(Minghui.org) We all form various notions in the world, not only in this life, but also during the many lives we have had. We have been governed by these notions lifetime after lifetime. As a result, people commit boundless sins without knowing it, and they even think that what they insist on is the truth and forcefully try to change others accordingly. Failing to do so, they would be indignant and also develop resentment, hurting others and themselves simultaneously. Aren’t we hurting ourselves by the very karma we created following our own notions?
In the past twenty-some years I’ve cultivated Falun Dafa, I have often shared my understanding on the Fa with fellow practitioners. Through these exchanges, I thought many of them had indeed improved in their understanding and overcome various tribulations. However, over time, I found that many had developed an unfavorable impression of me: some said that I had gone astray, some said that I had attempted to expound on the Fa, some said that I was being very pushy, some even said that I was a demon who harmed the Fa. Some whom I did not know also spread negative hearsay about me. What was even more upsetting was that some of them, whom I had spent a long time studying the Fa with while they were going through tribulations, had turned against me and were badmouthing me as well.
I couldn’t understand what I did wrong. I was talking about my personal experience, exchanging my understanding of the Fa. I thought I was following Master’s teaching,
“We study the Fa together after all, so we can share our understandings and have a discussion with each other: “I suddenly realized this meaning in these words of Teacher,” or “I’m still not doing well enough in this regard.” You might miss that when you read at home. Correct this shortcoming from now on. In other words, it’s necessary to share understandings and to discuss among yourselves.” (Teachings at the Conference of Changchun Assistants)
Recently, through studying the Fa, I finally understood: the Fa has different standards at different levels, and I can’t judge fellow practitioners by my standards; as long as a being meets the requirements of the standards at their level, I can’t say that people are wrong. While sharing our different understandings, one cannot impose one’s own understanding onto the others. When I was talking to the others, I spoke incessantly, without knowing that I was arrogant and self-conceited. This made other people uncomfortable. They even excluded me from the circle. Now I realize that it was because I had hurt others without knowing it.
Once I realized my mistake, I changed my mindset and the way I related with other practitioners. I found that all the misunderstandings for more than ten years were gone as if they never happened. We have since been working very well with each other.
I also encountered similar issues in my home environment. Once, my husband wanted to become a ringleader and he brought a group of people to our place every day and gave them free food and drink. I was disgusted and fought with him all the time and as a result, our conflicts escalated to the point that my husband was about to beat me up.
I thought I couldn’t go on fighting with him like this; I had to look inward to find out what I did wrong. I examined myself painstakingly. Finally, I suddenly thought of Master’s words: “...The Fa gained, you now stand divine,...” (“Salvation Far and Wide,” Hong Yin, Translation Version A)
Yes, I should put myself in God’s position and think like a God: human beings are saddled with karma whereas Gods and Buddhas are compassionate, Master said,
“To the great enlightened people, living as a human being is not the purpose, and one’s life is not meant for being human—it is meant for you to return to your origin. Human beings suffer a lot. The enlightened people think that the more one suffers, the better, as one should speed up repaying one’s debts. This is what they think.” (Lecture Four, Zhuan Falun)
There are various ways of eliminating karma and it suddenly occurred to me that being taken advantage of is also a good way to pay back karma. Realizing this, my heart was much brighter and I didn’t feel so bad. I changed my mind and stopped being obsessed with changing my husband.
A few hours later, my husband came home and said that he had quit the gang. He has since left them. His change of heart was not achieved by my human methods to forcefully change him; looking inward to change my notions and cultivating myself was the solution. Once my mind was balanced, the external environment was naturally harmonized. If I continued to insist on my own notions and be indignant about the whole thing, would it have intensified the family conflicts? Would it have developed into a form of persecution?
Master said,
“As I've said, everything that happens today in the ordinary society is the result of Dafa disciples' thoughts.”(“Teaching the Fa at the 2002 Fa Conference in Philadelphia, U.S.A.,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. II)
Are these attachments generated by our human notions? Is it possible that conflicts intensify and things worsen causing us to get hurt because we fail to align ourselves with the characteristics of the universe and to look inward?
The above is my personal cultivation experience and I would appreciate your kind correction if there is anything that is not in accordance with the Fa.
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Category: Improving Oneself
