Realizing That Conflicts Are Opportunities to Cultivate

(Minghui.org) As Falun Dafa practitioners, our mission is to let people know the truth about Dafa so that they can be saved. To fulfill that goal, cooperation among practitioners is essential. Conflicts sometimes inevitably surface when we work together. Frictions expose our attachments and give us the opportunity to eliminate them.

Stop Focusing on Trifling Things

One day after group Fa study, as we were getting into my car, Ms. Yang held up a small piece of glass and asked if it came from my glasses. I said it didn’t, so she said she would ask the others about it later. After I dropped everyone off, I found the piece of glass on the floor. My initial thought was: “Why did she leave that in my car? She has a habit of leaving trash behind.” Then I thought: “I will just clean it up. I cannot let hatred take over, hatred is a human thought. I will just quietly make up for what she did not do and focus on her good points.

On Self-Interest

Ms. Yang helped me buy a laptop and said it cost 4,800 yuan. A few days later, when Mr. Wang, the practitioner who helps me with computer software, saw my laptop and said that he had just bought a better one online for 3,200 yuan. I was surprised when I heard I could have gotten a better one so much cheaper.

I was a little upset at first but I caught myself. I knew I had to look at this situation based on the Fa. Perhaps I owned the seller money in the past, and Ms. Yang gave me an opportunity to repay the debt. In the end, I only looked at it from a positive angle and did not think a practitioner had cheated me. Master watches over us so our money will not be wasted.

Cooperating Unconditionally

Ms. Yang commented to me as we were working on something together, “We should do things in this way in the future as it turned out well.” However, the next time, she seemed indifferent when I prepared to work the same way. She did it completely differently.

I was upset and wondered why she would be like that Why didn’t she keep her word? Her behavior bothered me for several days. At first, I was disgusted by her behavior, and then I started to wonder if I could ever trust her.

I later realized that she’d taken advantage of me, which meant she gave me virtue, so didn’t I gain something precious? And that meant I elevated in cultivation. Shouldn’t I thank her? I still felt unsettled. When I meditated that evening, I had a hard time calming down as my mind still kept returning to this. I tried not to focus on her failings. She genuinely wanted other practitioners to improve in the Fa, which was most precious. I need to stop focusing on her mistakes and surface behavior. As soon as I had this thought, the barrier between us disappeared.

But when I saw Ms. Yang the next day, I still hesitated to trust her, as her behavior was not aligned with the Fa. I reflected based on the Fa: “Whether she means what she says or not is not important to me, what is important is to cooperate with her no matter what. I should use this opportunity to cultivate myself and harmonize what Master wants.” Even though I felt better, I still did not completely let it go. I knew I should look at other practitioners’ weaknesses lightly. The word “lightly” was heartfelt and I was finally able to see the situation lightly. Everything that bothered me dissipated.

From studying the Fa, I also realized that the thought of looking down on other practitioners is not mine, that it comes from the old forces. As soon I was able to see it clearly, my heart was at ease. I no longer focused on Ms. Yang’s behavior, and our interactions were calm.

Since then, I’ve become more mature when I work with Ms. Yang. If she needs to improve, I help her by quietly sending forth righteous thoughts so that we can accomplish what we need to do together and save more sentient beings.

As I quietly help other practitioners do better, I am also helping myself. I believe this is how I harmonize with the Fa. Dafa harmonizes everything. Interactions among practitioners should be in harmony as well. We are a perfect, whole body working together to save sentient beings.