(Minghui.org) The first time I read Master’s recently published article, “Wake Up,” I felt Master emphasized “compassion” and “kindness.” After I read it a few more times, I was deeply touched and shocked. I felt that Master was warning me personally.
I have practiced Falun Dafa for nearly 30 years, but am I able to regard anyone and everyone with compassion, and have love for all people? When I reflected on myself, I felt ashamed.
A few days ago, I went to a fellow practitioner’s home to give him a copy of Master’s new article. However, his family, who does not practice Dafa, refused to let me in. I kindly asked them, but they still would not let me see the practitioner. I left, feeling angry. I delivered a copy of the article to another practitioner and complained about the incident.
On my way back home I was still angry, but suddenly I realized I was wrong and wondered why I got so angry. Is this how a Falun Dafa practitioner should behave? Why was I angry with the practitioner’s family? They’re just ordinary people. If I’m angry with them, that makes me an ordinary person as well. With this change of thought, my anger left and I felt light-hearted.
The incident still surfaced in my mind from time to time, leaving me feeling uneasy. I knew I needed to dig deeper and take a serious look at myself.
Identifying My Ego
Master told us in “Wake Up” to “regard anyone and everyone with compassion, to have love for all people.” I realized that I was far behind Master’s requirements, and I still had so many selfish attachments I hadn’t let go of. Master always taught us to base what we say and do for the benefit of others, but I often do things on the basis of “me.”
For example, when the practitioner’s family members refused to let me in their house, I felt angry because they made my trip in vain and wasted my time. I also was disappointed that I was unable to give a copy of Master's new article to the practitioner. I kept thinking about how this affected “me.” My ego was hurt and I felt unbalanced.
It was no small thing that I got so angry, as it revealed many of my human attachments, such as jealousy, resentment, a competitive mentality, arrogance, reluctance to bear trouble and hardship. All of these were based on my selfish ego. No wonder I felt so uneasy. Master was giving me a hint, and I must take a deeper look inward. I suddenly felt clear-headed. Thank you Master!
I realized that my “ego” was the culprit that I needed to eliminate it. I failed to follow Master’s teaching that we must “regard anyone and everyone with compassion, and have love for all people.” I was being selective based on my “ego”. I could be kind and have love only when my “ego” was intact. My “ego” was like a wall, blocking me from developing compassion and kindness. I acted completely like an ordinary person. With this realization, I was surprised and woke up from my muddle-headedness. I felt deeply grateful once more to Master for waking me up from this incident!
I also realized another attachment I had—I didn’t like to be criticized. As soon as someone disagreed with me, I interrupted them and explained myself. Even if I kept quiet, I was uncomfortable inside. Relevant attachments also include showing-off, face-saving, and stubbornness.
“Ego” is based on selfishness, a character of the old universe. We are Dafa practitioners, and Master wants us to reach godhood through cultivation. Only by fundamentally changing our human notions, breaking through this human shell, and letting go of selfishness can we walk out of the shell of human notions and move forward on the cultivation path to become truly selfless.
Master’s new article helped me realize my deeply rooted attachments. I’m determined to quickly eliminate them. I will remember Master’s teachings and cultivate my xinxing solidly in Dafa in the precious time remaining.
Please kindly point out anything improper in my sharing.
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