Let Go of Self and Treat Hardship as Joy

(Minghui.org)  “The Dimwitted Monk,” a story in the 2019 Shen Yun program, is about a kind and foolish junior monk who does everything and without complaint. He was often laughed at by other monks. In the end, the monks discovered that this junior monk was Buddha’s favorite.

When I joined our media team, my task was writing. I worked hard in eliminating the influence of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) indoctrination of me, which then allowed me to perform my tasks better.

One day, the personnel manager told me that he would like me to take care of logistic duties in the office. I thought, “I am a cultivator, and I should not only consider what I want to do. I should accept whatever position is given to me.” So I accepted.

Some people said that doing such menial tasks was a waste of my time and talent. However, I felt that this had nothing to do with my talent. Rather, I felt this was about my cultivation. Some of my attachments may need this new experience.

At the time, another member of our media team asked me to join them. I felt that I should stay since my current team needed someone to perform the logistic tasks I was assigned to. It was a necessary part of the operation. I believed that I should do it and do it well.

As soon as I started my new position, a manager told me that the cleaning lady would be on leave for three weeks, and I needed to take on her duties while she was out of the office. Frankly, I was not prepared for this. Yet, I did as was required. I came to the office early in the morning to vacuum all three floors, take out the trash, and clean the restrooms. In order to not disturb others’ work, I finished all the main cleaning work before normal office hours began.

My human notions would occasionally surface. Whenever this happened, Master’s words would come into my head, and I would be at peace. 

Master said:

“Did you know that in order to save you the Buddha once begged for food among everyday people? Today, I once again make the door wide open, and teach this Dafa to save you. I have never felt bitter for the numerous hardships I have suffered. Then what do you have that still can’t be abandoned? Can you bring to heaven the things deep down inside that you cannot let go of? ” (“True Cultivation”, Essentials for Further Advancement)

Miraculously, when I did the cleaning duty for the first time, every cell in my body seemed to be jumping and glowing. Two days later, I saw with my celestial eye that a shell wrapped around my body cracked open from the top of my head. When it was shed off, a finer-grained body rose up.

Once this three-week period had finished, we started remodeling and cleaning an old dorm building. This was a bit more intense, and furthermore, it was during some of New York’s hottest months. Every day, from morning to evening, we were busy demolishing the old structure, cleaning a large amount of birds’ droppings, or painting new walls. Sometimes, meals were delayed and I was hungry and dizzy. Yet I had no complaint. All I wanted was to finish things well and fast.

While cleaning birds’ droppings, the smell was disgusting and suffocating. I thought to myself, There is a shield around me protecting me from the bad smell. Instantly, I felt the unpleasant smell subsiding.

After the dorm renovation was completed, I lost some weight and my human attachment to personal gains and losses was reduced in turn.

A lot of the logistic duties were moving, purchasing, and assembling furniture for offices and dorms. Sometimes, a toilet would become stuck or a sink would leak. I always felt that I must fix them as soon as possible. Sometimes, I was called for another job while already attending to a task. Other times, I was busy while others went off to work. Nevertheless, I never felt bad for myself. All I wanted was to perform my duties well.

Some practitioners were amazed: “You always look happy and in high spirits!” Once, a practitioner asked me, “What did you feel when you were cleaning and saw other practitioners reading the Dafa book or doing the exercises?”

“Wonderful!” I smiled. “Isn’t it wonderful for practitioners to have a good working environment, where they can have more time to study the Fa and do the exercises? I can find time to do these at home after work.”

Master said:

“In fact, other than a person’s innate purity and innocence, all notions are acquired postnatally and are not a person’s actual self.” (“For Whom do You Exist?”, Essentials for Further Advancement)

I shall keep a pure heart and not look at things with human notions. My thoughts are often very simple. Occasionally, I catch some thoughts which are not aligned with the Fa. I usually immediately know that these thoughts are not from my true self and should be eliminated. Most of the time as I meditate, I reach a total trance as soon as I sit down. There is nothing around me, just as Master has described: “... leaving only one’s own mind, a little thought that one is practicing here. ” (Lecture Eight, Zhuan Falun)

Despite logistic duties keeping me busy, whenever I sit down for a break, I often use the time to write a piece of news or a truth-telling article. Over time, I have noticeably felt the influence of the indoctrination by the CCP in me becoming weaker and weaker. As a result, I write quicker and better.

In cultivation, yes, I’d love to be like a “dimwitted” junior monk, be “foolish,” and be more “foolish,” all the way until I reach the level of a divine being.