(Clearwisdom.net) While sharing thoughts and experiences with fellow practitioners, we found that some practitioners are lacking in confidence. They think that, compared with other diligent practitioners, they are not up to the standard. Hence, they started becoming depressed and lost the motivation to practice diligently. Some of them even thought about giving up on cultivation several times. When they face challenges, they choose to avoid problems or they completely give up on clarifying the truth. Cultivation is serious. Self-confidence is the foundation for success. When one's sense of inferiority is very strong, then obstacles will present themselves on one's cultivation path and test one's determination. We need to immediately change the human notion of "I am not good at anything." Otherwise, we will walk on the path the old forces arranged. Our cultivation progress will stop and all our previous efforts will be wasted.
For those practitioners who have a sense of inferiority, we understand how it feels, as we all have gone through situations when we struggled and did not know where to go next. On the other hand, we overcame the challenges, and we would like to share our experiences to help them let go of the attachment to self and find their own way based on experiences and lessons.
First, there is no need to make comparisons. For the practitioners who think they are not good at anything, it is often because they compare themselves with other more capable practitioners. They reach the conclusion that they do not have a good enough base or enlightenment capacity, and their attachments are too strong. The original purpose for comparing our shortcomings with other's strengths is to identify gaps in our xinxing. It is not done to put ourselves down.
Using the Fa's standards to compare with how we did in the past will help increase our confidence in cultivation. For example, if I study the Fa today, calmly, for a long time and it is more effective than yesterday, I will improve when facing conflicts. Thus, my xinxing has elevated. As long as we study the Fa, we will advance.
There are numerous lives in this boundless universe. We should treasure the opportunity of being fortunate enough to have obtained the Fa. As Falun Gong practitioners, we are the hope of the future universe. As enlightened cultivators, we have the responsibility to clarify the facts to people.
Secondly, let us think about this, "Where did the notion of 'I am not good' or 'I cannot do anything' come from? It is a human notion, an arrangement of the old forces, not Master's assessment. In fact, this notion is not at all the true mindset of a practitioner with strong righteous thoughts. It is only a way of thinking that the old forces arranged, attempting to undermine a practitioners' determination and confidence. Its purpose is to make us feel that we are not good enough and cannot accomplish anything, which results in our sinking down, becoming less diligent, and giving up on cultivation. Master treasures every practitioner and treats every practitioner equally. As long as you have the Fa in your heart, Master will protect you. Master never said anybody was not good enough.
Thirdly, we should maintain the will to improve and a peaceful mindset, and carry out positive actions. For a determined cultivator, there is only a temporary falling-behind. There is no absolute failure. In cultivation, as long as the Fa-rectification is not over, everybody has the chance to catch up. It is possible for anybody to fall behind temporarily. But when facing challenges, we should acquire a forward-looking attitude and take correct actions in order to solve our problems. For example, two people both have nothing and both are hungry and cold. In the morning, one of them gets up and goes out to look for a job. The other stays in bed and continues to complain about the situation. It is clear which one will change his situation.
Fourthly, we should understand that the most important thing is being "harmonized as one body," instead of focusing on individual capabilities. For example, for a factory to operate normally there is need for not only the general manager and technical experts, but also workers on the production line, etc. As long as everybody focuses on doing his or her job well and works as one body, the factory will run properly. Without this coordination, the factory would not be considered a qualified business. They would need to stop the production line and fix their problems. Therefore, there is no true difference in the importance of the work being done. It is merely a formality that is required in such an environment. The true matter, for cultivators, is to eliminate attachments and improve xinxing during cultivation.
Fifthly, sharing experiences more and identifying one's own point of view is very important. Many practitioners' sense of inferiority may come from their inability to express themselves in the best possible way. In fact, there are a variety of forms one can utilize when clarifying the truth: writing articles, mailing letters, making phone calls, or sending messages. If one does not feel comfortable clarifying the truth verbally, one can always find other ways that are more suitable. Clarifying the truth could range from breaking through the Internet information blockade to delivering fliers or looking-up phone numbers. Everyone can find his or her own niche. Then why are there still many practitioners who have not gotten involved yet? It is because they have not actively looked for the opportunities. Just like someone who is looking for a job, if he does not explicitly communicate what he wants, or cannot identify what his strengths are, it will be tough to take that first step. Therefore, I hope that the practitioners that have not stepped forward yet can share more with other practitioners and identify work that is suitable for them, based on other practitioners' feedback and support. Let us work as one body to advance as one body.
Finally, one needs to take action. There is a saying: "Being slow is better than just standing and doing nothing." As long as you continue the process, you will find your strengths, establish confidence, and break through your sense of inferiority. Only while we are taking action will we then truly see Master's benevolent hints, feel the mighty power of the Fa, and establish the determination of a cultivator. Only then will we be able to understand the Fa better and become assimilated to it. We will thus be able to rectify our deviated thoughts. Even if it means just sending out one letter, or buying one box of CD's to distribute every week. Without this intent, we will lose cultivation opportunities for improvement.
In order to help these practitioners, we need to keep our environment rectified. We should encourage one another. Everyone's judgment about themselves is a combination of others' judgments and their own self-image. Practitioners possess supernatural powers. If every practitioner in an area thinks that somebody is not good enough, and says that he or she is not good, it might adversely affect the person. The old forces might take advantage of this. On the other hand, if we all encourage the person, it will help him or her build confidence. Therefore, our environment should be a harmonizing, encouraging one, so we can improve together. It should not be a blaming, complaining, and belittling environment. To those practitioners who lack confidence, we should try our best to look for their strengths and their progress and give them encouragement, so they can establish their confidence and do well.
Helping fellow practitioners recover their confidence is negating the old forces. If practitioners with a sense of inferiority can establish their confidence, actively study the Fa, and practice the exercises, then they are doing well in cultivation. Their world is going to turn from a gray one to a wonderful world. If they believe in the power of righteous thoughts, they will act in accordance with them. Then, as one body, we will all have more power. Therefore, for the practitioners who are currently diligent, we should not only do well ourselves, but also realize that helping other practitioners walk out of their human notions is the process of negating the old forces' arrangements.
