(Minghui.org) No matter how many times I read the following sentences, I didn’t really understand what Master meant. I was tolerant and made sacrifices, but I didn't see how they were related.
Master said,
“There is sacrifice in forbearance. Being able to make sacrifices is the result of improving in one’s cultivation.” (“Non-Omission,” Essentials for Further Advancement)
When I read this today, I suddenly realized why I couldn’t let go of the feeling of being wronged, even when I was able to forbear. It’s because I couldn’t really eliminate my attachment to my ego.
Abandoning human attachments means eliminating all attachments and desires. If one no longer has the attachments to protecting ego, benefits, saving face or emotion, one will naturally be able to sacrifice.
Setting Aside Human Logic
Master said,
“If you do not change the human logic that you, as an ordinary human, have formed deep in your bones over thousands of years, you will be unable to break away from this superficial human shell and reach Consummation.” (“Cautionary Advice,” Essentials for Further Advancement)
I always thought I could get over certain things. However, when those things truly happened to me, even though I looked calm on the surface, my heart was uneasy and I thought it was unfair.
I asked myself, “Why is my heart not at peace? What bothers me? Is it money? Jealousy?” I realized that that I was using human logic to look at situations to measure who was right or wrong, thinking to myself, “he shouldn’t do this” and “she shouldn’t do that.”
After reading Master’s words with my heart, I realized that I hadn’t let go of thinking with human logic.
Going Through Tests
Master’s words have helped me go through many tests. For example, my sister-in law came to our city for business and stayed with us. My husband was very happy to see her. He went to the market and bought a lot of food. He kept saying his sister loved to eat this and that, and he cooked all kinds of dishes for her.
I thought to myself that he normally never went grocery shopping or cooked. When he said what his sister liked to eat, I asked, “What do I like to eat?” He couldn’t answer. We had been married for almost 30 years.
I remembered Master’s teaching and realized that my jealousy and emotion were surfacing. I was reacting using human thinking. So I smiled and made a joke to change the topic.
We bought a house in the northern part of the city for my father-in law. My sister-in law then moved in. One day, my husband phoned and said, “I won’t come home for dinner tonight. My sister is making dumplings and she asked me to go and eat.” I said angrily, “What good dumplings can she make?” I saw my attachment of jealousy flaring up again before I finished speaking. I immediately changed my tone and said, “Thanks for letting me know.”
It actually worked out well, as I had more time to study the Fa and do the exercises. Before his sister came, I often wished he would visit his father. However, when I heard that his sister had invited him over, my human sentimentality, jealousy and dislike towards his sister came out. I told myself, “These are all human things. I don’t want them.”
Before my sister-in law came, nothing like this happened. Master used every situation to help me identify my attachments and get rid of them.
Master said,
“You can only reach Consummation after you have abandoned all of your attachments and none of them remain.” (“Cultivation Practice is Not Political,” Essentials for Further Advancement)
I put 100 yuan on a gift card from a store. The store owner changed, but the new owner told me that I could still use the gift card. However, when I went there yesterday and tried to use it, she refused to accept it. I didn’t argue with her and paid for my purchase. With Dafa's principles in my heart, my complaint went away, and I felt peaceful. I feel so fortunate to obtain Dafa.
Thanks you, Master, for using even small things to help me see my shortcomings, wrong notions, and attachments so that I can get rid of them.
Category: Improving Oneself
