(Minghui.org) Teacher said,
“Cultivation depends on one’s own efforts, while the transformation of gong is done by one’s master.” (Lecture One, Zhuan Falun)
A recent incident made me understand this Fa principle more fully.
The police arrested a 65-year-old female practitioner in China, so I called the police station. The officer who answered the phone started speaking before I could say a word.
He had a clear, young voice, but what he said was vicious. He said: “You guys call every day. You are harassing people. Do you know what you are doing? You are committing treason. What contribution have you made to society? You are the scum of the earth.” He laughed into the phone as he hung up.
I didn't interrupt him because I didn't want to argue with him. I also wanted to hear what he had to say. I remained calm and did not feel that what he said made him a bad person.
After subsequent calls I felt that I needed to stop him, but should not be rough on him. Otherwise, I may impede his ability to be saved in the future. I also knew I could not sound defensive and needed to be concise because he would not give me much time to talk.
I picked up the phone and called back, but he didn't answer so I called again. He answered, saying, “I don't want to talk with you anymore.”
“It is good that you won't talk, at least you won't create more karma for yourself, and I need to talk to you to save you,” I said. I called him a few more times. During each call, he quietly listened for a short time to the facts I told him but didn't respond.
After the calls I thought, how did a person who had viciously attacked Dafa disciples become so quiet? My mind had been blank before I talked to him, but during the calls in which he listened, what I wanted to say automatically came to mind.
I recall saying: “Perhaps you feel happy when you hurt people with your jabbering and hanging up the phone. However, when the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) collapses, no one will do your prison term for you. Arresting citizens does not mean you represent the nation. You are a Chinese person, not a descendant of Marx or Lenin.”
I patiently explained that the CCP doesn't represent China and let him know the dangers he was facing. The words I said were not mine alone. I spoke with Teacher's help.
I remained calm when facing his insults and this made all the difference. My thoughts were only about him. My first thought was to interrupt him so he would do no more wrong. My second thought was to be gentle with him. My third thought was to not be on the defensive.
I recalled a phone call I once made in front of many people. I tried hard to make it a good one but failed because I was attached to fear. I feared that I might mess up and make the situation worse. I had attachments to fame and wanting to validate and protect myself. When I had attachments, my thoughts were not righteous, and the power of Dafa could not show.
Teacher said,
“Only by cultivating yourselves well will you manage to fulfill your missions as Dafa disciples.” (“A Greeting to the South America Fa Conference”, Team Yellow Translation)
I feel that recently I have been looking inward more effectively, although more effort in this regard is needed, and will improve my xinxing.
I enlightened to two points through this incident. One is to not become complacent after a phone call goes well. The other is that one needs to behave as a cultivator and continuously purify oneself.
When one has cultivated unselfish and selfless thinking, one can save sentient beings and fulfill the mission that Teacher assigned us.
