(Minghui.org) I have been practicing Falun Dafa for three years. I always believed that I was a good person, because people often told me how kind I was. Yet after practicing Dafa, I realized that I had not met the requirements of Dafa in regards to being a good person.
My husband and I went to a popular attraction site this past weekend. The parking spaces were so tight that it took us 30 minutes to park the car. When we were ready to leave, my husband had a difficult time getting out of the parking space.
I don’t know how to drive, so I helplessly sat in the driver seat. After a long time of unsuccessfully trying to get out of the parking space, someone suddenly yelled at me, “You need to get out of the car and help him! Why you are just sitting there?”
Although I was reluctant to do so, I got out of the car to help my husband, and we were finally able to pull out.
My husband later talked to me about the incident. I said, “I didn’t mean to not help you, but I don’t know how to drive or how to give directions.” He said, “I would be grateful if you could help me. If you can take initiative when I need help, it would make me feel better no matter if you are able to help or not.”
I tensed up and said, “The fact is that I can’t do it. If I told you the wrong direction, the car would get scratched. Then, you would blame me!"
He responded, “If that was the case, I would not blame you because you were willing to help me.”
I suddenly realized that Master Li (the founder of Falun Dafa) was hinting to me to improve through this incident.
Master said,
“In offering salvation to people, there is no condition or consideration for cost, reward, or fame. They are thus far nobler than the heroes of everyday people. They do it completely out of their benevolent compassion.” (Lecture Two, Zhuan Falun)
In the past, although I said that I was willing to help others, I hoped that they wouldn’t interfere with my schedule. For an example, I would go out with someone, but I had to leave at a certain time. I needed to go back home to study the Fa and do my other things. I only helped others with conditions. The truth was that I only cared about showing off how I was a good person and to fulfill my own wishes.
Furthermore, when I was not good at something, I would not do it if I knew someone else would. I realized that this notion that I was a good person became a major obstacle in my cultivation and improvement.
Master said,
“Once an attachment develops, you will become anxious if you cannot cure an illness. In order to save one’s reputation, what’s on one’s mind while treating illness? ‘Please let me have this illness so that the patient can be healed.’ That is not out of compassion, as one’s attachments to fame and self-interest have not been given up at all. This person is unable to develop this compassion one bit.” (Lecture Two, Zhuan Falun)
I also have a better understanding of what Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is. I was arrogant before I became a practitioner. Now, I strive to be a truly good person that meets the requirements of Dafa.
Category: Improving Oneself
