Stop Judging People Based on Their Abilities

(Minghui.org) I recently had a dream about a person who was bestowed the ability to write well. He became competent and could write about whatever he wanted, skillfully and to the point. But later, his ability was taken away by the divine and he could not write at all.

When I woke up, I felt that the person in my dream was myself. In the years after the persecution began, I often wrote sharing articles and truth-clarification articles and they were always published. Writing was not difficult for me, and sometimes, I could write several articles a day.

Later, I was arrested and jailed for several years. My cultivation state fell behind and after I was released I had difficulty writing anything, because of my poor cultivation state. 

I understand that when the divine gives one certain abilities, it corresponds to how much virtue and karma one has and what one wants to accomplish in this life. Even if the divine grants someone the ability, they still need the divine’s blessing to get things done. If one gets greedy and wants to claim credit for oneself, the result might be the opposite.

I used to judge people by how capable they were. But now I finally understand that “one’s capability” does not reflect the quality, level, or character of a person. Even with no ability, one can still be considered a good person if one abides by the universal law and is kind.

After I realized my notion, I began to rectify it in my daily life. As a teacher, I stopped treating my students differently based on whether they are smart or not, or whether they study hard or not.

For the students who do not work hard, I can sympathize that their motivation, self-control, and ability to concentrate are pre-determined. Some children's states have a lot to do with their upbringing. I should not favor “good” students and look down upon “bad” students judged by my own notions. I should encourage and respect every student I have. After I corrected myself, my once strained relationship with some “problematic” students significantly improved.

On a separate note, I also realized I was attracted to people of the opposite sex who are capable. While I have little interest in good-looking or wealthy people, being fond of someone with competency and ability is still an attachment associated with lust. I need to get rid of my attachment to ability and rectify my judgment of people based on their abilities.