to play a few pieces. Because my progress exceeded that of some other practitioners, I unknowingly developed the mindset of showing off and looking down on others. I did not improve because I did not deal with those attachments with righteous thoughts. For that reason, I was not able to improve my skills and just hovered at the same level. The band leader said to me after one performance, "You did not play correctly on the last half beat of 'Song Bao.'" I retorted that he actually played worse. I felt embarrassed when I thought about this later: "Why did I argue like an ordinary person? What did I gain even if I was right? Would it help improve my cultivation?" I was really indignant in the heat of the moment. Indeed,
"Lest man be lost in his ordeals and gripped with deep regret." ("Who Dares Renounce Human Attachments?"from Hong Yin)
I gradually calmed down afterward. I listened carefully to the recorded music and realized that I really had not played the beat correctly. I had resisted using the technique that was taught by fellow practitioners and instead tried to do it my own way. I was angry even when the other practitioner pointed out my mistake. Was I trying to validate myself or the Fa? After understanding the Fa better, I played very well using the fellow practitioners' method. That made me think of Teacher's words:
"But true improvements come from letting go, not from gaining." ("Teaching the Fa at the 2002 Fa Conference in Philadelphia, U.S.A.")
We can achieve real improvements only if we eliminate our attachments. From a higher level, there is no improvement at all if we still hold onto our attachments and become complacent.
The marching band members were very anxious to learn new musical pieces and neglected the importance of practicing basic techniques. We finally realized the seriousness of this problem after a long series of practices. Then we started practicing basic techniques and corrected our issues one by one. My shortcomings from not building a solid base were obvious. During one big group practice, one practitioner pointed out my error on one note, and other practitioners added their comments also. I was overwhelmed, but I remembered the lesson that I had learned. Although I looked calm on the outside, a trace of pain crept up from the bottom of my heart. I knew that this was only the forbearance of an ordinary person. It did not meet a practitioners' standard of being steadfast and unwavering. I realized that I needed to study the Fa better.
A few days later, I was told by another practitioner that my intonation had been getting weaker during big group practice. I was really calm about the comment this time. The problem seemed superficially to be due to a lack of training, but in fact it was a reflection of my heart and mind. The same thing applies to cultivation. A test would not be complete until the person clearly and completely eliminates the attachment. I had always wanted to reach heaven instantly, without realizing that one has to steadily and surely walk down the cultivation path. Knowing how to play a song is far from playing it well. Similarly, one attachment eliminated from a practitioner's view may not be eradicated completely from higher levels. Continuous cultivation is a product of clearly understanding the Fa and recognizing the attachments.
After many years of cultivation, I really witnessed what Teacher said:
"No matter what, no matter how hard it is, you are definitely able to come through on the path given to you by Master. (Applause) As long as you raise your xinxing you can make it through." ("Teaching and Explaining the Fa at the Metropolitan New York Fa Conference - April 2003")
I have been with the marching band for such a long time now. My technique has gradually improved through the continuous finding and correcting of my shortcomings. These days a new problem may arise from time to time, and practitioners will still point them out when they happen. However, I understand that it is all part of my cultivation path and improvement. I have done my very best to correct any shortcomings once they were found. I further cleaned up any remaining resentment in my mind. I think that all of those arrangements were assimilated with Teacher's compassion. Again, thanks to our great, compassionate Teacher!
