(Minghui.org) I live with Ms. Ren, who, like me, is a Falun Dafa practitioner. She is 86.
Two years ago, her son died and Ms. Ren was looking for a place where she could live with other practitioners. Since I was living alone, local practitioners suggested I ask Ms. Ren to live with me. I agreed and felt that this was arranged by Master Li Hongzhi to help me cultivate unselfishness and consideration for others.
After Ms. Ren came to live with me, I discovered that she did not understand several cultivation principles. For example, she believed that the elderly were prone to osteoporosis, so she went to the hospital regularly for calcium infusions.
Ms. Ren’s daughter-in-law had told her, “You can study Falun Dafa and practice the exercises, but when you are 'ill,' you must go to the hospital. You might die if you are sick and do not go to the hospital.” Ms. Ren listened, nodded, and did what her daughter-in-law said.
I was shocked by this! Ms. Ren was still not clear on the basic principles of Falun Dafa. I reminded her that symptoms of sickness in Dafa cultivation are related to issues of karma, attachments, and interference. When we have human concepts that do not conform to the Fa, the old forces seize upon them. If practitioners can look within themselves and discover problems, and then make corrections, the so-called “sickness” will soon disappear.
I shared with Ms. Ren that one time I had symptoms of a cold and severe coughing, which was caused by my own mistakes. While I was in English class, several students near me had colds. Since they were sitting close by, I thought I would be infected as well. This fear resulted in symptoms of a cold and cough, until I realized that this concept did not conform to the Fa principles. The symptoms then completely disappeared.
I told Ms. Ren that her idea of “going to the hospital when sick” was a human concept. I asked her, “Can a doctor cure the 'illness' of a practitioner? In Falun Dafa cultivation we remain healthy by following the Fa principles. Do you still need calcium?” Master said:
“The sickness karma that appears in your body manifests as a test. Of course it appears to be sickness karma, as it definitely won't have the appearance of a god getting ill. So you should handle it with righteous thoughts. You are a cultivator, so it is definitely not in fact sickness. But it won't come across that simple.” (Teaching the Fa in the City of Los Angeles)
Master also said:
“...when you're changing your own most surface bodies there is a portion that you need to endure yourselves. But relatively speaking it isn't much, and it won't have too much of an impact on validating the Fa. When big hardships come along, that has to be the evil interfering, and you have to send righteous thoughts to eliminate it! Today what Dafa disciples are doing are things that validate the Fa, and they're the most sacred and most magnificent things. If you're doing Dafa things and something happens during a critical time for saving sentient beings, then it must be interference. You need to evaluate it rationally.” (“Teaching and Explaining the Fa at the Metropolitan New York Fa Conference,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. III)
In repeated exchanges with Ms. Ren on the issue of ailments, my understanding has become clearer and clearer. Dafa disciples will have tests in all aspects in their cultivation., physical and mental. Every test is about whether we are using human concepts or righteous thoughts. Every test is about the degree of our faith. Every test is about thinking like a human or like a god. If you think you are experiencing “illness,” that is a human concept. If you think it is karma, that is Fa-based thought. If you think it is interference, that is righteous thought.
After living with Ms. Ren for a while, we became close and talked more directly. Sometimes, thought Ms. Ren was very aggressive. When she needed my help, she ordered me around, and that made me want to avoid talking with her at times. I surmised that this was caused by the arguing she'd witnessed when she lived with her son and daughter-in-law. There was no peace in that family, and little kindness was displayed. I realized that, as a practitioner, I should be tolerant of Ms. Ren and not argue with her.
But once, when she was aggressive towards me, I didn't hold back. She was very rude when she spoke to me. I felt that I couldn't spoil her and should point out her bad behavior. A few days later, I was still thinking about our confrontation and it bothered me. I recognized elements of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) ideology in Ms. Ren. Then I looked inward and saw that I was also very stubborn and had strong attachments. She was actually helping me to remove the toxic elements of the CCP still present in me! Aggression, insults, and fighting are CCP ideas. The CCP instilled the philosophy of “struggle” into the Chinese people a long time ago. The notion that “the weak are the prey of the strong” has led to much suffering for them.
Master warned his disciples:
“So, regardless of the setting or circumstances in which you run into problems, you must maintain a compassionate and merciful heart in handling everything. If you cannot love your enemy, then you cannot reach Consummation. (Applause) Then why is it that when an ordinary person angers you, you cannot forgive him?! And instead you argue and fight with him like an everyday person? Doesn’t this also hold true among practitioners?” (Teaching the Fa at the Fa Conference in Australia)
“Compassion is an enormous energy, the energy of righteous gods. The more compassion that is present, the greater this energy becomes, and it can disintegrate anything that is bad. ”(“Fa Teaching at the 2009 Washington DC International Fa Conference,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. IX)
I had not truly grasped these things that Master Li said. I had not really treated other practitioners with compassion. I had already formed a pre-conception about Ms. Ren and felt that she was an ordinary person who did Dafa work. She did not seem to improve in her understandings of the Fa, and thus her tribulations seemed to never end.
Whether my view about her is accurate or not, as a Dafa disciple, I can't treat another practitioner based on preconceptions. Master has arranged for us to live together, so there must be things that I need to improve. I should not disappoint Master. Now is not the time for me to make accusations, but rather, it is the time for me to have the compassion to help Ms. Ren improve and not lag behind in cultivation.
After changing my thoughts, the tone of my voice softened and I tried to be congenial with everyone I met. When I didn’t look at people’s shortcomings, I found that each of them had a good side, a kind side, and sometimes they actually seemed kinder than me. I felt ashamed. When I correct my thoughts about others, I feel my heart become more pure and compassionate.
Now when I meet people, I am not judgmental. I always take the initiative to greet them and speak to them kindly. I find that everything around me has become easier, and I seem to be in harmony with everyone.
I also sincerely and kindly pointed out the elements of CCP culture in Ms. Ren’s speech. She gradually realized the bad habits she had developed and tried to remove them. We often think about each other first and take care of one another in our daily lives. Together, we cultivate diligently and steadfastly.
Category: Improving Oneself
