(Minghui.org) During recent truth clarification phone calls, I have truly realized the importance of having compassion.
A ferocious policeman threatened to find out who I was. I felt intimidated because I have been persecuted for telling people the facts about Falun Gong. I was haunted by my fears. I knew I should offer salvation to people, but I was afraid. Master enlightened me that I had been too selfish, because the persecutors themselves were in great danger. They used to be kind people who came for the Fa. But I had ignored their life and death plight.
My mind became clear. I went out to make phone calls the next day. I treated every person who answered my calls equally and sincerely sought to awaken them from the bottom of my heart. Tears came to my eyes. I didn't care about the number of people who quit the communist organizations through me. All I cared about was their safety. I could sense that many of them said “thank you” from the bottom of their hearts. One lady said, “Sister, you are so compassionate!”
I tried several phone numbers another day, but the people who answered either refused to listen or were too busy. I felt disappointed. I knew I lacked compassion, and begged Master to bless me with more compassion. I tried again in the evening. I sent forth righteous thought as I dialed each number. A strong sense of safeguarding the cosmos arose in my mind. I absolutely wouldn't allow the evil to destroy people's lives. For about an hour almost everyone I talked to decided to quit the communist organizations. They happily thanked me!
How can we gain great compassion? I learned from the Fa that compassion arises as we eliminate attachments to fame, personal gain and sentiment.
Master has told us,
“Compassion emerges after that portion of emotion is eliminated.” (Teaching the Fa at the Assistants’ Fa Conference in Changchun)
“Ci bei describes the state of a godly feeling being displayed, a feeling that transcends human beings.” (“Teaching the Fa at the 2004 Western U.S. Fa Conference,” from Teaching the Fa at the Conference V)
“Compassion... Compassion... It's not a human emotion.” (Fa-Lecture During the 2003 Lantern Festival at the U.S. West Fa Conference)
“He hasn’t gotten rid of his attachments to reputation and personal gain one bit, and no compassion is about to come out.” (“The Second Talk” from Zhuan Falun)
“The mind empties and kind thoughts arise” (“Entering a Sacred State of Mind” from Hong Yin III)
How can we effectively eliminate attachments to reputation and personal gain? I think the best way is to continuously study the Fa well.
I was washing clothes once and put some clean clothes on top of the washing machine. The vibration of the washing machine made the clean clothes fall into dirty water. I had to wash them again. This minor incident reminded me of my cultivation. Life after life, we have built up karma in this world full of temptations. We have been surrounded by polluting factors at every moment. Master's Fa is the only way we can be cleaned. Cultivation is like washing clothes. We have to cultivate ourselves again and again because we are polluted over and over again. That's why we have to continuously study the Fa and purify ourselves.
With a pure mind and a strong wish to offer salvation, Master will be able to help us accomplish it.
The above is my limited understanding. Please feel free to point out anything inappropriate.
