(Minghui.org) There is an ancient Chinese story about a deity qualification exam. A scholar named Wu Xin had prepared new clothes to attend the exam. On his way to the test site, a lady poured a pot of dirty water on him. Wu did not complain or hold any resentment, and he instead looked inward. He wondered why he had met with such an incident and whether he had an attachment to new clothes or to showing off.
He returned home and changed into a set of clean clothes that he normally wore. On his way, a boy urinated on him. Wu did not complain, but looked inward again. He wondered why he had met with such an insulting incident and whether he lacked sufficient tolerance.
He returned home and changed into a set of old, tatty clothes. He thought, “I will not change my clothes if they are made dirty again, because my heart is clean though my clothes may be dirty.”
With this thought, he went to the site of the exam without further trouble. Many people had already gathered for the exam by the time he arrived. Everyone wore clean clothes. Only Wu had tatty clothes. People mocked him and said he was not respectful of the examiner. Wu was not moved and had no attachment to competition or showing off.
The examiner said, “The result of the exam is now announced. First place goes to Wu Xin.” Many people were appalled, “This man looks so unkempt. How is this possible?”
Wu's tatty clothes suddenly changed to those of a deity's floating dress. The examiner took on a deity's appearance and said, “I examined each of you on your way here today. The examination was different for each individual. But only Wu Xin responded to each test satisfactorily.
“This unkempt-looking man has truly rid himself of all attachments to showing off, a bad temper, competition, fighting, and resentment, while he possesses compassion, kindness, tolerance, peace and wisdom. He therefore receives first place.”
From this story, I thought about how we Falun Dafa practitioners treat all we experience in our cultivation. We understand the story, but the key is that whether we can continuously look inward and conduct ourselves according to Dafa. “...Accomplishing is cultivating” (“Solid Cultivation” from Hong Yin)
Genuine Falun Dafa practitioners understand the seriousness of cultivation during the last leg of the Fa-rectification. We have a sense of urgency and feel the lack of time, especially after Master's teaching at the New York Fahui in May this year. We cannot overlook our own cultivation, even if we are raising awareness about the persecution. We must set strict requirements for ourselves according to Dafa.
Master said,
“Do you realize that as long as you’re a cultivator, in any environment or under any circumstances, I will use any troubles or unpleasant things you come across—even if they involve work for Dafa, or no matter how good or sacred you think they are—to eliminate your attachments and expose your demon-nature so that it can be eliminated, for your improvement is what’s most important.
“If you are able to succeed in improving yourself this way, what you do then, with a pure heart, will be the best and most sacred.” (“Further Understanding” from Essentials for Further Advancement)
Category: Improving Oneself
