(Minghui.org) When I memorized Master's Lunyu, I understood that every sentence directs us on how to change our notions. I later noticed this sentence,

“If human beings are able to take a fresh look at themselves as well as the universe and change their rigid mentalities, humankind will make a leap forward.” (Lunyu)

I was confused as to why self and the universe, two drastically different concepts, were put together. I couldn't understand it logically.

When Master's new article, “Watch Out for Breeding Demons in One’s Own Mind” was published, I thought it must have been a common issue among us practitioners. I had to look inward. However, I simply went through the motions and didn't find anything.

After some time, I met a practitioner from out of town. He shared with several local practitioners. He was modest, down to earth, and grounded. He behaved like a cultivator. We all immediately liked him and hoped for cultivation inspiration from him. He shared some of his cultivation experiences and was very articulate. We could sense that he had studied the Fa rationally, and we were quite inspired by his respect for Master.

We trusted him more, shared with him about some of our local issues, and hoped for his help. He told us that our human attachments were too severe and that we should look at the issues in a different way. I found this quite reasonable. He shared his perspectives. We felt that his enlightenment quality was very good and that he was much better than us.

Later on, however, he spoke twice about not being willing to read fellow practitioners' sharing articles, and that it was a waste of time. I was puzzled and asked him, “Do you submit articles?” He said that he sometimes wrote experience sharing articles. Last time he wrote one, it was pointed out by Master as representing demons from one's own mind, and the pen name wasn't good. He then talked about how he had achieved the Arhat fruit status, had law bodies, and could create universes. I was shocked, as Master's new article about this issue had just been published, and he had realized that he had something to do with the issue. How could he still be like this? If Master didn't publish the new article, what else and more would he have said?

I suddenly recalled the sentences in Zhuan Falun,

“It is easiest for these people to develop demonic interference from their own minds and to drop to low levels. No matter how high one’s cultivation level is, once this problem occurs one will fall all the way to the bottom and, in the end, be ruined—this is an extremely serious issue. It is unlike other areas where if one fails a xinxing test this time, one may rise from the fall and continue to practice cultivation. But it is not the case if demonic interference from one’s own mind occurs, as this life of the person will be ruined.”

The issue I pondered was why there would be no way back once demonic interference from one's own mind occurred. Couldn't people correct the mistake once they found out? Now I understand that once one's ego is inflated, it is very hard to correct. With human notions, one will aim for a foot if one is given an inch. Nobody backs off. If they have $100,000, they will want a million dollars. This is human logic. Once one's thoughts are inflated, one can no longer pull oneself out of the situation. Tremendous attachments are cumulated. At this time, one is not able to clearly assess oneself. The primordial spirit is no longer in control.

It has become clear to me that “...take a fresh look at themselves as well as the universe...” teaches us to understand the trivial self and the profound universe from a new perspective. Humankind is too arrogant. It doesn't even realize how ridiculous it has become in terms of handling the universe. Therefore we should “take a fresh look.” We should handle our trivial positions well and treat the universe humbly. Only in this way can humankind take a leap forward.

It is even more so for cultivators. We should adequately understand our own trivialness and handle everything humbly, including the universe. Once a living being has demonic interference from its own mind, it is on a downward slide. The consequences are very severe.

I am nervous about myself, too. Why did I meet this fellow practitioner? Why did I hear his sharing and notice his problems? Master has alerted us many times that nothing in cultivation is a coincidence! Once I focused on examining myself, I noticed that my situation was rather bad!

I was involved in projects as soon as I joined the practice. With my profession as a teacher, I have formed a specific attachment. I am often self-centered and talk to others in a condescending way. When I share with fellow practitioners, I don't really share but feed others my opinions. When others speak, I almost never listen and often cut them off. In the past ten or more years, fellow practitioners have become used to me being like this. I have never given it a second thought.

Once I dug out the internal roots of such external behaviors, the reason was quite frightening. I have been drifting without knowing who I am. My arrogance has already become so strong that it manifests in my conduct.

Master said in Zhuan Falun,

“Even in this class, there are people who think quite highly of themselves right now and speak with a different attitude. It is taboo even in Buddhism for one to find out what one is all about. What I just said is another form of demonic interference, which is called 'demonic interference from one’s own mind' or 'transformation follows mind-intent.'”

My state is much worse than what Master described! Each and every Dafa disciple has his or her unique experience in history and is now cultivating under the direction of Master, therefore each of us has very unique strengths. How could I ignore this, look down upon others, and show myself off? I have followed my attachment without a second thought for so long. This shows me that my attachment has grown very big!

The human notion of arrogance has felt so “natural” to me. My ego expanded especially after I escaped from prison after a few years. When I realized this, I went to share with fellow practitioners and wanted to improve myself through the sharing. I reminded myself, “Listen more and talk less, don't cut-off others, listen to others patiently, and so on.” However, after several times, I found myself back to zero, and ended the sharing in my old state. Once I relaxed, I was back to my old self. I regretted it so much afterwards! I sighed that my cultivation wasn't solid enough.

Once one's ego is formed, it is very hard to reduce it again. Even if I want to act humbly with inner arrogance, I can't make it. The opportunity of showing off my new understanding was so tempting that I could hardly ignore it. Subconsciously, I felt good about myself again and would do anything to let others know that I just had another wonderful understanding. The notion was so deeply rooted that it could easily go unnoticed.

In human society, people may not be happy if you tell them that they are rich. However, if you praise their intelligence, they are sure to be happy. This is human nature. The adoration of self and self validation of human beings grows whenever opportunities arise. One may not even realize it.

In the past, I always thought that I was clear on the issue of demonic interference in one's own mind. I didn't even realize that I was one of the problematic ones! This is so horrible. I thought, “Since Master gave me the opportunity to realize this and see this problem, I still have hope. Master will give me an opportunity to fix this problem. I must cherish it!”

There are some such practitioners around me. I don't like them at all. However, I have never thought about this, Why don't I like them? Whatever happens in our cultivation is not for us to judge, like, or dislike. It is for us to look inward and cultivate ourselves.

I said to myself, “I will handle my trivial position in the universe properly. I am just one particle in the universe. I should be humble unconditionally. A human being or any other type of matter, no matter who they are, are creations of this universe and the masterpiece of gods. I am not in a position to overlook or downplay them. My negative notions and disrespect for them are equivalent to disrespecting the universe and gods. I should keep in mind at all times my identification as a cultivator, a Dafa disciple, as well as a trivial living being. I must not be arrogant. I need to recover my true self.”

I recalled once when reading this in a book, Dante Alighieri asked the arrogant souls to line up and carry very heavy weights so that they had to walk with their chests touching the ground. This was to teach the arrogant ones to be humble. Some fellow practitioners shared in their articles, “gods like humble beings.” I also would like to be a living being that gods like! I will learn to be humble and handle myself properly.