(Clearwisdom.net) I had many thoughts after reading the article titled "Considering the Difference Between Rationality and Fear" (http://www.clearwisdom.net/html/articles/2010/9/2/119779.html). I would like to share my understanding of rationality and the attachment of fear based on my experiences and cultivation level.
To me, when you make a comparison between rationality and fear, the former is a manifestation of a god's realm, while the latter is a display of human emotion. Master said in "Teaching the Fa at the Fa Conference in Australia":
"If he is able to let go of life and death, he is a god; if he isn't able to let go of life and death, he is human. Of course, being able to let go of life and death doesn't equate to actually dying: the purpose of cultivating is to remove human attachments."
Rationality is the wisdom and compassion that is manifested after one lets go of the attachment to showing off, the attachment to self, and other post-natally acquired notions. It is an expression of clearheadedness that comes from the ability to validate the Fa in accordance with the requirements of the Fa. Master said in "For Whom do You Exist?" in Essentials for Further Advancement: "This clearheadedness is wisdom, and it is different from what average people call 'intelligence.'"
Fear is a reflection of one's selfishness. It is the mentality of protecting oneself for fear of being hurt. If one talks about being rational in order to excuse or cover up one's fear, then this so-called "rationality" becomes a non-practitioner's attention to safety and intelligence. Take myself as an example, when I am diligent in studying the Fa, I often observe myself acting rationally. On the other hand, when I slack off in studying the Fa, I am fearful when I clarify the truth to people. The two reflect totally different states of mind.
I come from a peasant family. When I clarify the truth to my classmates face to face, I have two types of notions. One type is: when I make sure that I study the Fa regularly, I have strong righteous thoughts and am compassionate. I will feel extremely anxious for those sentient beings who are deluded and do not know the truth about Dafa. When Master brings a predestined person to me, I can feel that he or she is the person I have to save. I then think of ways to create an opportunity to clarify the truth to him or her. My actions stem from the basis of saving people, and my actions are in the interest of others. I don't even think about my personal safety. Instead, I ask Master for help with righteous thoughts. The old forces cannot interfere with what I am doing because it is such a righteous act. During such times, I can claim to be rational and that I am validating the Fa as a Dafa disciple should. Furthermore, it is more effective when I clarify the truth under such circumstances.
The second type of notion is seen when I do not study the Fa regularly. My righteous thoughts are then weak, and I will have many stray thoughts, as well as fear. Consequently, I often clarify the truth to people selectively and I choose to clarify the truth to those who are close to me, reliable, or honest. Yet for those whom I am not well acquainted with, who don't look like good people, who are relatively selfish, or who are officials, I am reluctant to approach them to tell them the facts about Dafa. I will come up with the excuse that I should pay attention to safety and shouldn't let the evil persecute me for telling this person the facts. Then I am not able to take part in other activities that validate the Fa. At this time, it is the fear in me that makes me want to protect myself. It is a selfish, human thought and comes from the attachment to self. It is not compassion. Instead of worrying about whether this being can be saved or not, I am afraid of being hurt. Worse still, I become paranoid, thinking that there are enemies hiding everywhere. On the contrary, some practitioners act selflessly in the face of persecution and clarify the truth calmly to the police officers. They regard every sentient being as someone to be saved. Their every thought is in the interest of others. Compared to them, I feel truly ashamed.
Master said:
"As you know, a Buddha or a God can give up his life for living beings and for the interest of the universe; they can give up anything, and even remain unmoved by it. So if you were taken up to their position, could you be like that? You couldn't. Of course, I would say that Buddhas and Daos won't really encounter things like that, but that is their realm of mind. A person must truly change himself before that realm can be reached." ("Teaching the Fa at the Western US Fa Conference")
As veteran practitioners holding the most honorable title in the universe - Dafa disciple, we should attain this realm. Otherwise how can we repay Master's compassionate salvation? Fear is a manifestation of human sentiments, and the most deadly obstacle in a practitioner's transformation from being human to being divine. Only when we pay attention to Fa study and sending righteous thoughts can we remove this attachment to fear; then we can reach the state required by Master in "Non Omission in Buddha Nature" (Essentials for Further Advancement): "righteous Enlightenment of selflessness and altruism."
