(Clearwisdom.net) In the course of my practice, I discovered that I still had many human notions. I realized that I certainly have human notions when I feel moved or uncomfortable upon hearing or seeing something, or still keep the matter in mind and can't forget it even after I should have moved on.
One day, I was chatting with practitioner A on the roadside, and soon practitioner B, who we do not often meet, walked toward us. We were very happy to see each other, and practitioner B said to practitioner A: “Oh! You look so young, you have not changed a bit after several years of retirement.” I looked at practitioner A, who I often meet, and she indeed had a rosy complexion, appeared to be very energetic, and I felt happy for her. But at the same time, a thought flashed into my mind: “She should praise me as well.” When this short conversation ended and my expectations were not met, I felt unhappy and thought: “Many people have praised me for looking young these past few years, but fellow practitioners do not think so.” Instantly, I realized that this thought was incorrect. It was an attachment that had caused me to want to hear pleasant words, and to feel uncomfortable when I did not hear what I wanted. Afterward, I carefully thought about my behavior during these years, and indeed discovered big issues.
Since I began to practice Falun Dafa in April 1995, I have had an explicit idea: I am a honorable Falun Dafa practitioner, thus I should display a practitioner's demeanor when I am dealing with everyday people. Based on this, I usually pay more attention to my attire, make sure that I look neat, natural and full of energy. Therefore, like most fellow practitioners, I also appear to be younger than non-practitioners of the same age. When I heard praise for a long time, I felt energized by it, but also developed the attachment to my appearance.
I looked in a mirror every day when I washed my face. When I noticed several small spots, I thought about how to get rid of them. With this attachment, I always checked out skin care products for dispelling these spots when I went shopping. Finally, one day when I was in a big shopping center, a shop assistant approached me and warmly recommended a product, which was for reducing these spots. She introduced the cream and told me how well it works, and guaranteed its effectivness. I could not resist this enticement (actually it targeted my heart) and bought it. According to the instructions, I used it every morning and evening and observed the results. Sometimes the spots appeared to be lighter, but sometimes the spots looked the same. I continued using it for nearly two months, and almost used up one bottle, but it was useless, so I threw it away. If that was not an attachment, then what was it? However, I merely regarded it as a skin care product at the time.
After careful contemplation, I discovered many hidden attachments, such as vanity, showing off and zealotry. These are human notions and selfishness, which are for validating oneself, and they deviated from my initial righteous thoughts. After finding these attachments, I was determined to abandon them. Once again, I strengthened my righteous thoughts, and became more clear: It is Dafa that enriches me, makes me confident, generous and energetic. These wonderful things must be used for validating Dafa and saving sentient beings.
One day soon after that, I was walking and suddenly heard someone calling my name. I turned around and saw a young colleague of mine, and she said: “Oh! It is indeed you! I thought it could be you, but you appeared to be so young, and thus I was not sure.” I replied: “Really?” She said, “Yeah, you walked so energetically!” I smiled and said: “You know the reason.” She replied: “Yeah, yeah.” (I had explained the truth and Dafa's greatness to her many times, and she had also quit the CCP and its organizations.) She called me several days later and wanted to visit me for a chat, which had never happened before.
She came to my home as scheduled, told me about her grievance and being excluded at her workplace. She felt very badly and did not know how to deal with it. She said: “I want to hear a practitioner's view.” We discussed her situation the entire afternoon, and in the end she said: “I feel so relaxed and happy now.” I told her: “Dafa's principles have opened up your mind.” She joyfully accepted electronic copies of Teacher's lectures and books. Several days later, she called me again, and she sounded very excited. She told me that after reading some materials, she felt Dafa was very good and wanted to come to my place again to learn the exercises. I showed her the five sets of exercises, and gave her a DVD of the exercise instructions. I felt heartily gratified, as another life had stepped into Dafa. It was also clear in my mind that this was an opportunity arranged by Teacher in my process of abandoning attachments and human notions.
Teacher said in Zhuan Falun:
“You will be made to abandon all those attachments that cannot be given up among everyday people. As long as you have them, all of those attachments must be removed in different environments. You will be made to stumble, whereby you will become enlightened to the Tao. This is how one goes through cultivation practice.” (Lecture Four: Transformation of Karma)
We still live in everyday society and in the maze. Before the end of the Fa-rectification process and completion of our practice, Teacher will arrange all kinds of opportunities for every practitioner to give up human notions and attachments. I must steadfastly practice, seize these opportunities, and get rid of my attachments.
Category: Improving Oneself
