My Understanding of "Searching Within"

(Minghui.org) As cultivators we all know that to search within is a magical tool. It helps us to elevate and improve our mind and heart nature (xinxing). But sometimes when we search within, there is a complication that stops us, thereby making the process incomplete. This can cover up our human heart and attachments, and then we begin to look outward and look for problems in others. That complication is the notion that “I am right, I have no problem.”

I enlightened that when Master asks us to search within, we should unconditionally search within and cultivate ourselves, even if we feel that there is no problem with our xinxing. Do we attach too much to the issue of right and wrong? Does Master use the problems of others to show us that we have the same attachments and problems? Are we in a hurry to solve others' xinxing problems, or are we attached too much to focusing on the problems of others? If we can think this way, we are truly searching within and we are able to find and solve the problem.

I have a fellow practitioner who will often, with sincerity, point out my shortcomings to me. Such as, if my cultivation state was not right, or if I lost my temper too frequently. Each time, I would think that I was aware of my shortcoming, and I would change. The truth was, however, that I was not entirely convinced of his words. I was just wrapped up in my problem and I stopped searching within. Then I would think about my fellow practitioner, looking for his problems and shortcomings. On the surface I was quiet as if I was looking within, and would even openly admit my problem, but deep down I was not accepting the suggestion and would even try to make excuses for my behavior.

A cultivator's mentality should not be like that. I should first thank him, as after all, he was sincerely trying to help me. Instead I was looking outward.

Our attachments and human hearts are afraid to die, and they are afraid of this magic tool called searching within. Once they are exposed, they will be eliminated, so they try their best to control our brain, karma and sentimentality. This prevents us from searching within and instead causes us to look outward, becoming impatient, losing our tempers, even telling us directly that “you are right, he is wrong, look at him, as he is not behaving like a Dafa practitioner. It is he, he ...” If we believe that these are our own thoughts, we are already deceived, and manipulated by them.

Let us all cultivate ourselves, and think of our fellow practitioners with kindness. We have Master and the Fa. We should believe that all practitioners will do better. We should give them time, and a chance to find and correct their mistakes. That is to truly assimilate to compassion.