(Minghui.org) I would like to share with my fellow practitioners the understanding I gained after reading two texts of the book Essentials for Further Advancement. In doing so, I would like to alert those who are making the same mistake I made.
As one can easily notice, we live in a time of intense turmoil. First, we have the persecution and the organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners, an atrocity that the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong estimates may have led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Chinese individuals. In addition, there are the actions of the Islamic State, the attack on German women at the turn of the year, the growing tension between Russia and NATO, and for those living in South America, the economic, cultural, and political crises of some prominent countries in the region.
All of these major events can easily unbalance one's mind. Caught up by qing, one chooses a side, studies books, and writes articles. Inflamed, he argues with others, uttering harsh words and tormenting people’s minds. He fights so that his vision prevails. In my understanding, one who does so is not abiding by the standard of a cultivator, behaves like an ordinary person, leaves room so that many other attachments can manifest, and in the end will put himself in a situation where the only thing that he will gain is karma.
I did many of these things. My mind was always restless about those situations, and a bad feeling developed in my body. I deceived myself, saying that people needed to know the truth, that the world is a mess and that it needed to be said, and that I could not let distorted ideas spread into my circle of acquaintances. At such times, was I not an ordinary person? Did I take into account other people when I acted that way? Wasn’t I trying to satisfy my desire for attention and the vanity of possessing the truth? Even if this were not the case, wasn’t I behaving in accordance with the seven emotions in expressing anger, sadness, and concern?
A text written by Master made me realize my mistake:
“Instead, I want to point out that this event has exposed some people. They still have not fundamentally changed their human notions, and they still perceive problems with the human mentality wherein human beings protect human beings. I have said that Dafa absolutely should not get involved in politics.[…]I have long noticed that a few individuals do not have the heart to safeguard Dafa, but instead intend to safeguard certain things in human society. If you were an everyday person I would have no objections—it is certainly a good thing to be a good person who safeguards human society. But now you are a cultivator. From what standpoint you view Dafa is fundamental—this is also what I want to point out to you. During your cultivation practice, I will use every means to expose all of your attachments and dig them out at their roots.” (“Digging Out the Roots,” from Essentials for Further Advancement)
Wasn’t that what I was doing? With a human mindset, I viewed these events from a human perspective, and just like a human, I stood for what I considered good for humanity. What influence does the average person have on major events in the world? Isn’t it a matter involving high-level beings and their decisions? I cared about something that doesn’t concern me, moving me away from what is really important: to obtain and preserve virtue, to do the three things, to overcome tribulations, and to raise my xinxing.
That wasn’t all. The text right below “Digging Out the Roots” also had something to tell me, showing me even more the size of my mistake:
“The most difficult things for people to abandon are their notions. Some people cannot change, even if they have to give up their lives for fake principles.[…]If these acquired notions become too strong, their role will reverse by dictating a person’s true thinking and behavior. At this point, that person might still think that they are his own ideas. This is the case for almost all contemporary people.[…]When a person becomes agitated, what controls his thoughts and feelings is not reason, but emotion. When a person’s various notions, such as his faith in science, religion, or an ideology, etc., are being challenged by the truth of the Buddha Fa, he also becomes agitated. This causes the evil side of human nature to predominate, thereby making him become even more irrational; this is a result of being controlled by the acquired notions. He blindly jumps to conclusions or complicates the matter. Even a person with a predestined relationship can lose the preordained opportunity because of this, turning his own actions into eternal, deep regrets.” (“For Whom do You Exist?” from Essentials for Further Advancement)
For a long time, I’ve been on a crusade towards nowhere. I’m not an intellectual, so it's not my work among ordinary people to organize the ideas existing throughout society. I’m also not a journalist, so it's not my job to tell people about world events. I’m not a politician, so it’s not my duty to influence the direction in which the nation is going. I’m a practitioner who works at a desk job. I was definitely acting according to acquired notions that led me down a path of confrontation. That is why I need to let it go.
Let us do as Master said:
“In dealing with relevant, important matters, if a life can really assess things without any preconceived notions, then this person is truly able to take charge of himself. This clearheadedness is wisdom, and it is different from what average people call 'intelligence.'” (“For Whom do You Exist?” from Essentials for Further Advancement)
Two other texts are truly helping me to abandon my attachments and hence my preconceived notions: “Abiding in the Dao” and “The World’s Ten Evils,” published in Hong Yin. I read them daily, and this seems to help me to increasingly give up the six desires and my clinging to the world. I suggest to my fellow practitioners to give a little more attention to these two treasures.
To veteran practitioners, I ask you not to let doubt take hold of you, wondering when the Fa-rectification period will end. Seize the moment and cultivate diligently. Do not leave room for regret.
This is my own understanding and is in no way the Dafa taught by Master. Please point out any errors you find.
Category: Improving Oneself
