(Minghui.org) A few days ago, just before the end of an evening meeting, I leaned back in my chair and noticed something small and shiny under the front row of chairs. I immediately thought, "Who lost an earring?" From its shine, size, and shape, it was clearly a gold earring.

I thought, "Who would be so careless with such an earring? Maybe it's not real. Maybe someone lost it several days ago during a meeting. Anyway, I'm not greedy, so I won't pocket it. I'll just post a notice about it, and the owner will likely be very appreciative, and think that Falun Gong practitioners are such honest people!" I wanted people to think that about me, so I decided to pick it up. There were people next to me on both sides, and it was inconvenient to bend over. There was a row of small tables in front of me, so I leaned against the table and tried to get it with my feet. I tried to reach it with my shoe, but I failed twice.

The audience left after the meeting, and I stood there and waited for the people in front to leave. I then squatted under the table to get the earring. The second I picked it up, I realized that I was mistaken. When I crawled out from under the table, I saw that the "gold earring" was merely a slightly twisted metal ring usually used to close a bag. Oh, what a shame! How disappointing! I then heard someone nearby ask if I had lost something. I pretended that I didn't hear, as I was too ashamed to answer. I really felt awful. I put that little thing in my pocket and threw it into the garbage on the way out of the conference room.

My brain was going nonstop as I left, "That's disgraceful. Were my eyes deceiving me, or my heart? I was so delighted at the sight of money and disgraced myself! Is it true that all things that shine are gold? No! Pure illusion!" A confused vision, a dirty heart, a strong attachment to gold--I actually failed this test!

I thought of my love of gold and silver jewelry in my daily life, my love to visit jewelers, my extra glances at the jewelry counters whenever I took the time to visit malls, reluctant to leave. A year ago in a gold shop I had exchanged a new pair of earrings. I had previously exchanged one of my rings for a pair of earrings for my mother-in-law.

I then mentioned that to show off in front of practitioners and others, seeking a few words of praise to satisfy my own desire and attachment. "See how full of filial piety this daughter-in-law is. She reluctant to buy for herself, but gave her mother-in-law such a precious gift. What a good deed." Others praised me, “You have done well.” I was really delighted, thinking that I had already taken lightly those things that could not be brought with me at birth nor taken with me at death.

In fact, when I looked within, I realized that this was my mentality of showing off, as well as an attachment to material possessions, along with an attachment of pursuit. I dared not even respond to the person who asked me if I had lost something. I cared very much about how others saw me--it was my vanity of wanting to look good wearing earrings and hearing people say nice things about me, using the name of Dafa to show the distinction between me and others... These were all human mentalities, and are all quite bad.

A monk cannot even be attached to his own begging bowl, but I was intensely attached to materialistic things. Even if I was loaded with gold, I'm still just an ordinary person. After years of cultivation, a small metal ring revealed what was deep in my mind. What good is showing off? To save sentient beings, the Buddha once begged for food among ordinary people.

Master has picked us up from hell and suffered for us to pay back our huge karmic debts. He requires us to have righteous thoughts and actions, clarify the truth, and save sentient beings who are confused by the lies, and fulfill our prehistoric vows! I have lagged too far behind. I feel I should solidly walk every step well on the path of saving sentient beings.

This is my first experience sharing article. Please point out anything inappropriate.