(Clearwisdom.net) Shen Yun tickets sales in several areas have hit a snag and at times have come to a standstill, year after year. Practitioners are concerned deeply and search for the cause.
From my point of view, Teacher has provided all that is needed in other dimensions, but in the human dimension, Falun Dafa practitioners have been given this responsibility. Then, what factors in the human dimension are blocking the ticket sales? The way I look at it is that practitioners' long-term notions and attachments are the root cause of ticket sales being blocked. To truly cultivate on the cultivation path, we must base all our thoughts on the Fa.
Consider the Needs of the Whole Body
"I want to do this! I want that changed! I want to make an adjustment! How should I improve! I also have other good ideas! I have been giving my utmost for the Shen Yun! I have already made contributions and I have used many methods, but the effect is not good."
A fellow practitioner had to pay a great deal for fuel when he drove four hours to help sell tickets in a neighboring city. Once he took along two fellow practitioners and drove for four hours to sell tickets, but the fuel cost was cheaper. He understood that Teacher was encouraging him and so going forwards he took along other practitioners who wanted to help sell tickets too.
Therefore, changing one's attitude and perception is the key. One changes from selfishness to selflessness. In doing Falun Dafa work, one should look at what is required by the whole body of practitioners and what is required to save people.
I believe that if we all let go of what is in our heads and unconditionally cooperate with the needs of the whole body; if we all look within, proceed based on the Fa, and change our behavior, then ticket sales will certainly be successful.
2. Abandon Attachment to Self-interest
Before Christmas, my heart was always agitated, when I saw large crowds shopping. I hoped to rent a place in the shopping center, to sell small items and make money.
However, I read fellow practitioners e-mails, encouraging everyone to sell tickets in shopping centers. I was probably numb to that suggestion and not in the mood to sell tickets, as I was always thinking about selling my merchandise in a shopping mall.
One day I went to see the mall management office in a shopping center near my home and told the lady at the front desk that I wanted to rent a booth for selling merchandise. She looked at me dumbfounded, gave me a contemptuous look and said that there were no vacancies. I suggested that even a table size spot would be ok, but she shook her head. I was not happy and thought about speaking to the manager, but when I saw her name tag it turned out she was the manager.
I recalled her manner and expression when speaking to me. It somehow reminded me of something. It was as if I suddenly awakened from my slumber. It was the Christmas shopping time, which would give us the perfect opportunity to sell tickets. People are waiting to see Shen Yun and I had put personal business before Shen Yun ticket sales. This manager was probably telling me, "Look at you! How is your cultivation? What time is it now? You are still muddle-headed!"
I also realized that my first thought was earning money and I didn't think about sentient beings at all. I usually prioritized things that were for my benefit. This time my shortcoming of not putting Falun Dafa first was exposed. After this, I suppressed and disintegrated my attachment to pursuing personal interest, as soon as it tried to influence me.
3. Cherish the Group Fa Study Environment
Our group Fa study during this Fa-rectification period is not only for studying the Fa, but also a way of enhancing and coordinating as a whole body. Alas, fewer people came to group Fa study in our area. I thought it was due to attachments and notions.
Several years ago, I was studying in another area and joined Fa-study there. I became less proactive after a period of time. I felt that those practitioners spoke very shallowly and didn't help me much. Later, I realized my selfishness. My attitude was, "I go if it is helpful to me and I don't go if it is not helpful to me.” Didn't I make demands of the Fa? I should have kept going. But what should I do, as I did not like to listen to them? I looked inside, and suddenly realized, they were part of the group to which I also belonged. I felt that their sharing had limitations. I should have shared my cultivation experiences, but I was unwilling to speak in front of people. Then, I thought I should go ahead anyway and harmonize our environment.
Since that moment, I made a point of always joining our local group Fa-study, regardless of the weather, as I'm one member of the whole body, and cultivation is a great part of this.
Teacher said:
"Group Fa-study is an environment I created for you and a form that I've left for you. I think you should still participate. That's because it has stood the test of experience, and cultivating that way allows our students to improve the fastest. When you cultivate on your own, you miss out on factors that help you improve. And haven't you, as Dafa disciples, said that you would do as your Master says? Haven't you said that you should walk straight on the path that a Dafa disciple should take?" ("Teaching the Fa at the Meeting with Asia-Pacific Students")
4. Send Forth Righteous Thoughts and Immerse Oneself in the Fa
Some practitioners suggested sending forth powerful righteous thoughts around the clock to disintegrate factors that suppresses ticket sales.
In my view, we must improve our understanding of the Fa so we can strengthen our righteous thoughts. Our righteous thoughts may break through limitations at different levels and produce outstanding good results.
The ticket sales slackened last week. There was something wrong. Although we have many shortcomings, saving people is of prime importance. The evil is not allowed to use our loopholes and restrain ticket sales. I thought that I should send forth righteous thoughts to disintegrate gaps between practitioners and evil interference. I instantly sat down to send forth righteous thoughts. I felt that I was sitting in an energy field that had no impediment and constraints.
5. Eliminating Notions about Fellow Practitioners
Many times I cooperated on the surface, but could not let go in my heart, as I wasn't too fond of some practitioners.
I looked at my cultivation from a different angle. I discovered that I would meet different practitioners in different time periods. These practitioners all had their own characteristics, especially those who are often beside me, which could affect my attitude towards them.
I suddenly understood. It was actually Master's systematic arrangement. Whatever irked me about them were issues and notions I needed to address in myself and change completely. Their behavior was not only a mirror for me, but displayed the obvious to me.
Therefore, I realized from an even deeper part of me the reason for looking at fellow practitioners' strong points and merits and discover my shortcomings.
I used to observe fellow practitioners' insufficiencies. Those were actually a part of their cultivation process. I enlarged them, looked at them with human notions and tried to cultivate others instead of myself.
I am aware, regardless of fellow practitioners' performance, or what bad habits or behavior they display, that I should look at their good side, which is precisely where I need to improve.
I cleared my way of thinking and relaxed. It came to me that superficial coordination is not true coordination. Only by improving oneself from the innermost core, eliminating any notion towards any practitioner, can one truly coordinate well.
6. Don't let a Negative Situation Stir You
Some practitioners have been selling tickets daily for several weeks, but just couldn't improve ticket sales, so they felt depressed. Some practitioners used to sell tickets, but were unsuccessful, so they gradually stopped coming.
Actually, a flyer, a presentation, a phone call--everything we do is having an effect. What matters is our starting point and attitude. If our base point of doing things is for a result, for achieving a goal, it is easy to get tired after some time. If we grow strong attachments to results and goals, it is easy to feel downtrodden. On the surface the tickets are not selling. But, actually the real situation is not like this superficial manifestation. The more attached we are, the less tickets we sell.
If we are sincerely saving people, not moved by a negative situation and bad news, and keep doing what we should do, sentient beings will certainly come to us.
Shen Yun ticket sales are a test. We need to look at ourselves, view the whole body and cherish selling Shen Yun tickets. We should cherish this cultivation opportunity. If every practitioner can cultivate diligently, the tickets will definitely sell, and sentient beings will surely come.
