(Minghui.org) In the Zen School, there is a phrase koutouchan (pinyin) or “Lip Zen,” which today is interpreted as “catch phrase” or “pet phrase.”

In the Zen School, this word refers to monks who are very eloquent in Buddhist theory, but who do not practice genuine cultivation. Here I would like to share how I identify the attachments behind our daily “pet phrases” from the perspective of Dafa cultivation.

As people vary in personality, experience, environment, notions, educational background, etc., each person might have his own specific pet phrases.

“I am so pitiable”

Take a certain older practitioner as an example. This practitioner often talked about her past, from the time of her birth up to today: how many difficulties she had experienced in childhood; how badly her parents treated her; the bad luck of marrying a bad husband; how her mother-in-law and husband took advantage of her; how badly her daughter-in-law treated her; her being jobless right now; and what a great life others are living. Her pet phrase is “I am so pitiable.”

Master said,

“How can it work if a person views high-level things with the standard of everyday people? Therefore, a lot of these cases often take place when people regard their suffering in life as being unfair. Many people drop down this way.” (from Lecture Four, Zhuan Falun)

Fellow practitioners, please reflect on it! Regarding oneself as pitiable amounts to hoping to gain others' sympathy. It's based on wishing for happiness in this earthly world. This is a manifestation of sentimentality.

As Dafa practitioners, we should view things from the righteous Fa perspective: Master chose me from billions of people, so how fortunate and honored am I! We are Dafa practitioners during the Fa-rectification period, living at the same time as Master, in the same age and in the same world, assisting Master in rectifying the Fa. This is the greatest glory. Why would we take our situation as “pitiable”?

We should instead say, “I am so honored to be a Dafa practitioner!”

“Listen to me!”

During experience sharing meetings, some practitioners often say, “Listen to me!”

This pet phrase is a manifestation of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) culture and exposes the speaker's attachment to self and, sometimes, a mentality of impatience and combativeness.

We should remain calm, peaceful, cordial and respectful while sharing our cultivation experiences with each other. We should show an outstanding demeanor as Dafa practitioners and shouldn't interrupt or force our opinions on others when they are speaking. It's helpful when it comes to saving people, too. Moreover, our behavior will affect future generations, so we should treat this matter with utter seriousness!

Use of Foul Language

I've noticed that many of our local practitioners use filthy language, especially some male practitioners. Dirty words slip out of their mouths when they encounter trouble and interference or when they get angry. Some of these words are intermixed with words of hatred and complaint. Some practitioners say that they're so accustomed to using foul language that they're not even aware of it.

This is a very bad habit. It's also a kind of CCP culture. It destroys Dafa practitioners' image and negatively impacts saving people. As Dafa practitioners, we should be strict with ourselves in the cultivation of speech and should not use bad language.

I've heard fellow practitioners use many other pet words or phrases, such as “isn't it annoying,” “good enough,” “so boring,” “tasteless,” etc.

If we look inside a bit, we can identify many attachments behind these phrases. They are all attachments that we should let go of in our cultivation.

Let us cultivate diligently and live up to Master's gracious salvation.

Heshi.