About Being Humble

(Minghui.org) I read an article on the Minghui website in November: “The Beauty was Neglected, the Homely One was Preferred”, a story about philosopher Yangzi (Yang Zhu from the Warring States, 403-221 B.C). He traveled to the Song state, where he stayed in a hotel. The owner had two wives - one was beautiful, while the other wasn't so attractive. He discovered that the beautiful wife was neglected, while the homely one received more respect. Yangzi was curious and asked for an explanation. The owner answered: “That one believes that she is very beautiful, but we can not perceive her beauty; the other one feels that she is not beautiful, but we find her prettier.” Yangzi stated: “Aha, I will remember this. One who has virtue and stays humble - how can others not respect him!”

I was deeply touched by this article. Reflecting on my own cultivation, whenever I met with conflicts and difficulties, it was always when I was satisfied with myself in certain regards; I'd then encounter corresponding trials and tribulations. I even wondered why it was so hard.

For example, a fellow practitioner was experiencing sickness karma which appeared to be triggered by a family conflict. A fellow practitioner went to see him and asked: “Why can't you pass such a trivial test? When I encountered such and such (a test), I passed...” Shortly after, this particular practitioner encountered similar sickness karma, and she did not pass this test. The main reason for her failure was her complacency. There is a saying: “Failure is the mother of success.” When you fail, you will pay attention to your shortcomings, otherwise, you won't be able to extricate yourself from complacency and self satisfaction. In this case, you will never improve in cultivation; others all forge ahead, but you are stuck with your complacency. A test came that this practitioner couldn't pass, in order to awaken her and show her her shortcoming.

We become dissatisfied with ourselves with regard to things that we are highly praised for by others. For example, during cultivation practice, when you're dissatisfied with your level of attention while studying the Fa, you then try your best to improve in this regard; when you're dissatisfied concerning your respect for Master and the Fa, others notice your devotion to Fa and Master; when you're dissatisfied with cultivating xinxing and eliminating sickness karma, you pass these tests easily. As a coordinator, if you believe that you're doing an excellent job and still wonder why others aren't cooperating with you, then think about it - is it due to complacency and self satisfaction? As a matter of fact, Master already taught us:

“Cultivation practice must take place through tribulations so as to test whether you can part with and care less about different kinds of human sentimentality and desires. If you are attached to these things, you will not succeed in cultivation.” (Zhuan Falun)

Uncovering complacency may be difficult at times, and people sometimes cover it up subconsciously. I encountered something which reminded me to cultivate my speech. I sometimes joked around whenever I met with practitioners A and B. I joked around again the other day; a practitioner then reminded me (again): “Pay attention now, don't talk nonsense.” I didn't care, and thought: “Don't be so uptight all the time, lighten up.” The next day, I repeated that I was the boss at home. The fellow practitioner told me again: “Stop talking nonsense.” I thought, “Can't I even say that?” The third time, I thought that practitioners A and B were not clear on a financial issue. “Get the (profanity) out” flew out of my mouth so quickly; I shocked myself and burst into a laugh. Others were surprised as well, and felt it inconceivable for me to do that. Those who know me, know that I do not curse; even when I was going through a xinxing test, I was quite complacent with my speech. However, the times when my husband and son bothered me, I'd tell them to go away and they'd usually laugh at me when I did that. I never gave it a thought, but through a fellow practitioner's reminder, I learned that I truly needed to cultivate my speech.

Master instructed us:

“From now on, whatever you do, you should consider others first, so as to attain the righteous Enlightenment of selflessness and altruism.” (“Non-Omission in Buddha-Nature” from Essentials for Further Advancement)

The old universe was for the self, the new one is for others. Due to selfishness, one can betray a fellow practitioner; one will make mistakes because of selfishness. In order to enter the new world, you have to eliminate selfishness. From now on, I will cultivate out everything that is not based on the Fa.

Please point out any shortcomings.

Heshi