(Clearwisdom.net) I have noticed that whenever I feel uneasy or angry because of another practitioner's behavior, it has always made me want to argue immediately, and the results often were not good. At that moment, it is the result of my attachments emerging.
In "Lecture to Australia Practitioners", Master suggests that we calm down first and look inward before we propose our own ideas. I realized that only by looking inward can we compassionately understand the other party. After we understand the other party, our words will be closer to the truth, our opinions will show more tolerance, and the other party will be more willing to listen.
I thought of my daughter. Once, she did not do so well, so I scolded her. I said really bad words to her. Later, after I calmed down and looked inward, I found that I hadn't been totally truthful. I came to realize that if we do things without compassion or tolerance, what we say is no longer truthful. Although on the surface, it may sounds true, in fact it is not. If I judged her based on the results shown, it was unfair to her. Shouldn't I, as her mother, be responsible for this kind of behavior? Shouldn't I understand that I need to treasure her and be responsible for her life?
After thinking this way, my forbearance increased, and I was able to tolerate her shortcomings. They were built up due to many reasons: some were because of her, and some not. No matter what the cause, I still needed to have tolerance with her. If it's her fault, she accumulates karma, so she already has her punishment. If it's not, I should help her through it with tolerance.
We should treat fellow practitioners the same way and increase our forbearance when dealing with coordinators. When I went to Manhattan, New York to clarify the truth, for the first time I coordinated a group. It was a torture exhibit site. The role didn't last long, but to my surprise, I actually generated the attachment of placing myself higher than other practitioners during that short period of time. So I could understand how some long-term coordinators develop this problem. They volunteer to do a lot of things and put in a lot of effort. I should be thankful to them. However, some coordinators do so much work that they have no time to study the Fa and cultivate themselves. Moreover, some practitioners blindly admire the coordinators. When this happens, they listen to too much praise and gradually begin to place themselves above other practitioners. They start to think what they have enlightened to is better and they stop being able to listen to different opinions or words they don't like.
We need to be tolerant and look at things from other people's perspective. We should let them feel our sincerity, and exchange ideas based on the Fa. Then the results will speak for themselves.
This is my own understanding, please point out any shortcomings.
Category: Improving Oneself
