(Clearwisdom.net) I have read several articles written by fellow practitioners discussing our attitudes towards each other. Some articles said that as fellow practitioners we should be strict with each other, while others said that we should be tolerant towards each other. Other articles said that when we see problems in other practitioners, we should first of all check within ourselves before we talk about others.
However, there is a problem that is easily neglected: we do not distinguish between a person and an action. I don't think this is appropriate. One action does not represent the entirety of a fellow practitioner. We should make clear distinctions between our attitude towards a person's whole being and one specific action. Towards a living being, Dafa practitioners' attitude should be forever "tolerant" and "benevolent." On the other hand, if we keep being tolerant towards a specific, incorrect notion, behavior or attachment, and all the unrighteous thoughts that a living being might have, we are actually being "indulgent."
Tolerance between Dafa disciples is mutual tolerance among living beings. It is compassion. In Appendix III of "The Great Consummation Way of Falun Dafa" the third item tells us, "At the practice sites, assistants must be strict with themselves but generous with others. They have to maintain their xinxing and be helpful and friendly."
However, when conflicts arise among fellow practitioners or when we see that our fellow practitioners have attachments or thoughts, notions, and actions that they are not supposed to have, we should point them out. When we point them out, we are pointing out their bad attachments, the attachments that they have exposed; we are not hurting them. It is not coincidental that we saw these attachments. If we do not call attention to them, if we mistakenly label indulgence of fellow practitioners' attachments as tolerance, or if we're afraid of hurting each other's feelings due to our own sentimentality, or afraid of hurting ourselves due to selfishness, it is easy for the evil to make use of the loopholes that we have left open.
Of course when we point out problems, we should maintain a righteous mind and come from a righteous standpoint. Pointing out fellow practitioners' problems is wholly for the good of our fellow practitioners and for the good of Fa rectification, but not for showing off that we are at some high level or correct on some issue. At the Boston Fa-conference, Master said that we should use "great benevolence and compassionate understanding" [draft translation, subject to further revision].
When we point out fellow practitioners' attachments, we should always be truly compassionate. We should not be criticizing, reprimanding, or complaining, nor should we talk behind others' backs. Otherwise we are indulging our own demon nature. At the same time, we should adopt a mode of expression that is easily acceptable to them, instead of "denying completely" our fellow practitioners with our own sentiments. In the midst of conflicts, it can be hard to see the cultivated side of a Dafa disciple. What can be seen are only the actions influenced by notions and attachments at that particular time. A heart of compassion towards others will be shown naturally, both in our words and in our means of expression. Conversely, a lack of compassion will also be revealed in the same way.
It should be the same with our attitude towards everyday people. When we are clarifying the truth to an everyday person, if we only see his bad notions against Dafa, or even the crimes he or she might have committed against Dafa, it is difficult to continue. However, we must remember that we Dafa practitioners are not facing just an everyday person. Through studying the Fa, we all know that many of today's human beings are kings that represent many lives. Therefore, when we clarify the truth, we should always remain tolerant and compassionate.
We should be tolerant and compassionate towards living beings. However, with regards to all incorrect thoughts and behaviors, and towards the evils that damage Dafa, we should resist and eradicate them instead of indulging them. For those completely hopeless evil beings that insist on damaging Dafa, we should send forth righteous thoughts to eradicate them without any hesitation.
The above is my personal understanding, please point out anything that is improper.
