(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners are aware that slacking off in one's cultivation is related to desiring comfort. Teacher, the founder of Falun Dafa, also equates slacking off to being a component of jealousy, which is a very serious issue for cultivators.
“Jealousy is definitely something you must get rid of. It is something formidable and can make you slack off in all aspects of your cultivation and ruin you. You mustn’t harbor jealousy!” (“Fa Teaching Given at the New York Fa Conference Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Dafa’s Spreading”)
Jealousy is caused by the feeling of being treated unfairly, which could develop into hatred, competitiveness and lead to the mindset of wanting to retaliate.
There are several reasons why practitioners slack off in their cultivation. One is that the practitioner does not adhere to the strict principles of the Fa and does not often look within. Reasons are composed of, not working diligently or concentrating on projects that can save sentient beings, and only completes a task for the sake of it being completed. When one gossips and gives others a forum, one does not take the Fa as teacher. Such a person has little righteous thoughts and does not have a strong will.
Another component of jealousy is related to the attachment of fame. Such a person gets easily irritated and sees life as being unfair, trying to figure out why someone who is gifted can become rich, while hard-working individuals seem to get no reward.
When holding such thoughts some people forget that they are practitioners, and allow their demon-nature to dominate their the minds.
There are those who understand that jealousy cannot exist in one's heart, because it would prevent the practitioner from obtaining righteous fruition, so they reject it. Yet, it is not as easy as it sounds, as jealousy has been hidden in a person's deepest recesses. Jealousy cannot be removed without diligent Fa study and the improvement of one's xinxing.
Many people today believe that money symbolizes self-worth. If one cannot look beyond this superficial view one will most likely become jealous.
A practitioner is guided by the standards set by Dafa. The more a practitioner is attached to something, the less is his or her ability to succeed in cultivation. Teacher will give us hints, but unless a practitioner can discard attachments, then the attachments will be taken advantaged of by the old forces and all of one's progress in cultivation will be in vain.
Teacher said,
“If jealousy is not abolished, everything that you have cultivated will become fragile.” (Zhuan Falun)
Jealousy does not originate from one's true self, rather it is evil elements in other dimensions at work. Their purpose is to ruin practitioners' righteous thoughts and inborn quality. Therefore, when repeatedly making mistakes, jealousy can make one lose confidence in cultivation and Teacher, which will eventually lead one astray and to ruin.
Some practitioners are arrogant and egocentric. Whether they show it or not, they think that they are kings from the heavens, and as Dafa practitioners they are extraordinary.
These type of people understand clearly that Teacher has spoken over and over again about saving sentient beings. Thus, they complete tasks assigned by coordinators and talk to people about Dafa, making themselves feel good.
When they come across practitioners that cultivate well and are able to convince many people about the goodness of Dafa, they think, “Whatever you can do, I can do too.” Their intention is not clean, because they do tasks to save face and show off. On completion of a task, they are very fatigued. They do not sense the kind of happiness experienced by practitioners who truly put others' interests before theirs.
Struggling to get things done will certainly make one become attached to the amount of time left in Fa-rectification. Once they reach the limit of endurance they will believe in rumors or begin to have a wrong understanding of the Fa, which will lead to ruin.
When it comes to my own attachments of jealousy, I often look down on others. Although I have improved quite a bit, there is still lots of room for improvement. I am tolerant and compassionate when I am in a good state, but when I'm not, I seek to blame others.
I discovered that I do not have a calm mind, so my tone and words are not peaceful. Therefore, during times of conflict, an opportunity arises for me to improve my xinxing and expand the capacity of my heart and ability to accept others for who they are.
Things can't be perfect in this world, yet practitioners who are perfectionists are attached to their own standards and like to be recognized and praised. They take a serious approach when doing things, but their yearning for fame is hidden. On the surface, they accept people's criticism, but their minds are not calm and are filled with complaints.
They talk excessively and define Dafa at will. They also spread inaccurate exercise movements and rumors, but are certain that they are in the right. They will not admit to having made any mistakes, apologize or feel remorse. They continue doing the three things daily, and can easily confuse new practitioners or those who do not study the Fa well.
In our Fa-study group, a married female practitioner is attracted to a married male practitioner. She acted how Teacher described, “While reciting the scriptures, they even cast furtive glances” (“Cultivators’ Avoidances” from Essentials for Further Advancement)
She did not change her behavior, and was arrested for talking to people about Dafa.
Some young practitioners have been persecuted and become homeless because they engage in improper male-female relationships. How can one validate the Fa when not following the Fa?
There is an elderly local practitioner who passed away unexpectedly not long ago. She was the jealous type, and her attachment of resentment and fighting stemmed from jealousy and made her hot tempered. She could not let go of it, and always complained about how she was badly treated. It was difficult to communicate with her from the Fa.
She once scolded me over a small thing. It was hard to take at first, but then I realized that her extreme actions were not something from a human, but rather, it was the evil behind her attacking me, trying to block me from helping her.
When I saw her for the very last time, her demon nature came forth again. She could not get rid of her jealousy. I helped her to send forth righteous thoughts, but in the end, she was still taken away by the old forces.
Such occurrences have happened more than once. I often wondered why jealousy is so difficult to let go of.
When I focus on Teacher's Fa there is nothing to be jealous about. An unbalanced heart is caused by human notions that tell us that we are suffering, are being taken advantage of, or lack self-esteem.
Practitioners are lives that all gods in this colossal firmament envy. The fact that we are Teacher's disciples is already the highest status one could wish for. Moreover, when we practitioners successfully complete our cultivation we will return to our true homes, so it really doesn't matter who is higher than who in the human world. Who is there to be jealous of?
Dafa offers the greatest gain and guarantee that true practitioners will be part of the new universe. Dafa practitioners have the most magnificent Teacher, the grandest Fa and the most honorable status, who would really be worthy of our jealousy? It is other lives that envy us and are jealous of us!
Teacher said,
“Everyday people tend to think of little tensions and minor problems that come up as big things, they try to prove they are right and just can’t hold back. They are capable of doing anything when they are angered to an unbearable point. Yet as a practitioner you will find the things that people take seriously to be very, very trivial—even too trivial—because your goal is extremely long-term and far-reaching. You will live as long as this universe. Then think about those things again: It doesn’t matter if you have them or not. You can put them all aside when you think from a broader perspective.” (Falun Gong)
My understanding of jealousy has enabled me to deal with different situations with a calm mind.
I did not hold any grudge against anyone when I was being persecuted, experiencing the most challenging moments, or when my parents abandoned me because they could no longer bear the pressure.
I was able to take hurtful words in a peaceful manner, look within for any further improvement and treat people with respect, because I knew that Teacher was always with me.
Fellow practitioners, embracing the key principles of Dafa and taking the right path in cultivation is the wisest thing to do. Do not do anything that you will regret one day. Treasure this predestined chance that we have been waiting for lifetime after lifetime. We need to be worthy of Teacher's trust!