(Minghui.org) I have been clarifying the truth by making phone calls to people in China and would like to share some of my experiences.
Making phone calls to China is a process of cultivation, and it requires looking inward.
I once downloaded two lists of phone numbers through our project's platform, and each list had eight telephone numbers. The first list went very well. I dialed all eight phone numbers, and somebody picked up every time. The first six numbers on the second list went through, too. I was very happy, hoping the remaining two numbers would go smoothly.
I dialed the seventh telephone number more than 10 times, but nobody answered. I moved on to the eighth number and the same thing happened. I realized that this was caused by my zealotry. My motivation was not pure: as if my goal was to make sure that somebody answered the phone instead of it being an opportunity to clarify the truth and save someone. I think this subtle change in my motivation was the reason the calls weren't answered.
Once I came to this realization, I sent forth righteous thoughts and redialed the numbers. They were both answered. Through this experience, I saw the importance of a cultivator's every single thought. There are no trivial issues in cultivation, and cultivation is very serious. Only when we cultivate ourselves well can we save sentient beings.
Another time, the man who answered the phone spoke a different dialect, which I have a hard time understanding. I looked inward and found that I usually speak very fast and tend to ignore the possibility that people might have a hard time understanding me. I then asked myself why I talked so fast. It is because I am always worried that people will hang up on me before I tell them everything they need to hear. That is an attachment. Also, I talk too fast because I am anxious, which is also an attachment.
When I saw those attachments and tried to get rid of them, I came across another person who spoke a Chinese dialect. I asked him if he could switch to Mandarin, and he agreed. We had no trouble communicating. I saw that looking inward is really important.
I have also had people hang up on me after I have only spoken for a few seconds. Looking inward, I realized that I have a bad habit: when a topic is not interesting to me, I try to change the subject instead of letting the other person finish what she or he has to say. It is rude and far from the criteria of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Master said:
“If one wants to be a good person, the criteria that exist in this dimension are: benevolence, loyalty, propriety, learning, trustworthiness, and so on and so forth. They are all derived from Zhen, Shan, Ren, and are incredibly many. And that’s not all.” (Teaching the Fa at the Conference in Switzerland)
When others are impatient, I am, too. For example, at group Fa study, fellow practitioners sometimes make mistakes when reading or interrupt our reading. When these things happen, instead of looking inward, I am always impatient. It shows that I don't have forbearance, and my heart is easily moved. It also shows that I look down on others and perhaps I am self-righteous, too. All of these shortcomings need to be eliminated.
Making phone calls is a precious opportunity to cultivate, and it allows me to see so many of my attachments.
Finally, I would like to quote the Fa again as a reminder:
“So as for the Dafa disciples in any region, you are basically the hope for the beings in that region to be saved--their only hope, in fact. The beings there need to hear the Good News, and they need to hear you clarify the facts to them so that they can understand what Dafa is. That is why Dafa disciples' responsibilities are weighty.” (Teaching the Fa at the 2004 International Fa Conference in New York)
The above are my personal understandings. Please correct me with compassion if I have said anything wrong.
Category: Improving Oneself
