Cultivation at Home: Apologize First

(Minghui.org) I am extroverted and tend to speak loudly. When I talk to people, I try my best to speak calmly and softly. I get along well with my colleagues, friends and practitioners. However, I was another person at home. It was my home and it didn’t matter that I spoke loudly. I lowered the requirements for myself. I didn’t care about my husband when I spoke. I talked in a high pitched voice like I was arguing with him. Sometimes I talked to him as if I had ordered him to do something. This caused some problems. I didn’t look within when conflicts occurred and didn’t regard myself as a practitioner during those times. I didn’t want to lose face. I competed and complained. My husband said, “You never say you’re sorry.” Sometimes I knew that I was wrong, but I never said sorry. I just stayed silent when I was wrong. 

One day the tiles on the floor in our bathroom cracked. Because there was no filler under them, after stepping on them for a while they became damaged and cracked. Our house was newly built and still under warranty. My husband contacted the developer several times. They came to fix the tiles a few times, but didn’t get the work done. My husband was completely overwhelmed by this issue. Later on he negotiated with the developer and was willing to pay $1,000 for the developer to come fix it. When my husband told me about the cost, I was disgusted and said, “It is still under warranty; the developer has to fix it. Why should we pay? How come you didn’t discuss it with me?” He was annoyed and said, “Do you know how difficult it is to get hold of them? They used every excuse not to come, or came late. I had to wait for them all the time. They changed the schedule all the time. They didn’t say that they couldn’t fix it, but used every excuse to postpone it.”

I realized that I was not kind to him and didn’t look at things from his perspective. I had a strong attachment to personal interest and was selfish. Master told us to consider others first. I apologized to him and said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize that you had done so much trying to resolve this issue.” He said jokingly, “You finally said sorry.”

I can recite Master’s poem “Who’s Right Who’s Wrong” (from Hong Yin III), but when I came across problems, I didn’t put it into practice. One day when I was hand copying the Fa, I realized the inner meaning of “compassion.” The bottom part of the Chinese character for “compassion” is a “mouth.” Cultivating compassion starts with speech. I should speak kindly, peacefully, and politely to everyone, including my family members. 

As I study the Fa, memorize the Fa, and hand copy the Fa more, I realize that the purpose of Falun Dafa practitioners coming to this world is to cultivate ourselves well, save sentient beings, fulfill our prehistoric vows, and follow Master to return to our original homes. I should let go of all attachments. I remind myself that I must stay calm under all circumstances and that I must calm myself down before I do anything, as I am walking the path to divinity and I am a cultivator.

I get along well with my husband now. I talk gently and peacefully. When he cooks for me or does anything, even a trivial thing, I thank him from the bottom of my heart. Whatever happens, regardless of who is at fault, I apologize to him first and say that I will do better. 

He has been blessed by Master and Falun Dafa through reciting the two phrases, “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” One day he had excruciating pain in his stomach. On the way to the hospital, I asked him to repeat the two phrases with me. We pleaded with Master to strengthen him. It took us about 20 minutes to travel from our home to the hospital. We repeated these phrases all the way. He looked better. He said, “The pain is not as severe now. We can stay in the hospital parking lot to see if I can recover.” I was moved to tears and said loudly to him, “Master has protected you. Please thank Master!” He said, “Thank you, Master.” twice. We were in the parking lot for about 10 minutes and then went back home. My husband experienced Master’s compassion and vast power. I thanked Master for his protection and compassionate salvation. 

My husband supports my practicing Falun Dafa and doing Dafa work. During the Shen Yun promotion season, he drives me here and there so I can put up Shen Yun posters. He gives Shen Yun fliers to his colleagues and friends. He delivers The Epoch Times newspapers to supermarkets with me. He arranges dinner at a time that doesn’t clash with the time I send forth righteous thoughts. When I don’t want to get up early in the morning, he reminds me to cultivate diligently. I realize that Master uses him to remind me and I get up immediately to practice the exercises. 

We are on the last leg of the Fa-rectification. I shouldn’t hold on to any attachments. I ask myself: what would I do if it was the last day of Fa-rectification? The answer is that I would do the three things well, let go of all my attachments and human heart, help more people know the truth, cherish the time Master has extended for us, and cultivate diligently. 

Thank you, Master!Thank you, fellow practitioners!