(Minghui.org) In the process of clarifying the truth and helping Master to save sentient beings, we should always use Dafa to measure everything instead of using everyday standards. Whether at work, in society, or at home, we cannot compromise just for the sake of appearing kind. That is not the true kindness of Dafa disciples.
I would like to share my understanding of what “true kindness” means for Dafa disciples through several examples.
A fellow Dafa practitioner was imprisoned due to the persecution. During the New Year and other holidays, practitioners would buy gifts for the imprisoned practitioner’s family. However, the practitioner’s son, who is not a practitioner, had been deeply poisoned by the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) lies. He did not understand the truth about Dafa, nor the persecution of his family member. He even voiced support for the CCP. Yet the practitioners did not clarify the facts to him, instead, they bought him gifts and even gave him some money during the New Year, which he accepted. Throughout the entire process, no one clarified the truth to him.
When a practitioner pointed out that this action does not reflect the true kindness of a cultivator, the other practitioner responded by saying that as long as he accepted the gifts, he would feel the kindness of a Dafa practitioner.
My understanding is that by sending gifts and money, we were expressing our concern for the imprisoned practitioner and their family. In reality, we ourselves are also suffering under the CCP’s persecution, through varying degrees, and many of us are not financially well off. At the human level, what we offered were simply gifts. Our intention should be to help their family understand the truth about Dafa, so that they can be saved by Master Li.
We are one body with the practitioner who is persecuted. Wherever the practitioner didn’t do well, we should quietly help supplement and harmonize. Clarifying the truth to their family not only helps lessen the practitioner’s suffering, but also helps Master save those family members. This should be the true purpose behind giving gifts, and is the genuine expression of kindness from Dafa practitioners. Otherwise, ordinary people may mistakenly think that Falun Dafa practitioners are wealthy or part of an organized group, which would only mislead and cause harm.
An elderly practitioner in our area has many children, and all of them are very filial and financially well off. Though this practitioner does the three things Master asks us to do, she has never dared to clarify the truth to her children directly, nor does she dare let them know about the Dafa work she is doing.
Of course, matters involving safety during the Fa-rectification period cannot be disclosed to people who are not practicing Falun Dafa. However, studying the Fa, doing the exercises at home, interacting with other practitioners, and going out to clarify the truth to people should be carried out in an open and aboveboard way. With Fa rectification having progressed to this stage, I don’t think these things should still be kept hidden from one’s family.
Because this elderly practitioner had never clarified the truth to her family, her family came to resist both Dafa and other practitioners. When she experienced sickness karma and was hospitalized, her children were extremely filial, and took great care of her. When practitioners went to visit her and wanted to clarify the truth to her children or to share understandings with this practitioner, they encountered many obstacles.
The practitioner wanted to make up for her mistakes and clarify the truth to her children, but because she was experiencing sickness karma and could not speak, she was unable to do it. Of course, if she were able to recognize her attachments, I believe she could make a breakthrough, and Master would also help her.
Some elderly practitioners even use the excuse that their children don’t want to listen to the truth about Dafa and the persecution, or that if they tell them, the children might say some disrespectful words about Dafa and create karma for themselves. In fact, these are all human sentiments and attachments. Practitioners work hard to inform people we do not even know about Dafa, so why wouldn’t we talk to our own children? Moreover, maintaining harmony within one’s family is also an important aspect of cultivation.
The kindness of Dafa practitioners should be letting go of oneself, being selfless, placing others first at all times, and doing everything we can to bring the truth of Dafa to others. It is not about maintaining superficial harmony with ordinary human sentiments.
Some practitioners think that as Dafa cultivators, they must show kindness in everything they do. As a result, when their relatives make unreasonable requests, they feel embarrassed to refuse.
For example, some relatives not only borrow money, but even ask to borrow practitioner’s ID cards, or make other clearly unreasonable requests. In such situations, we should politely refuse them.
There are also practitioners who, in order to help their family members accept the truth about Dafa and quit the CCP, try to please them with material benefits or favors. As a result, these family members may agree to quit the CCP on the surface, but behind their relatives’ backs they still say disrespectful things about Dafa. Especially at critical moments, it is difficult for them to maintain righteous thoughts and righteous actions toward Dafa.
A cultivator’s own conduct is the most powerful way to validate Dafa. When people ask Dafa practitioners for help, we should also consider whether their requests violate the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.
I have seen many practitioners who were in very difficult cultivation environments at the beginning, but they constantly rectified themselves in their daily life, and maintained strong righteous thoughts and righteous actions. Their family members went from not understanding, or even opposing them, to eventually offering full support. Gradually, these practitioners created very relaxed and supportive cultivation environments.
Above is my limited understanding. If anything is incorrect, please point it out with compassion.