My Understanding of Mi Xin

(Clearwisdom) Yesterday at group study we read the passage on "What is Mi Xin?" from Essentials for Further Advancement, and later had a discussion on this topic. In my understanding, mi xin as it exists in the CCP culture carries a negative connotation, meaning "superstition" or "blind faith." However, Master also explained in that passage:

"Once people zealously believe in something - including the truth - it becomes mi xin; it doesn't denote any derogatory meaning." (Essentials for Further Advancement)

As I understand, every dimension has its laws. As one rises higher in level, the laws of lower realms don't apply and cannot work. Human beings have mi xin, just as they have qing, and without it human society could not exist. Children have faith in their parents, students have faith in teachers, and soldiers have faith in discipline. But ultimately, at a higher level, mi xin is an attachment: it is a "blind faith," not a faith which stems from knowing, from understanding, from seeing. It is more instinctive, emotional, and zealous. Mi xin is also a type of notion. But mi xin is necessary and a law at the human dimension. The CCP twisted its meaning and applied a derogatory connotation to the word.

How should I, a Dafa disciple look at mi xin? Do I have mi xin? I looked inward and saw that when I cling to my notions and beliefs, thinking them to be part of me, or any other attachments for that matter, this is also mi xin. There are many attachments that I believe to be part of me, because I grew to associate them with myself. Whenever there is a discussion between practitioners, if I cling to my understanding of a certain matter, regardless of whether it is correct or not, at that particular level, the very clinging to my beliefs (that they are right and correct) is mi xin. There is an old saying: "When one of the parties knows the truth, an argument can't take place." When practitioners argue, it is because both parties can't see clearly. If at least one could see clearly, there would not be an argument.

Then what is the difference between mi xin (blind faith) and righteous faith? In my understanding, righteous faith comes from a kind of deep knowing inside your heart. It does not have a fanatical or emotional or zealous aspect to it; rather, it is a kind of knowing. Master taught us that first we must believe, and then comes the experience. This kind of belief is different from mi xin. Mi xin is irrational and does not stem from awareness; faith is rational and stems from awareness. I find that the more truthful with myself I become, the easier it gets to see the truth of things.

I sometimes see practitioners talk about Dafa and Master and their faith in Master in an overzealous way. As I see it, this too is mi xin. Practitioners who truly have faith in Master usually don't talk in loud words about it. Sometimes practitioners talk with ordinary people of other faiths in a way that elevates Dafa and puts down other people's beliefs. We all know that Dafa is the Great Law, but ordinary people can't understand that and when we talk about it in an overzealous way, this is also a manifestation of mi xin. Anything we do or say, if it is does not come from a calm and rational perspective, is bound to come from mi xin. As it seems to me, mi xin at a low level is a law of the human dimension, and it can manifest in various ways, but at a higher level, it is compassion. The difference between everyday people and practitioners is that practitioners act out of awareness, not because they have blind faith that something is good, but because they can actually see that Truth-Compassion-Forbearance is good.

A practitioner mentioned to me a few days ago that I talk as if "I know it all." After reflecting on his words, I saw that this is a type of mi xin in me, a blind faith in my notions and thinking that they are correct, when, in fact, I don't know anything.

Please point out anything incorrect.