Truly Understanding Forbearance

(Minghui.org) I was severely criticized by another practitioner in our small Fa study group. The practitioner's anger did not affect me. I just sat there without thinking any bad thoughts. Afterwards, every cell in my body felt free and joyful. This experience gave me a new understanding of “forbearance.”

In the past, I thought that “forbearance” meant restraint and endurance when I was wronged, hurt, or treated unfairly. In other words, “forbearance” meant enduring tribulations that were brought upon me by other people. The problem seemed to be caused by others.

After that incident, I suddenly realized that “forbearance with grievances” is precisely the reflection of my attachment to being irritated, although I tried to deal with it rationally. In other words, when I needed to endure something uncomfortable, my human attachment was at work. After this incident, I realized that the root cause of the problem was myself.

Master Li Hongzhi 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)

I learned that when I endure during conflicts, I should remind myself to “give up” my attachments and notions. If I don’t follow through to remove them, my forbearance is a superficial gesture, and my attachments will act up later.

The irritation we feel while enduring conflicts and removing attachments is the process of improving our cultivation. We should not get caught up in specific incidents, or just look at the surface to evaluate good versus bad or right versus wrong. 

We should believe that everything happening around us is arranged by Master to help us improve. We should pay attention and seize the opportunity to uplift ourselves. As we gradually return to our true selves, we can achieve forbearance and remove attachments peacefully in our minds.

Master also said, 

“…cultivation principles are the opposite of those of human beings.” (Teachings at the 2005 Conference in San Francisco)

I believe that human notions are dictated by one’s ingrained ideas. After memorizing a section of the Fa, I fundamentally removed a lot of deeply embedded human notions. 

The power and wisdom of Dafa helped resolve my confusion, so I could truly remain calm when facing that practitioner's criticism. 

Editor’s note: Views expressed in this article represent the author’s own opinions, for which the author is solely responsible. Readers should evaluate the article’s merits on their own.