(Minghui.org) My friend Ms. Chen told me last month that the computer I gave to practitioner Ms. Wang was tossed into the sea by Ms. Wang's husband. I did not know what to say.
Although I was able to remain unmoved when I face many situations, I was shaken up this time because a piece of equipment used to make Dafa materials was thrown away. After I looked inward, I understood that I shared some responsibility for this incident.
Free Handouts Not Truly Appreciated
My family was not affluent. After my husband and I lost our jobs, we accepted part-time work, because we had to pay our mortgage and our child’s college tuition. However, I never forgot that I am a practitioner, and thought that I did well in my cultivation.
Since I began to cultivate, I always helped fellow practitioners when they needed money or equipment. Sometimes I lived frugally so that I could help, and everyone thought that I was affluent.
I often handed out computers to fellow practitioners and just bought another one when I had money.
At the end of last year, my sister had an extra DVD burner, and my husband had an extra computer. I gave them to a practitioner who needed the equipment. Although she wanted to pay me for it, I refused to accept money.
When I found that some practitioners' financial situations were much better than mine, yet they were unwilling to buy equipment, I thought that their cultivation had not reached the required level.
Some practitioners, because they got their computer for free, changed computers as if this was fashionable and gave the older computer to their relatives. I did not give this much thought. I thought that I cultivated well and could let go of attachments!
However, looking at it from another angle, if Ms. Wang had paid money for the computer, would her husband have thrown it into the sea? Would those who obtain the equipment for free cherish the equipment as I do? Would they toss the equipment away as soon as it had a problem?
Paying Attention to Cultivation
When I heard that the computer was tossed into the water, I thought of my cultivation state and felt ashamed. Did I truly cultivate myself? Did I remember what Master said about money? Would it be possible for every family to spend a little money to provide materials for themselves and some other practitioners?
Was I the type of person who changes what Master wants? I did not follow what Master asked of practitioners, so how could I still think that I believe in Master and the Fa? When I recalled my financial situation of the past years, which had not been easy, did this happen because I did not truly follow Master’s teaching and failed to let go of my human thinking and attachments?
The equipment tossed into water reminded me that I should pay attention to my cultivation.
After I looked deep inside, I found that I did not study the Fa well and had cultivated myself only superficially. I did not truly change myself.
Following the Fa Instead of Ordinary People's Principles
I was born into a family who believed in cultivation for generations. My parents were brought up with the Four Books (The Great Learning, The Doctrine of the Mean, The Confucian Analects, and The Works of Mencius) and the Five Classics (The Book of Songs, The Book of History, The Book of Changes, The Book of Rites and The Spring and Autumn Annals). I was told from very young that human beings should do cultivation. My family paid a lot of attention to morality and virtue.
My family environment helped me preserve traditional culture well, maintained my kindness, and helped me take up Dafa cultivation. However, these advantages also presented some difficulties in my cultivation.
I assumed that all practitioners were good, and I idealized them. I felt shocked when some practitioners did not conduct themselves as I expected. I did not truly understand the cultivation paths that Master had arranged for us.
With my childhood education rooted in my mind, when I faced cultivation issues, I looked at them with principles for good people instead of the Fa.
Dafa Practitioners Must Follow the Fa
Nothing can replace the Fa. We must follow the Fa in our every thought and deed. A practitioner must place the Fa before anything else and validate the Fa.
Practitioners must base all their thoughts and actions on the Fa principles, not on the principles for good people. Moreover, one must let go of the notions accrued from one's past education.
Cultivation is serious. That is what I learned when the computer was thrown into the sea.
The principles for good people do not always conform to the Fa. That was the reason why I stumbled in my cultivation, but fortunately, I realized this today. Dafa encompasses all things, from the utmost minuscule to the vastest of the vast.
I thank Master from the depths of my heart for the opportunity to improve myself.
Category: Improving Oneself
