(Clearwisdom.net) For over a week now, I haven't been able to achieve tranquility in the standing exercises or in sitting meditation because I've heard too much negative information about fellow practitioners. While performing the exercises, the negative thoughts kept popping up. Therefore, I'd like to share my understanding in this regard.
Sharing among practitioners has greatly contributed to our holistic improvement. While sharing, we see the merits and advantages of other practitioners, and also realize where we fall short; thus, we improve ourselves. What's more, sharing also makes practitioners see each others' attachments, so they may kindly remind and help each other based on the Fa, especially when a practitioner is experiencing a tribulation, or doesn't know what to do in some critical situation. Due to the rapid pace of Fa-rectification, the evil beings have diminished, and the cultivation environment has become more and more relaxed; practitioners share more frequently and widely. However, some negative sharing has done harm to our holistic improvement.
For instance, some practitioners like to talk about the shortcomings of other practitioners, and mention how something that other practitioners did hadn't conformed to the Fa, or they talk about the problems that a coordinator has or the conflicts among the coordinators. They love to say that this practitioner is irrational, that practitioner is not dependable; this one has the attachment of showing off, that one has the mentality of doing things, and so on.
This kind of sharing has instilled negative information into the listeners' minds. It has not only prevented holistic improvement, but also poisoned other practitioners' minds and interrupted their cultivation. At the same time, they have provided energy to the evil forces.
In actuality, this does not mean that you are supposed to completely shut out the negative aspects--the important point is your aim or purpose. Are you talking about it for the purpose of solving the problem, or looking for excuses for your own attachments and strengthening your human notions; for satisfying your attachment of showing off, envy, and elation; or for covering up your fearful mentality and seeking comfort?
Not sharing of the negative aspects of practitioners does not mean that you should not remind others of irrational thinking, and of things that don't comply with safe, common sense. Regardless of the environment, our sharing should be constructive, positive and make us more rational, sensible and sober-minded. Only in this way, can practitioners improve more rapidly and cooperate better with each other, helping us to save more sentient beings and fulfill our prehistoric vows.
