Respecting and Accepting Others - Reflections on How to Clarify the Facts By a Dafa Practitioner
(Clearwisdom.net) While participating in forums or chat rooms, I have encountered people that
were abusive right from the start and others who had some knowledge of Buddhism.
From my personal observations, such behaviors were often due to mixed-up
concepts about theism and atheism that had caused people to have confused and
unclear trains of thoughts. My understanding was that it was best not to respond to or to look for
loopholes in what was said; but to first listen and observe so I could join them
no matter whether they were willing to chat or were being abusive. This way, I
may find a way to greet them sincerely, or say some jovial things with good
intentions, or to express sincere appreciation from a different angle and so on.
From there, it becomes possible to gradually steer the topic of conversation and
influence their trains of thought. To lead is not to dictate the topic of the conversation or to coerce the
opposite party into agreeing with me; but as a Dafa practitioner to keenly and
compassionately value the individual and show understanding towards their
ignorance of the truth, and thus gradually empower their inherent natures and
intellects. In the process, we, as Dafa practitioners, must consider whether our
every thought is verifying the Fa and ensuring that saving sentient beings is of
utmost importance, as our words and actions are being verified. In the process,
the other parties will be positively affected when they experience the
compassion and tranquility of a practitioner. This is far more effective than
any arguments could be. We must cultivate seriously and observe our attachments instead of blindly
criticizing, correcting, and hoping that our conversation will make the opposite
party agree with us. Taking it a step further, if we think that the opposite
party cannot be saved or salvaged, and we downplay our efforts, feel distressed,
scathingly attack, or cease to make a statement, it will only intensify the
conflict, and we have the most to lose. As we are Teacher's Dafa disciples during the Fa-rectification period, we
have the ability to eliminate evil beings. We even have compassion that can melt
steel and iron. If we assume correct positions within Dafa, and conform to the
different levels in our words and actions that Dafa requires of us, then Dafa
will bestow capabilities on us. The people we clarify the truth to are also
lives cherished by Teacher. Their future and positions will also be decided by
the principles of Dafa. Dafa practitioners can only utilize words and actions that conform to Dafa to
eliminate the evil behind others and to inspire their righteous thoughts. To be
able to make ordinary people agree with the Fa will not occur just by using our
human knowledge and understanding. This will only happen when the evil stops
controlling people and when they yearn for the Fa. At this juncture, if we have
the slightest inclination to argue, assess relative superiority and inferiority,
occupy a commanding position, or criticize and rebuke, we will force others away
from our intention of sincerely letting them know the facts, which would bring a
great loss to them and ourselves. My understanding is to be moderate and know our positions in the Fa and only
then can we begin to respect and accept the various types of ordinary people
with their numerous ideologies as we meet and convey the facts to them. Only
then can there be an atmosphere of harmony and compassion that brings good
results. These are the solid foundations of learning the Fa, as well as strictly
conforming to the standards of Teacher and the Fa by continuously correcting
ourselves in our every word and deed. Only then can we gradually do better. These are my personal understandings. Fellow practitioners please point out
any errors. Posting date: 10/29/2003 |