(Minghui.org) When practitioners cultivate, they tend to focus on major events that touch the soul. They regard them as tests, and remind themselves to pass them well to elevate their xinxing.
Practitioners sometimes ignore minor things, and regard them as trivial. As a result, these things may accumulate into insurmountable tribulations. In fact, small things also relate to xinxing, and everyday people often evaluate a practitioner or Dafa based on small things. From this perspective, the small things are related to our effectiveness in saving people.
Master has told us clearly,
“The lofty conduct that Dafa disciples have established in this environment—including every word and every deed—can make people recognize their own weaknesses and identify their shortcomings; it can move their hearts, refine their conduct, and enable them to make progress more rapidly.” (“Environment” from Essentials for Further Advancement)
I realized from the Fa that a practitioner's every thought, every word, and every deed is essential for his self improvement.
Master said,
“If a person can't cultivate in the Fa, then he isn't able to truly understand the Fa. Only when a person has truly grasped the Fa can he walk the path righteously and can his being be assured a good outcome.” (“Teaching the Fa at the 2004 International Fa Conference in New York”)
Here is an example relating to how we should cultivate in the Fa. Say a practitioner's apartment is on the fifth floor. One day she opens the window and wants to throw out a used plastic bag. Suddenly she remembers Master's words, “But actually, no matter how small a problem is, it’s unacceptable if you can’t meet the standard.” (“Fa Teaching Given at the 2014 San Francisco Fa Conference”)
She is startled, and immediately realizes that she was wrong, and puts the bag into the wastebasket. Then she thinks, “why did I want to throw it out the window? That is selfish, even though it appears to be more convenient than taking the bag downstairs.” She realizes that her conduct was just like that of an ordinary person, and even good everyday people would not do that. She feels ashamed, especially when she remembers that the deities and Buddhas throughout the universe are watching her, and were laughing at her.
Master said:
“I also want to tell you that your nature in the past was actually based on egotism and selfishness. From now on, whatever you do, you should consider others first, so as to attain the righteous Enlightenment of selflessness and altruism. So from now on, whatever you do or whatever you say, you must consider others—or even future generations—along with Dafa’s eternal stability.” (“Non-Omission in Buddha-Nature” from Essentials for Further Advancement)
As Dafa disciples, our every thought, word, and deed should exceed the standards of everyday people; otherwise how could we think that we are different from everyday people? Small things reflect bigger problems, that is, if a practitioner does not change his human notions and conduct, how can he say he is cultivating? The outcome of his cultivation could be in vain.
I read Master's lectures today. Master said,
“For a Dafa disciple, cultivation is first priority. That’s because if you fail to cultivate well, you will not be able to accomplish what you are to do; and if you fail to cultivate well, your power to save sentient beings will not be that great. And if you cultivate a little worse, then you will view and consider problems in the manner that ordinary people do, which would be still more awful. So you absolutely mustn’t slack off or lower your guard.” (“Dafa Disciples Must Study the Fa - Fa Teaching Given at the 2011 Washington DC Metro Area Fa Conference”)
This Fa principle reminds Dafa disciples of their sacred mission, which is assisting Master in the Fa-rectification and saving sentient beings.
If we fail to cultivate well, we will not have the compassion and strong righteous thoughts to save people. Thus, the effect of saving people will not be as expected. In addition, if people see our conduct as not upright and they disagree, how can they accept the true facts when we tell them?
Master said,
“...you still need to consider the image you project in society and to everyday people, because a Dafa disciple needs to be a good person wherever he is, right?”
“Your resources are limited, and that's why it is so trying and hard to do. But even so, we still need to make our Fa-rectification path a straight and upright one and we cannot go astray.”
“You can’t do as you please or do whatever you want—if that were the case, the Fa wouldn’t be righteous. You need to make your path of validating the Fa a straight and upright one. Every single step, every single thing, including a Dafa disciple’s words and actions, and your conduct in every respect out in society must be upright.”(“Teaching the Fa on Easter, 2004, at the New York Fa Conference”)
Think about how many small things we do every day. If people have a good impression of any small or large action of ours, will the overall effect of saving people be the same?
The Fa principles guide our cultivation. We must strictly cultivate every thought and regulate every word and deed based on the Fa principles. Only then can we really shoulder the sacred mission of Fa-rectification period Dafa disciples!