(Minghui.org) If we are to assist Master in the Fa-rectification, we must work together and cooperate with each other well.
Making 'Good Fortune' Bags to Spread the Fa
I am responsible for making all the informational literature we need to tell people about Falun Dafa. These materials are distributed by practitioners in our and two other Fa study groups. For the New Year, we also make calendars for the coming year and "good fortune" bags, which contain Chinese New Year treats, with more Dafa information. We have done this for the past three years and have received a lot of compliments on how beautiful our bags are.
I like to start these projects early because of the large volume needed every year. So in August and September, when my schedule is less hectic, I begin to print the informational materials on high quality paper. Then I give them to fellow practitioners to put the bags together.
2014: Bags Did Not Meet the Standard
Last year, after I had printed more than 2,000 copies for the coming New Year, I delivered them to a fellow practitioner's home. Then I got busy with relatives that visited me from out of town.
A week later my relatives left, and I noticed that some practitioners had taken the printed materials home to make the bags. I did not have the opportunity to show them how it should be done and I was not happy with the results. The cutting was done poorly and they did not look delicate and beautiful. I was angry.
The practitioners who had never made the bags before messed up, and I did not know if anyone would like such poor quality. I thought this was a waste of our resources. I had spent a lot of time and money on these materials and felt my hard work was not cherished. The more I looked at those bags, the angrier I got.
Friction Difficult to Resolve
I asked the other practitioner, “Why did you delegate this project without consulting me first? They did not know what they were doing and have done a poor job. I cannot use these. What a waste!”
She got angry with me! I was not expecting that. She blurted out, “Why are you so bossy? Does everything have to be done your way? We saw you were busy and just wanted to help. Go ahead and just do everything yourself, we'll stay out of your way!”
I did not know what to say. I was stunned! I did not think I did anything wrong. All I wanted is to make high quality bags so people would get a good impression of Falun Dafa. No one wants something that is not attractive.
I did not say anything, but I thought about how I had run this material production center by myself. I did not even ask for help. It was she who wanted to help, so I taught her to make the bags. But she did not show the others how to do it, and they did a poor job. Why was she angry with me?
I could not let go of my anger and was still angry when I got home. I felt that she was not helping to spread the Fa. She was not being responsible. And she would not accept my complaint. The more I thought, the angrier I got. I wanted to calm down to learn the Fa, but I could not. I sent righteous thoughts to eliminate those bad thoughts but it didn't work.
Look Within and Not Outward
What should I do? Suddenly a thought came to my mind, “Ask Master for help!” Master's teaching immediately crossed my mind:
“As a cultivatorOne always looks for one’s own faults’Tis the Way to get rid of attachments most effectivelyThere’s no way to skip ordeals, big or small[During a conflict, if you can remember:]'He’s right,And I’m wrong,'What’s to dispute?”(“Who’s Right, Who’s Wrong” in Hong Yin III)
I recited the poem out loud many times. Those bad thoughts weakened and were finally eliminated. I experienced the boundless power of Dafa and I thanked Master!
Conflict Resolved
The next day, I went to apologize, but she was not willing to accept my apology and gave me a hard time. Then Master’s teaching echoed in my mind again:
“Don’t argue when people argue with youCultivation is looking within for the causeWanting to explain just feeds the attachmentBreadth of mind, unattached, brings true insight”(“Don't Argue” in Hong Yin III)
I did not say anything and left.
While walking home, her words kept ringing in my ears. I could not believe it, and it was hard for me to accept. I asked myself, “Am I really like that? Am I bossy and always insist that things be done my way?”
At home I asked my husband if I was bossy, did I think that I was always right, did I look down on others and tend not to believe others? He answer yes to everything I asked. I could not believe it! I had no idea that I was like that.
I wanted to eliminate everything that was not in accordance with the Fa. I began to send righteous thoughts more often. I read the Fa more. Through reading the Fa and with Master’s strengthening, my righteous thought grew stronger and stronger.
At the next group Fa study, I apologized to the practitioner as soon as I saw her. She also apologized to me. The conflict between us was eliminated and we both improved in our cultivation. We then got together and worked on the bags to improve them.
It has been nearly a year since this happened, and we have continued to work well together. The calendars and good fortune bags we made were all distributed and we had very good feedback. We also made 2014 Shen Yun DVDs together. Our cooperation improved and got better and better.
With Master's help, we have worked together on the path of assisting Master in the Fa-rectification. We have made all kinds of materials that explain the facts about Falun Dafa and the persecution, and we have helped each other in our efforts.
Category: Improving Oneself