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Support Divine Performing Arts Performances With a Pure Mind

December 21, 2007 |   By a Falun Gong practitioner in Liaoning Province, China

(Clearwisdom.net) A few days ago, I read reports on the Internet that gave me the impression that tickets for the Divine Performing Arts weren't selling very well. I decided that it must be evil beings from other dimensions interfering with the sales, so I started to send forth righteous thoughts to eliminate and disintegrate the interfering evil beings. I also knew that a giant battle between good and evil had been taking place in other dimensions long before the performances of the Divine Performing Arts began.

But why would the evil beings dare to interfere with the performances directed and guided by Teacher himself? Could there be any attachments or human notions from us that led to the evil beings' interferences? I began to search inward and examine my attitude towards the Divine Performing Arts and its performances.

I didn't know I had so many attachments before I searched within. But when I actually started to look from within, I was shocked to find these attachments. Since its debut in 2006, Divine Performing Arts has been presenting the most wonderful programs around the world featuring traditional Chinese culture and the values of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. I didn't realize that I had developed so many attachments towards this group. I will name a few here.

Obsession:

I have developed admiration towards the cast and staff of the show and developed an obsession for all the programs. Often, I would watch the show before I went to bed.

Zealotry:

I am filled with excitement when I read reports complimenting the group.

Arrogance and the Mentality of Showing Off:

I have developed arrogance because of the glory that the group has created and began to look down upon everyday people's art performances. This cannot be a good mentality. I have forgotten that the performances of the group are designed to save sentient beings with compassion and guide them towards the righteous path. I should not have looked down on sentient beings for their lack of righteousness and level at this present stage.

Vanity and Rejection of Negative Comments:

I fully expected that the 2007 performances would be even better and create a bigger impact than last year. When I heard any negative or lukewarm responses towards the group, I felt offended. Even though I hid my emotions, I resented those who did not like the performances.

Lack of Composure:

It mattered a great deal to me when I heard that the tickets weren't selling well. However, the first thing that came to my mind was not a concern for the sentient beings that might miss their opportunity to obtain Teacher's salvation, but rather concern for the group's reputation. I also worried that the wicked CCP might create propaganda based on the ticket sales and the potential damage this propaganda might have on the group.

Looking at these attachments, I would never have been able to identify them, had I not searched inward. I thought I had been thinking only about the one-body of practitioners. I thought I had been supporting the group's performances with nothing but righteous thoughts. Before I knew it, I had already developed so many human notions and selfishness. I wasn't supporting the group's performances with a pure mind. If we are not thinking of saving sentient beings with compassion and if we are prioritizing our fame, reputation and glory ahead of that, then we truly have become a common performance group.

The thought of compassion and salvation reminded me of a scene in FGM TV's Chinese documentary "Let's Tell the Future." When Teacher was going to Sweden for the first time to impart the Fa, the hosting Swedish practitioner was very worried about the attendance rate. Yet Teacher told her not to worry and asked her to go to sleep. Teacher promised that he would impart the Fa even if only one student showed up.

All of a sudden my worries vanished completely. I realized that the group's effort would not be in vain even if only one person came to the show. After all, that one person would obtain a wonderful future. Naturally, the performance would not attract only one or two individuals. As long as we have done our best, we needn't worry about everyday people's compliments or criticisms because we think only about compassion and salvation. Take the Bodhisattva in the "Red-Eyed Stone Lion," one of the programs in 2006, as an example. She was at peace when she was bullied by thugs when she was disguised as a beggar. She was at peace as well when she was worshiped after she revealed her identity. This is because she knew who she was and what her mission was. There is nothing but compassion in the mind of a Bodhisattva.

Now let's go back to the issue of ticket sales. There may be people that haven't heard about Divine Performing Arts and people who have not purchased tickets, but they are still our audience. On the giant stage of the human realm during the Fa-rectification of the entire cosmos, every sentient being is our audience. All the sentient beings are standing under the stage eagerly anticipating everything Teacher is about to give them. They have been waiting for a long time.

I hope that all fellow practitioners inside and outside of China will send forth powerful righteous thoughts with a pure mind, before and during the performances to support the group's salvation of sentient beings!