(Clearwisdom.net) I am almost 80 years old. I am so old that I didn't know anything about computers. However, because I believe in Teacher and the Fa, with the active and patient help of fellow practitioners, it only took a few days for me to become a blossoming flower among the widely spreading truth clarification material production sites. Accessing the Internet, downloading information, and printing Teacher's articles, "Minghui Weekly," flyers and pamphlets, I am so glad that I can now do all these independently. I certainly understand that: "Cultivation is up to you, gong is up to the master." All these were possible due to the wisdom provided by Dafa and with the help of Teacher.
The establishment of a family material site made me step into a new world. I deeply realized that making truth-clarification material is not only about doing Dafa work, but it is also a true cultivation process, and it is a great environment to validate Dafa, save sentient beings, rectify ourselves, and act with righteous thoughts. Now I would like to share my experiences with you all. Please point out anything improper.
1. Getting rid of the attachment of fear while making truth-clarification materials
When I first touched the computer and printer, I felt they were very mysterious. I was nervous and lacked confidence when making materials. I had to operate it as I read the notes for fear that I would make a mistake. The result was that whatever I feared would happen did happen: the computer made mistakes frequently, "the server cannot be found," "the webpage cannot be displayed," "no response," and other, similar dialog boxes always appeared. The printer paper feed repeatedly had problems, and there were paper jams, lines missing, displacement, etc. It was messed up and I did not know how to deal with it. I had to stop. I was very sorry for the loss caused by the printing problem. Just as I was trying to to calm down, I suddenly thought of what Teacher said:
"What's important for cultivators is righteous thoughts. When you have strong righteous thoughts, you are able to withstand anything and do anything. That's because you are a cultivator: someone who is on a divine path and who is not controlled by the factors of ordinary people or low-level principles." ("Teaching the Fa in the City of Los Angeles")
Teacher's words suddenly woke me up, and I realized that I did not have strong enough righteous thoughts. I paid too much attention to the computer and printing techniques. I was restricted by human notions and attachments, thus I had fear about this and that. "Fear" is an attachment, therefore it came. After understanding the Fa principle, I became calm. After reciting Lunyu several times, I sent forth righteous thoughts and continued to make truth-clarification materials. It went very smoothly and I did not have any problems.
2. Let go of the attachment to doing work while making materials
Teacher pointed out clearly in "Teaching the Fa at the 2002 Fa Conference in Philadelphia, U.S.A.:"
"As I've said, everything that happens today in the ordinary society is the result of Dafa disciples' thoughts."
The Fa Teacher taught in this paragraph improved my understanding during the process of making materials.
I remembered one time after dinner, I was anxious to make truth-clarification materials and I did not want to do anything else. I subconsciously had a feeling of pressure and I intended to finish the work as soon as possible so that I could relax. When my wife said, "Please boil a pot of water. We are out of boiled water and we may need some for later use," I retorted without thinking, "It's already late and I want to do something serious!" After saying that, I went to make materials. Just as I turned on the printer, the printer had repeated problems, like paper mis-feed, pages missing, and displacement. The more anxious I was the more problems I had, and I could not go on with my work. Then I suddenly realized that this was caused by the human notions of quick success, over-anxiousness for quick results, and attachment to doing work. Making truth-clarification materials is to clarify the truth to sentient beings and validate Falun Dafa. With the attachment to doing work, how can one save sentient beings? To purify myself, I started to recite the "Fa" and Lunyu several times. I sent forth righteous thoughts to clear all evil beings in other dimensions and factors that damaged Dafa and reinforced the computer and printer to work properly to help Falun Dafa practitioners make materials. When I restarted it again, everything was back to normal--just like the world had changed. I was also calm and relaxed.
3. Eliminating the attachment of not being able to take criticism when making materials
One time when I was concentrating on making truth-clarification materials in the evening, my wife suddenly walked up to me and said: "How much do you still have unfinished? Take a look at the clock. Hurry up. Why don't you do it tomorrow if you cannot finish?" For no reason I was angry at these words. I thought: "I know what to do and don't need your advice." I said to her impatiently: "Leave me alone!" Then the printer suddenly "changed" and repeatedly had the problems of paper misfeed, pages missing, and displacement. It was out of control and I had to turn it off. I thought: "Why did you speak to me? You made me unable to finish the materials. I will have to explain to you tomorrow that you should not say anything like this in the future." The more I thought the angrier I got, and I believed that my wife had interfered and made me unable to finish the materials. I thought again: "It was me who made the materials; it had nothing to do with my wife. Isn't this searching outward? I should look inward."
I started to reflect on myself. Isn't this a problem of being self-righteous, not taking criticism and getting upset as soon as others criticize? My temper disappeared and I readjusted my mental state. I meditated and recited the Fa. After reciting Lunyu, I sent forth righteous thoughts and asked Teacher to reinforce me. When I began to make the materials again, it was more effective and smooth and I finished easily.
From the above examples I have understood that whatever Dafa practitioners do, there is a factor of cultivation in it. Making truth-clarification materials is the same, and with a cultivator's mentality and pure heart, one can do better and better. The process of making truth-clarification materials is the process of cultivating, improving, and elevating ourselves. Under many circumstances, when we make materials, the computer and printer are just like a mirror: when we look at it we see ourselves.
January 25, 2007
