Cultivating in a Family Environment

(Minghui.org) My daughter said she felt sleepy when we studied the Fa together one afternoon. I thought, “How can you possibly be sleepy again when you got up at noon?” She made mistakes while reading the Fa, used the restroom, drank some water, and even dozed off. I was tempted to blame her, but my second thought was that I shouldn’t be carried away by what she did.

After we finished our study, I couldn’t help criticizing her. She wasn’t receptive. I thought my words were meant to help her improve. Although I briefly thought it was a trial for me too, I didn’t take the opportunity to cultivate myself.

Recounting the incident, I wondered if I had some attachments. I found my sentiment and attachment to personal interests when looking within. I thought my daughter should find a job to support herself instead of spending my money, and she should be more thoughtful of me. My selfishness has made me think of my personal interests, my money, my time, my life, and my routines. Everything was mine. I would be happy only when she did things according to my wishes. When she didn’t, I showed a fighting mentality and tried to make her obey me. I tried to arrange her life based on my habits, preferences, and notions under the name of “for her benefit.” Looking further within, I also found my craftiness. To avoid offending her, I didn’t tell her what I thought directly. I didn’t want to change myself, but I required my daughter to make changes.

I don’t want these attachments. They certainly aren’t part of my genuine self. The old forces must have interfered to prevent us from forming one body. I denied it in the past. How could I forget about it this time? I have to eliminate the interference.

Master has told us,

“The enlightenment that we actually refer to is a matter of whether in the course of cultivation one can enlighten to and accept the Fa taught by the master or the Tao taught by the Taoist master, whether one can treat oneself as a cultivator upon encountering tribulations, and whether one can adhere to the Fa while cultivating.” (Lecture Nine, Zhuan Falun)

My issue has to do with my faith in Master and the Fa. When I discussed this issue with a fellow practitioner one day, she asked me, “When you have to choose one between two cups of water, which one do you choose?” I was confused at that time. Now, it dawned on me that whichever I choose would be a good one as long as I believe in Master and the Fa, because it’s arranged by Master. Master is the only one who can make the arrangement for me.

I asked myself if I believed it was Master’s arrangement, and whether I could behave according to the Fa. I shouldn’t measure things to my preferences, but should strive to do things according to the Fa, and apply my faith in the process of doing things. Whenever I run into problems, I should and must treat them with compassion. All the things I run into are good for me. I don’t need to be attached to them, and should let them go instead.

As stated in an experience-sharing article by a fellow practitioner, we are walking on paths leading to the divine. We should treasure every step of our journey, eliminate any demon nature, and cultivate Buddha nature. It’s a process of cultivating great compassion.