Being Selfless and Putting Others First

(Minghui.org) After going through a physical tribulation some time ago, I didn't have enough righteous thoughts and felt mentally fragile. I asked my family for help and to send forth righteous thoughts for me. I said it with resentment, helplessness, and the attachment of dependency. I knew I was wrong as soon as I uttered the words. I thought, “How could I put myself in the position of wanting others to help me? What am I doing here?” Thus, I corrected myself immediately, “No. I should be helping others instead.”

Recognizing and Correcting My Unrighteous Thoughts

Just like Master said, “If thoughts are righteous, evil will collapse” (“What’s to Fear?” from Hong Yin II) My righteous thoughts came back in a few seconds, and the incorrect thoughts disappeared immediately. I realized later that wanting to help others is also a form of righteous thoughts. When our thoughts are righteous, and when certain aspects of our xinxing reach the standard of the new universe, Master will eliminate the bad elements that are interfering and persecuting us, since they no longer have any reason to exist.

Had I not recognized the incorrect thoughts, and instead acknowledged and went along with them, the outcome would have been different. Because the results truly reflect the state of a cultivator's xinxing. Master wants us to think of others and help others. A selfish heart is rooted in the principles of the old universe, and the old forces can take advantage of that loophole. The difference in one thought leads to different results.

I've discovered that on our cultivation path and when we validate the Fa, we are often faced with the choice of helping others or relying on others for help. This in fact is a choice between thinking of others or thinking of ourselves. The outcome will vary depending on our choice.

I remember reading a story about two brothers. They were suppose to choose a role for their next life. The older brother was kindhearted and chose the role to help others. The younger brother was selfish and did not like to help others. So he chose to be helped. When they reincarnated into their next life, the older brother was a millionaire, owned many properties, and was able to help others. The younger brother reincarnated as a beggar and had nothing. He constantly needed the help of others and depended on charity. Their reincarnated lives were the result of their choices and the true reflection of their state of mind.

Having a Heart of Selflessness

If we put our hearts into helping others, Master will give us the ability and provide us the condition to do so, and many of the old forces' arrangements can be negated.

Our capabilities are arranged and given by Master according to our wish to save sentient beings. Many elderly uneducated practitioners have learned cutting edge computer skills to make Falun Dafa truth-clarification materials. This is because they have the heart of saving sentient beings and are willing to shoulder the responsibility of helping others. Master will give us a glorious future based on what we put into today. Nevertheless, what we've done cannot even match what Master will be giving us.

So why can some practitioners quickly negate the old forces' arrangements while others are unable to break through tribulations for a long time? I think that how we position ourselves is an important factor.

Understanding That Saving Sentient Beings Is Our Responsibility

When faced with tribulations, a practitioner who takes saving sentient beings as his responsibility will think of them after looking inward. Once this practitioner recognizes his responsibility, the bad elements might disintegrate instantly. On the other hand, if a practitioner constantly thinks of needing help from others, then he could get trapped in the tribulation arranged by the old forces. Tribulations will come to him because he is the one who made the choice.

I know of many practitioners who have encountered tribulations. They were able to let go of the self, cooperate with practitioners, help other practitioners who were in trouble, and save sentient beings. As a result, their tribulations vanished very quickly.

I read a Minghui article about a practitioner who was facing a life and death situation. She didn't think of herself, but instead thought of the many people with predestined relationships who hadn't been saved. She had a simple thought and that was to negate the old forces' arrangements. Therefore, Master let her primordial spirit return to her body, and she passed the test of life and death.

I learned from Master's lectures that it is not easy to become a Fa-rectification period Dafa disciple. Every practitioner has the responsibility of saving countless sentient beings. And there are numerous lives that are waiting to be saved. We must honor our vows. I believe that every Fa-rectification period Dafa disciple is here to help others.

The reason why some practitioners may be unable to sense their responsibility to save sentient beings is likely because they have not been able to break through their tribulations, are unable get out of a depressive state of mind, or they have not positioned themselves correctly.

I suggest that practitioners who are in that situation send forth righteous thoughts to eliminate the bad elements that are interfering with our efforts to validate the Fa and to save sentient beings. It is also important that we get rid of thoughts of dependency, expectation, low self-esteem, dejection, frustration, hopelessness and other negative attitudes, so that we can extricate ourselves from the “quagmire of depression,” let go of the self, and do the three things well.