(Minghui.org) On the day the new U.S. president was inaugurated, I have to say I was sad and disappointed. Although I tried to keep my spirits high, towards evening I fell into a slump. I tried to pull myself out when I heard a comment of “staying in the energy of who you truly are.” My husband also made a comment about how my energy had changed, and that also helped me to wake up.
I realized how I’d failed to keep a righteous mind and not be swayed by everyday people’s events. I had a similar experience before the inauguration when it seemed evident that President Trump would not continue to be our president. I always hoped he had a last-minute plan that would turn things around, so I put my hope in that. I put my hope in this, that, and everything else except for trusting completely in Master’s plan. I always knew deep down that I should only trust Master’s plan, but I wasn’t always successful with all the drama happening.
Not until I heard that comment mentioned above and my husband’s reaction did I take it to heart. Then I read in Zhuan Falun,
“As you know, when a person reaches the Arhat level, in his heart he is not concerned about anything. He does not care at all in his heart for any ordinary human matter, and he will always be smiling and in good spirits. No matter how much loss he suffers, he will still be smiling and in good spirits without any concern.” (Lecture Nine, Zhuan Falun)
I also viewed the new administration with disdain and didn’t want to look at any of those people. I have since changed, and now I don’t have disdain or dislike for them; instead, I have “no thoughts” about them. I can now look at them and view them as if in a play: they are playing the role they want to play, and it’s not my concern. I am working on developing more compassion for these lost souls when thinking about their future.
I realize how important it is to have a clean and clear mind and a heart that’s unmoved.
Master said in Zhuan Falun:
“At very high levels, cultivation practice has no mind activity whatsoever. This is because while you were at the everyday people’s foundation-building level, that foundational system had already been laid. After reaching high-level cultivation, our cultivation system in particular works automatically, and cultivation practice is completely automatic.” (Lecture Nine, Zhuan Falun)
I have found how important it is to catch myself right away if I have any negative thoughts, as those negative thoughts will leave a loophole to my not staying in the “Buddha light,” and to keep focusing on what really matters, which is assimilating to Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance in all situations. With so many distractions, it’s ever more important not to be swayed by any type of media but always know that Master has arranged the best outcome.
When things seem bleak, I only have to seek out the answers in the Fa to bring me back to my true self.
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Category: Improving Oneself
