(Minghui.org)
By Lingguan, a Falun Dafa practitioner in China
I lived a bitter and tiring life for 43 years before I began practicing Falun Dafa. When I obtained Dafa in 1996, I learned that the true purpose of being human was to return to one’s true self, and that I should look inward when encountering conflicts. Master helped me remove the possessing spirit that had been troubling me for decades. All my diseases, large and small, disappeared. I’m unable to find words to express my gratitude for Master’s benevolent salvation!
I’ve read many experience sharing articles written by fellow practitioners. On the path of Fa-rectification cultivation and saving sentient beings, I did the three things as they did. I then thought, “Why can’t I write an experience sharing article?” I calmed down, looked inward to find the root cause, and found that I had many attachments that I was unwilling to expose.
What is my biggest attachment? As soon as I started talking to fellow practitioners, I shined a light on their shortcomings. Even worse, I often used a specific paragraph or sentence of Master’s Fa to compare myself with other practitioners. I felt as if I’d done well in this aspect, and Master was not giving me hints about my own attachments. This kind of mindset was already wrong. If I indulged those thoughts, I’d only get worse, and my level would fall.
I must put down the light I shine on other practitioners and pick up a mirror to reflect my own attachments. I will cultivate diligently, remove these notions, and return home with Master.
By a Falun Dafa practitioner in China
I’m 78 years old and started practicing Dafa in the Fall of 2004. Although I’ve been practicing for 20 years, I have not laid a solid foundation through studying the Fa. Therefore I always evaluate things with human notions when I encounter conflicts. I always look outward and find the other party’s faults. Consequently, I still harbor many attachments, especially resentment.
My husband is disabled and can’t take care of himself. It’s tiring to sit in a wheelchair all day. After dinner, he waits for my son to get back from work to help him get to bed. My son and daughter-in-law both work, and come home to eat dinner. I always heat the kang bed (a traditional heated platform) while cooking steamed buns and making porridge with an electric cooker.
My husband and I eat first when the food is ready. My son and daughter-in-law cook some veggie and meat dishes afterward. My husband and I have no teeth, so we have to eat overcooked food. They’re young and don’t want to eat soft food. Besides, they don’t like my food. We have no problem with that. As an old couple, we can eat anything, and we live like this.
But while I was cooking in the kitchen one day, my son and daughter-in-law returned and started to make meatballs. My daughter-in-law didn’t say a word to me. I took the cooked food back to my room, feeling very uncomfortable. My daughter-in-law didn’t say, “Don’t eat first, I’m making meatballs.”
I started to have bad thoughts about my daughter-in-law, but I calmed down immediately and asked myself, “Shouldn’t I thank her? Isn’t this an opportunity for me to improve? Isn’t cultivation about cultivating my mind?” Upon thinking like this, I immediately felt very comfortable. Master helped me get rid of my resentment.
My resentment comes back occasionally because I still have it. When things happen, my first thought is still resentment, although I’m now able to deny it. In the future, I must study the Fa, do the three things well, and go home with Master.
By Huigui, a Falun Dafa practitioner in Shanxi Province, China
I’m a Dafa Practitioner from a rural village and will be 75 years old this year. Under Master’s compassionate care, I’ve made it through 30 years of cultivation. After I obtained the Fa, Master purified my body, and I’m free of illness and feel wonderful. I’ve never needed to take any medication in 30 years.
After obtaining the Fa, I have continually studied the teachings and practiced the exercises. But my improvement was very slow. I’ve done poorly in studying the Fa with a calm mind, and I don’t have compassion. So the result of my clarifying the truth to people has not been good. There were constant family conflicts. I was very anxious but didn’t know the root cause of the problem.
Master taught us:
“Some people have not truly worked on themselves spiritually, despite being among Dafa disciples. At key moments they always evaluate things with human attachments, human thinking, or human emotions.” (“Stay Out of Danger”)
Isn’t Master talking about me? I’ve been cultivating for so many years but still don’t know how to cultivate. When encountering problems, I always use human notions and thoughts to argue about right and wrong. Over time, this led to my experiencing sickness karma for six years. I can’t even sit with my legs in the half-lotus position, not to mention the full-lotus position.
I calmed down and looked inward. I was shocked to find the attachments of selfishness, not wanting to hear criticism, saving face, having a competitive mentality, jealousy, and resentment. I especially recognized the resentment for my husband that I couldn’t get rid of for so many years. Under the influence of these harmful substances, I often easily lost my temper and got upset. As a result, both of us suffered.
During a Fa-study group session, when we shared with fellow practitioners and sent forth righteous thoughts, Master enlightened me to let go of resentment and develop compassion. So I started to recite the following Fa-teaching passage:
Master said:
“So in any situation, don’t be affected by human-type behavior, don’t be affected by human thoughts, and don’t be affected by the feelings and emotions in this world, either. Look more at the positives in others and less at the negatives.” (Teachings Given on Lantern Festival Day, 2003)
My enlightenment quality was poor. Whether my husband’s behavior is good or bad, it’s for my cultivation improvement. I can’t thank him enough! So why would I still resent him? I said to my husband, “I sincerely thank you for your dedication to me!”
I will do well following the Fa’s principles in the future!