Learning to Cooperate With Others

(Minghui.org) Searching inward is essential when striving to effectively cooperate with others. The primary reason for not being able to work together is the attachment to self. The Chinese character “wo” (me) is made of the characters “shou” (hand) and “ge” (conflict). If both sides hold on to themselves the result can be as minor as a quarrel or as severe as a war. The old forces use this attachment as an excuse to interfere with Dafa disciples and destroy sentient beings.

Searching for Selfishness When Feeling Resentful

One day in 2008, a practitioner in a nearby region told us that no one had ever distributed the book Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party to people living in a certain mountainous area. After talking with with a local coordinator I decided to help with this task. We obtained twelve boxes of the book from a materials production site in the city. At the time, there wasn’t anyone who could travel 150 km (93 miles) to this mountainous area, so I stored the books in the barn beside my home.

My home is our group Fa-study location, and I also have equipment for making truth-clarifying materials. Because of that, the three people who knew the books were stored in my home (including the coordinator) each felt that we should move the books somewhere else if we could not distribute them in the near future. When the first person said this, I wasn’t moved. When the second person said the same thing, I felt a little uncomfortable, but I didn’t say anything. When the third person said the same thing, I felt a little resentful. I told this practitioner, “I don’t mind one person telling me this. I can handle two people telling me this. But you are the third person who has said this to me. Originally I felt that the books were safe here, but all three of you are making me feel that it is unsafe. I don’t know what is right. I hope you will help me move the books to different locations!”

This practitioner agreed with what I said. He tried to contact five or six others to help distribute the books, but wasn’t able to arrange for help. Originally only four people knew about this, but by then over twelve practitioners knew about the books. I didn’t think I did anything wrong at the time, therefore I didn’t search inward. Soon after, I met a practitioner in another city. He quietly cooperated with me in one incident. I finally understood that as long as I had the feeling of resentment and thought that others weren't cooperating with me, I must have a human notion that is not aligned with the Fa. Perhaps that is what it means to search inward unconditionally.

The Learning Experience

One spring day after that, a practitioner in the city asked me to attend a meeting in another city. When I told our local coordinator about my trip, he asked me to bring back a box of Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party , because we badly needed them locally.

The night before my trip, I had a vivid dream. I was clarifying the truth about Falun Gong, when suddenly two big dogs appeared, one on either side of me. They bit at my hands. I hurriedly swung my arms to get rid of the dogs, then woke up from the dream. When I thought about the dream in the morning, I thought it was really inauspicious, because with me talking and two dogs appearing, one on each side, it forms the Chinese character “Yu” (prison). Should I still travel as planned? I calmly analyzed the situation. If I chose not to go as planned, I would be breaking my promise and it would affect matters related to Fa-rectification. How could I allow myself to be scared by a dream? If I decided to go, I first had to search within to see if I had any selfish notions or attachment to validating myself. After careful consideration, I eliminated all the impure thoughts and made the trip via train. I completed everything I was supposed to do.

As I was getting ready to come home, fellow practitioners were helping me pack the books. I remembered my dream and suddenly felt fearful. I asked fellow practitioners if I needed to pass through a security checkpoint to get on the train. One practitioner said, “Where are your righteous thoughts?” Oh, yes, a cultivator needs to use righteous thoughts. But in my heart, I said, “You don't know the nightmare I had last night!” When all the books were packed, another practitioner quietly said, “Buy the ticket and enter the station first. I will bring the books into the station for you.” I almost cried upon hearing that. I returned home safely with my fellow practitioner’s help. Several years have now passed, but whenever I think about that incident, I am not only filled with gratitude, more importantly I now know how to cooperate well.

Unconditionally Searching Inward and Letting Go of Self to Cooperate Well with Fellow Practitioners

The three local practitioners I mentioned earlier were pointing fingers at me, just like I used to do. My resentment certainly was not aligned with the Fa. I should have gotten together with all three practitioners and found a solution, instead of pushing the problem to the third practitioner. I could have also looked for the right people and had the books distributed in a short time. It was my fault for not cooperating well.

Any dreams we may have should not stop us from helping Master with Fa-rectification and saving people. However, when we do encounter such things, we first need to use the Fa to examine ourselves. Following the standard of the Fa is the safest thing we can do. When we are able to do so, we can protect ourselves because Master has given us sufficient power. When I broke through the hindrance of my dream, Master helped me by removing many elements of fear, and increased my wisdom.

Eight local practitioners were arrested in 2011. Two cadres from my workplace visited my home. I met them in the yard. One asked, “Do you still practice Falun Gong?” I said, “Are you on a private visit or official business? If this is a private visit, please come in the house and I will answer your questions in detail. If you are on official business, please show me your ID and tell me why you are here. Then I will answer your questions.” They looked at each other and didn’t answer my question. One said, “Do you know some Falun Gong practitioners were arrested?” I replied, “Are you here just to tell me this?” They looked at each other again and said, “Please give us your phone number.” I replied, “I don’t have a phone, so there is no number to give you. But please give your numbers to me.” They wrote down their phone numbers and started to leave. When they reached the gate, one said, “Be careful!” I didn't know if that was out of concern for me, or to threaten me, or make it easy for them to exit.

After these experiences and watching the video “Fa Teaching Given to the Australian Practitioners,” I learned how to truly cooperate with others. When I completely let go of myself and worked together with others, all the unrighteous elements around me changed. Moreover, many practitioners come and work together with me. If all practitioners can let go of self to cooperate with others, the evil will self-destruct, the grudges between practitioners will disappear, and more people can be saved. This is my current understanding in cultivation.