(Minghui.org) I would like to share some of my thoughts after reading the article “Leading Practitioners to Follow Oneself Directs Them Away from Dafa.” I've also been idolized and depended upon by other practitioners, and, in turn, I idolized and depended upon them.
I felt so good when others praised me and looked up to me that I kept replaying these memories in my head. Sometimes it even interfered with my reading Dafa books, doing the exercises, or sending righteous thoughts. I was fortunate to come to my senses. Otherwise, my growing attachments of showing off, seeking fame, and looking down on others might have eventually destroyed my cultivation.
When we idolize and depend on certain practitioners, we may be pushing them into dangerous situations. It's harmful to both sides – those doing the idolizing and those being idolized.
Master said:
“Ever since Dafa’s introduction, there have been people who have watched others—'whatever others do, that’s what I’ll do'—instead of using the Fa to measure whether something is right or wrong.” (“Path,” Essentials for Further Advancement II)
We Are Each Walking Our Own Paths
John (alias) was the main coordinator in our area. While I was illegally detained in prison I sometimes thought, “I've cultivated so badly. When I'm released, I'll talk to John and ask his opinion about my cultivation.” Or, “My father-in-law still has misunderstandings about Dafa. I should ask John to clarify the truth to him. He's cultivated so well that he'll be able to save my father in law.”
After I was released, I was shocked to hear that John had been paralyzed, bedridden, and in a befuddled mental state for three years. I realized it was true when I saw him.
John was well-educated and highly respected. Whenever we had problems in our cultivation, many practitioners, including myself, consulted him. I always felt honored and safe when I spoke with him. I did not realize that it wasn't right to put him on a pedestal.
Later, I heard other practitioners say that John thought he had cultivated so well he felt there was no need to clear himself when he sent righteous thoughts. He had strong attachments to lust and desire, and he'd even subscribed to some Chinese communist newspapers.
One day while he was riding his bicycle, he hit a large piece of wood in the road and fell. He was paralyzed and remained bedridden and confused until he passed away.
The Fa Is Our Guide, Not Other Practitioners
After I was introduced to Alice (alias), a practitioner from another area, I found that she had a much better understanding of the Fa than I. She explained how to look inward.
I was very thankful and told local practitioners about looking inward. We all found what Alice said to be helpful.
Whenever I had problems in my cultivation, I would ask her for advice. Apparently, I was not the only one. Many practitioners had begun to rely on her suggestions. For example, when a Fa study group was not doing well, the local coordinator invited Alice to come talk to them. When a practitioner could not overcome an obstacle, they would ask Alice to help her identify her attachments.
A few months later, I heard that Alice had developed the symptoms of breast cancer. I thought, “How could that be possible? I thought Alice knew how to look inward, and she also did very well clarifying the truth.”
I heard that practitioners were sending righteous thoughts for Alice. When I went to see her, she looked ill and exhausted. I tried to talk to her, but she did not want to listen and dismissed everything I said. The other practitioners said it was difficult to talk with Alice about her cultivation. Apparently, she had strong attachments to her children as well as to wealth. At home, her husband was like the junior monk who cooked the meals and did all the housework while she behaved like the abbot.
Master gave her more chances. With practitioners' righteous thoughts, Alice began to get better. But after a family member died, she could not let go of her attachment. Eventually, Alice passed away.
Don't Place Others on Pedestals
Many family members of illegally detained practitioners in my area were looking for lawyers. One day, someone began talking about Jenna (alias), a practitioner in another city, and said, “Jenna is really amazing! She can talk with lawyers and judges, and they listen to her. One practitioner had already been sentenced to several years, but she got him released!”
I was happy to hear this and asked her to give me Jenna's contact information. However, I did not think that Jenna would not have time to concentrate on her own cultivation if every practitioner that needed a lawyer contacted her.
I later learned that many practitioners in that city were arrested, including Jenna.
Later, I read on the Minghui website that Jenna was “transformed.” She even became an active “helper” to “transform” other practitioners.
I recently heard that Jenna was released. I hope she will wake up and return to Dafa soon.
I'm sharing these stories to remind practitioners to pay attention to these issues. Our idolizing and admiring other practitioners harmed them.
Category: Improving Oneself
