We Cannot Make Up for Our Mistakes Only with Money

(Minghui.org) As Dafa practitioners, we should cherish every opportunity for cultivation and improvement. I often come cross practitioners in our local area, who tend to think that if they have gained extra advantage in one way or another, they can make it up by donating money for Fa-validation expenses. If the material production sites do not need their donations, they would still insist because it would make them feel better.

I have done similar things in the past. I remember once I forgot about a box of Shen Yun DVDs. It was not until the next year when I noticed the box. I realized that my negligence had caused a loss and affected our efforts in saving people, so I decided to make up for the loss with my own money.

Through Fa study, I gained some new understandings. I realized that we are Dafa practitioners and if we handle things the same way as everyday people, we would regard ourselves as ordinary people. In Dafa cultivation the most important thing is to elevate our state of realm, and the true way to make up for one’s mistake is to cultivate well and learn a lesson according to Master’s teachings.

Master teaches us:

“...what I hope is that after taking a fall, you will all learn something good from it. Don't always take away bad things from your experiences. When you learn bad things, you are in fact using human thinking to consider things, and becoming more cunning, and sly, which means you are becoming worse.”

“You need to think about things in a constructive manner, and when you stumble look for the reason as a cultivator would, asking, “Where did I go wrong?” Only by evaluating things with the Fa will you be able to learn good things from your experiences. If you can really manage to do this, things will definitely go well.” (Fa Teaching Given at the 2010 New York Fa Conference)

I realized that as cultivators, we should have high standards and strict requirements, and should pay more attention to validating the Fa and saving sentient beings. We are bound to make mistakes in our cultivation, but we cannot make up for our mistakes only with money. We need to measure our conduct against the Fa principles and let go of our attachments so that we can do better next time and improve rapidly in cultivation.

The above is only my personal understanding. Please kindly point out anything improper.