Looking Inward Helped Me Become a Better Coordinator

(Minghui.org) I began practicing Falun Dafa in 1999. The local Falun Dafa coordinator was persecuted and subjected to interference, so although I’d only practiced for a short time, I became the coordinator. As a coordinator, I look within when conflicts arise. I focus on practitioners’ strengths and I only see the good points of those whom others criticize. As practitioners, we must be strict with ourselves and hold ourselves to high standards. We should keep improving our cultivation levels in order to reach Dafa’s standards so we can ascend to higher realms.

In my role of coordinator, I have many opportunities to improve my xinxing in this environment where the persecution is taking place. Most of the issues I run into are practitioners who are illegally arrested and need to be rescued, and some have illness symptoms. Others are trying to overcome xinxing tests, and some have issues with technology and need help in that area. At times, I am under a lot of pressure due to the persecution, and it can take a lot of time and effort to deal with all the issues that arise.

Practitioners occasionally criticize me and say I’m not following the Fa (teachings). I’ve been accused of embezzling funds (used to make truth-clarification materials), and so on. It’s hard to describe the hardship and bitterness that coordinators have to endure. I keep referencing the Fa to reflect on myself and get rid of deep-rooted resentment or feelings of indignation. I realize that these attachments stem from jealousy, fear of losing face, the desire to compete, or thinking what I do is right yet my efforts aren’t acknowledged. I now realize that all these notions are manifestations of my attachment to self. There’s also human sentiment among practitioners that is hard to detect—I have to learn to abandon these emotions and not be caught up in them.

There are times when I failed to conduct myself as a practitioner—I did not look inward and change my human way of thinking that was formed deep within my bones over thousands of years. I felt regretful afterward. In fact, every conflict is an opportunity to improve. If I seize the opportunity and handle everything well, I reach the standard the Fa requires of me at this level, and my cultivation path will become wider.

The old forces made intricate arrangements for every Falun Dafa practitioner during Fa-rectification cultivation. The paths they arranged are damaging and are “tests” of whether practitioners can reach their (the old forces’) standard. Sand is mixed with gold, and the gold will shine after it’s refined. Therefore, every conflict we encounter is an opportunity for us to progress in cultivation.

An Ancient Story

I’d like to tell you about a story from the Song Dynasty. Renowned scholar Su Shi (also known as Su Dongpo) enjoyed studying Buddhism and often discussed it with a monk named Foyin. Su felt that Foyin had abandoned various desires and cultivated well, so he wrote the following poem:

“Kneeling down on the ground I worship the divine,with compassion radiating everywhere like sunshine;Not moved by any eight temptations,I sit still on the golden lotus pedestal.”

Pleased by his own achievements, Su sent a young attendant to deliver the poem to Foyin, who lived across the river. After reading the poem, Foyin wrote one word on the paper and had the attendant deliver it to Su. Su excitedly unfolded the paper and saw one word: “Garbage!”

Furious, Su immediately took a boat and crossed the river to reason with Foyin. When he arrived, he found that the door of the temple where Foyin lived was closed and there were a few words on the door:

“Not moved by any eight temptations,I am crossing the river to find out what garbage means.”

As soon as he read these words, Su immediately realized he was far from meeting Buddhism’s criteria of forsaking the eight temptations, namely: praise, blame, defamation, commendation, gain, loss, suffering, and pleasure. In fact, he could not tolerate even a small test of defamation (criticism).

This anecdote gave me a lot of inspiration. Whenever I find it hard to overcome a tribulation, the first thing I look for is whether my heart is moved. If it is, it means my cultivation is not solid. Even if my suggestion would be effective in saving sentient beings, but others don’t adopt it, I should not be moved. If I can remain calm, it shows I’m solidly cultivating.

Positive Attitude

As long as I focus on safeguarding the Fa, as long as it is for the benefit of saving people, regardless of how practitioners treat me, I’m now able to stay calm and I ignore their shortcomings. When practitioners don’t understand what I’m doing, or say bad things behind my back, I try to find ways to communicate with them. I cannot fall into the trap set by the old forces and allow gaps to exist between practitioners. These misunderstandings usually vanish when we discuss our cultivation insights and when I’m tolerant. When I see practitioners doing the wrong thing, I talk to them kindly. If they refuse to listen, I’m not attached, because we cannot expect everything to go according to how we think.

The key to transcending conflicts is to see through the old forces’ arrangements. The old forces’ elements are at play in the other party’s shortcoming. Once I see through this, I’m not moved by practitioners’ faults.

As a coordinator, it is more important to be patient, tolerant, and to be able to accept different suggestions before deciding on the right solution; then working together. What’s even more important is to pay attention to eliminating human attachments, and change our various notions. Only then are we able to keep improving and do well in coordinating, and help the group improve as one body.

I’ve practiced Falun Dafa for 27 years. I am grateful to Master for his compassionate protection! I also want to thank practitioners who supported me in my role as coordinator and cooperated anonymously! Let us cultivate diligently, fulfill our vows, and help Master save more sentient beings.

These are my personal understandings. Please kindly point out anything inappropriate.