Failed Attempts to Advise My Mother Led Me to Look Inside, Helping Us Both Improve

(Minghui.org) I went to visit my 80-year-old mother at her home after the Chinese New Year holiday. During this period, I kept picking on her and pointing out all her faults, saying that she was wrong about this or that. We seemed to be merely involved in discussion, but in reality, we were engaged in blaming and finding fault with each other.

For example, my mother made mistakes when reading the Fa, omitting words, or adding words. She would fall asleep with her palms upside down while sending righteous thoughts, and she did not do the Falun Dafa exercises properly. She would fall asleep while practicing the sitting meditation, and have a hunched back. I read relevant articles from the Minghui website and reprimanded my mother about her behavior in an accusatory tone. At first, she would often respond to me: “Okay, I know, I understand.” She just tried to appease me. I became anxious, and seeing that she didn’t change, I was even more annoyed and found even more things to pick at her about. She also often urged me stop nagging her, and just leave and go home.

In late February, my company notified me to return to work on March 1st. I happily told everyone that I was going back to work, and let my mother know that she could continue to practice at home by herself. But when the day came, the company called to say that things had changed, and that I would not start work for the time being. I decided to go back to my own home anyway, because I had stayed with my mother far too long. My husband encouraged me not to rush home and just spend more time with my elderly relatives.

These changes made me realize that there must be attachments that my mother and I needed to eliminate. I calmed down and looked inward. Initially I only found that I had a desire to show off, and looked down on others. I thought it was all her problem, that she was wrong, and I was helping her.

I happened to read an article about elderly practitioners on the Minghui website. I discussed it with my mother, and she seemed to realize some of her attachments, but she did not make any changes from within. The next day, while we were studying the Fa together, I suddenly realized my unkindness. After we finished studying, I took the initiative to communicate with her, and told her the Fa principles I had realized, the first being that I was not compassionate, and I was criticizing and lecturing her. Second, that I developed resentment toward her when I saw that she did not do well. Third, I often wanted to prove that what I said was right, and I had a fighting mentality and a desire to show off. Fourth, I could not let go of my sentimentality for her, and I was worried that she would not cultivate well which might increase her tribulations.

Seeing me sincerely looking for my own problems, my mother also looked inward to find her attachments. She found that she was distracted when reading the Fa, had a weak main consciousness, and did not practice the exercises well enough. She also realized that she feared suffering, often became jealous, and wanted to hear only good things about herself from others. Showing off, such as liking to talk about how she cultivated in the past and what she experienced, was also a problem.

In the following days, my mother and I kept carefully examining ourselves. We encouraged and reminded each other, dug deep into our attachments, and made great breakthroughs as we constantly looked inward. We could see the bright spots in each other and felt the changes and improvements. We realized the Fa principle that Master gave us:

“...looking within is a magical tool.” (“Fa Teaching Given at the 2009 Washington, D.C. International Fa Conference” in Collected Teachings Given Around the World Volume IX)

We were immersed in the wonderful happiness brought about by Dafa.

The day finally arrived when my company notified me to return to work. It was simply amazing! It was as if I had just taken an exam and handed in the paper, then received an admission notice. Cultivating in Falun Dafa is so wonderful.

Master is always watching over his disciples. We are the happiest people in the world because we are fortunate to cultivate Dafa. Only by practicing diligently can we be worthy of Master’s compassion and reach consummation one day! Thank you, Master!