(Minghui.org)
Ordinary Notions Can Bring about Trouble
Practitioner A and I are in the same Fa study group, and over the years we have distributed Falun Dafa truth clarification materials in our local area many times. We recently discussed delivering materials to villages about 30 miles away, since the people there have few opportunities to get such materials. One of her relatives, also a practitioner, told us that such materials were very scarce and precious in those villages.
That night we prepared two large bags of materials. She suddenly said, “How about going to my mother's village first?” This would mean an additional two miles, plus there are no street lights in the villages at night. I was upset and thought we should go to the closest village first. I left feeling rather resentful.
When a cultivator harbors human notions, it will cause trouble. Sure enough, as soon as we approached the village, we heard people yelling. When we turned around, we saw an insane woman in her 30s running toward us. She was spitting and scratching at us.
Practitioner A began sending forth righteous thoughts as the woman started to scratch my face. I calmed down and also began sending forth righteous thoughts. I realized that it was my human heart that had caused the trouble. I said to her, “Hurry home.” She would not listen and continued yelling. We were worried that the villagers would all show up and felt that we should not stay long since we both were carrying heavy bags of materials. I continued sending forth righteous thoughts, looked within for my shortcomings, and asked Master for help. She calmed down, turned around, and left.
We continued on but could not find the exit route. It was a dark and cold winter night, and my resentment surfaced again. I thought that, if we had stayed in the nearby village, we would not have encountered so much trouble. Because of my resentment, delivering the Falun Dafa materials did not go smoothly. Suddenly a big wolfhound rushed out, as if ready to jump on us. We both calmed down, stood still, and told it “Falun Dafa is good.” It turned around left. We thanked Master.
We continued distributing the materials. When we looked up, we saw someone standing at the end of the street. We turned around, but no matter where we went, he was standing at the end of the street.
My fellow practitioner said, “Let's stop here to see what he does.” He came around, looked at us for a while, and left. We finished distributing the rest of the materials and were ready to leave.
Suddenly my right leg began to spasm. It hurt so much that I could barely walk. After a few steps, my left leg also began to spasm. I told the fellow practitioner, “I can't walk,” and I sat down on the ground. She replied, “Let us ask Master to help us.” I said, “Master, it is all caused by my human heart. It is my fault. Forgive me.” My pain disappeared, and I was able to stand up and walk. I was in tears and kept thanking Master. The rest of the journey went smoothly.
From this encounter, I realized that every human notion is like a roadblock on our path of cultivation. Without Master's protection, it will be extremely difficult to overcome it.
Letting Go of Fear
I only clarified the facts about Falun Dafa face to face to my relatives and friends between 1999 and 2010. After I read the Minghui Weekly, I knew that fellow practitioners had already been talking about Dafa to people face to face for years. I also knew that the pace of Fa rectification was forging ahead quickly, and I was still far behind.
I had the attachment to fear. I was afraid that bad people would report me, and afraid of this and afraid of that. I was worried, but I had a hard time taking the first step. After I read Master's scripture “Let Go of Human Attachments and Save the World’s People,” I knew I had to let go of my fear.
When we were studying the Fa, Practitioner A said to me that we should go out to talk to people face to face about Falun Dafa and persuade them to quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliates. The purpose of studying the Fa is to cultivate and save sentient beings. With her encouragement and support, we went out. Initially, she did the talking and I sent forth righteous thoughts nearby.
I had a difficult time opening my mouth and was shy, afraid that others would reject me. In order to save someone, Practitioner A would walk along with him or her for a long distance, or wait for the person for a long time until he or she understood and had quit the CCP and its affiliates. Even if they refused, she did not get upset. Her sincere heart and her compassionate gaze inspired me.
With more Fa study, I realized that the source of my fear was selfishness. This is a characteristic of the old cosmos. I was therefore determined to eliminate it. Practitioner A also encouraged me by saying, “Don't be afraid. We are doing it for their sake.” Later, whenever we came across folks from my hometown, she let me talk. I gradually let go of the fear and was able to use the righteous thoughts the Fa granted me and actively talk about Dafa.
I have been practicing for 17 years and realize that there are many areas where I did not do well. I still have a human heart, but I am determined to do well, save more people, eliminate more human attachments, and return to my original home with Master.
Category: Improving Oneself
