(Minghui.org) Greetings, esteemed Master! Greetings, fellow practitioners!
When I was told recently that a Minghui Conference would be held this year, and that it would take place in the next four weeks, my first thought was that I wanted to contribute, even though I didn’t know how to start. That was the positive part, but I also had some negative thoughts. For example, my hesitation and complaints surfaced, including wondering how fellow team members would react if they knew the time to prepare was so short, and other thoughts. I suddenly remembered Master’s words:
“When you go home and write a few words—no matter how your handwriting is—it carries gong!” (Lecture Six, Zhuan Falun)
In that instant I had another thought, that I should calmly sit down and start writing, not be attached to the result, do my best, and just sincerely look inward and reflect.
I began practicing Falun Dafa in 2000, and joined our local Minghui team around 2003 as a translator. When I joined this project I did not understand Minghui’s sacred mission. I happily participated and did not think much about why I was doing it. I just felt that translating Minghui articles purified my thoughts, and gave me peace of mind. In the process I learned how to look within.
Over time I understood that the Minghui website helps clarify the truth and stop the persecution, and in the process we save people. The Minghui website is the main platform for practitioners inside and outside of China to share their cultivation experiences, just as Master said, “...Compare in studying, compare in cultivating,...” (“Solid Cultivation,” Hong Yin). The information in the articles can also encourage practitioners to pass tests, break through interference, and be more diligent.
Master said,
“Especially when Dafa disciples are in the most difficult situations and need to hear a voice, (Master is visibly moved) there is this Minghui website—please think about it, everyone: What a remarkable thing! You must cherish it!” (“Teaching the Fa in Washington D.C. in 2018,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. XV)
I suddenly realized how honored I was to be part of this project, no matter how small my contribution. This is an extraordinary, compassionate cultivation opportunity that Master has bestowed upon disciples.
Because the aims are immense and noble, through studying the Fa I have come to deeply understand the importance of cultivating myself well in order to be able to carry out the sacred mission of saving sentient beings through Minghui.
I was gradually given more responsibilities. I started as a translator, then became an editor, and then the local team’s window to Minghui International in 2010. I then became the local coordinator, and afterwards replaced the coordinator who resigned.
On the surface, there were many circumstances that naturally led me to take up these responsibilities, such as the unwillingness of other team members, lack of resources, and pressure from team members. After I was given greater responsibilities, the process was not always smooth. Sometimes I was reluctant, and even rejected it or transferred the responsibility to others. After a while, however, it came back to me. I then realized that being given greater responsibilities didn’t mean I was more capable than other team members, it was my own prehistoric vow!
My enlightenment quality was poor before I began practicing Falun Dafa. Even after I practiced for years, my ego was still dominant. Master wants to guide us disciples to quickly move forward, while we felt comfortable walking at a slow pace.
In short, my selfishness was a huge obstacle that I faced in taking on the coordination responsibility, and it was an attachment that I had to eliminate. This selfish heart was the root that drove me to seek comfort. After working diligently for some time, my complacency reappeared. I didn’t want to suffer. Instead I wanted to be comfortable. I forgot that there was not much time or opportunities left to save people and improve my xinxing.
Master said,
“So here are my main hopes, in closing: that you will really become a practitioner and do spiritual practice in earnest; that both veterans of the practice and those new to it will one day be spiritually perfected through Dafa; and that from today forth you will really make the most of your time to practice.” (The Ninth Talk, Zhuan Falun)
I realized that I should not be complacent, and not slack off amid the temptations of ordinary human society. Assimilating to Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and returning home with Master is Master’s hope and our hope.
Those of us attending this Fa conference are all in the same project, Minghui. We are fulfilling our predestined relationships and the mission that Master bestowed on us. This collective project can only be successful if every practitioner involved does their part well and doesn’t slack off. Master’s words reminded me that I haven’t fulfilled the requirements to the best of my ability, and I still had a big ego.
After recognizing and starting to eliminate this attachment, I found my capacity expanded by itself. This was directly related to how many layers upon layers of my attachments I eliminated. Expanding my capacity is important in order to be able to assume greater responsibilities. I should become more tolerant, and be able to listen to criticism, suggestions, and different opinions from both team members and fellow practitioners outside the team.
In fact, I found that many suggestions for improvement came from team members, not from me as the coordinator. One recent example is the improvements to the work flow of our local team. With the new workflow, we could significantly increase the number of daily articles. As the coordinator, I only need to encourage an atmosphere of openness among members, and accommodate good proposals. From time to time my attachment to being in charge surfaced. While studying the Fa or through the mouths of fellow practitioners, I was reminded again that this was not what Master wanted, and was a manifestation of my strong ego. As the coordinator I should give team members opportunities to establish their own paths. I understand that coordination is not about imposing one’s own personal understanding and will. Fellow practitioners will come to understand Minghui’s crucial roles more deeply, and they will naturally become more dedicated.
After working as a coordinator for several years, I noticed and understood that good ideas and breakthroughs emerged when we, as one body, cooperated well with each other and sincerely devoted our hearts to this project.
In recent years, under Master’s compassionate arrangement, young practitioners joined the Minghui project and played an active role in our local team. They took on many responsibilities in the translation team, social media, editorial team, and others. Other young practitioners had joined in the past, but unfortunately soon left. I felt that this was also a reflection of my shortcomings, because as a coordinator I didn’t pay much attention to their needs or situations.
When answering a disciple’s question regarding the Minghui project, Master said,
“Especially with young Dafa disciples, they are needed the most, yet they are the ones who are most likely to be restless. So it’s been very difficult. In cultivation, if you really could understand it, you would fight to get in.” (“Teaching the Fa in Washington D.C. In 2018,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. XV)
I am thankful for those who have joined and stayed in the project, because this is what Master wants. In the process I found a gap in terms of diligence between these young practitioners and myself. I saw that I had unconsciously developed the notion of “getting old” in my mind. The active involvement of these young practitioners inspired me to keep learning and improving my professional skills! I also had to rectify myself, as while assisting Master to rectify the Fa and save sentient beings, there is no notion of “getting old.”
Likewise, the Minghui Radio podcast team, most of whom are practitioners from other projects, worked diligently with the encouragement of the Minghui Radio coordinator. At this point, I also sensed that the role of these practitioners was significant. This phenomenon reminded me to be more humble, open-minded, and not think highly of myself. Master arranged for these practitioners with talents to take over more responsibilities. I understand that one of the coordinator’s roles is to consistently encourage our team to participate in Fa study and sharing. This group environment is important since we are scattered across different cities and rarely see each other in person. This is also an environment to share our cultivation experiences, and for the team’s overall coordination. For me as coordinator, it is also an opportunity to get to know each team member better, their situation, and the problems they might be facing.
I found that I lacked compassion for members who I thought were uncooperative or were not doing well, and I even had the thought of letting them go. A team member once reminded me that after all they are Dafa’s resources, thus I should not just easily give up. As long as they still want to participate in this project and have a certain level of commitment, I should be tolerant and find ways to arrange other tasks that might be more suitable for them. When I looked within, I found myself to be judgmental and arrogant.
In The Great Consummation Way of Falun Dafa, Master taught the following, during the meditation:
“...compassion should arise in the heart, and the facial expression should be peaceful.”
When I read this I immediately realized this was my shortcoming. When I recently practiced the exercises I remembered Master’s words while we meditated. I felt a warm current enveloping my body. This was Master’s encouragement, the energy of compassion that Master has instilled in disciples. I could not display it because it was blocked by my human attachments. Team members who I thought were not good enough have contributed to this project. It’s just that they are not the mainstay. But it doesn’t mean they haven’t done well in other projects. Each practitioner fulfills a different role.
I need to study the Fa well, and cultivate my xinxing when conflicts or negative thoughts surface, in order to be able to coordinate this project well. Meanwhile, fellow team members’ hard work and contributions are the key to the success of this project. Our interactions serve as a reminder and encouragement for me not to slack off during the transition toward the Fa rectifying the human world.
My level is limited, please correct me if anything is not in line with the Fa.
Thank you esteemed Master for your meticulous guidance along the way. Thank you fellow practitioners for your cooperation.
(Presented at the 2022 Multilingual Minghui Teams Experience Sharing Conference)