(Minghui.org) I recently read an article on Minghui.org, “The Desire to Change Others Instead of Oneself,” and would like to talk about how to eliminate the negative opinions and thoughts between practitioners.
Why do negative opinions form among groups of practitioners? Based on my own limited understanding: One reason is that everyone, after going through multiple reincarnations have formed karmic relationships over time; the second reason is that fellow practitioners are also cultivators, thus they also have attachments that haven't yet been eliminated. So, our attachments surface.
When conflicts occur and we begin having negative thoughts how should we handle them?
Based on my own understanding, we should first see if we have the same attachment that the practitioner is displaying. Master said in, “A Dialogue with Time”:
“Divine Being: These problems have already become very serious. It would be good if they could manage to search within themselves for the things that they have been able to find in others.
Master: It’s time for them to become clearheaded so that their environment can turn into one for true cultivation practice, and thus they will be able to become real gods. ” (“A Dialogue with Time,” Essentials for Further Advancement)
We always feel that we're correct. So, when we examine ourselves for our own shortcomings it may not be easy to identify them. Conversely, it's easy to see another practitioner's shortcomings. If we're able to examine ourselves to see if we have the same issue, it'll be easier see our attachment and we can improve our cultivation state.
We should eliminate the habit of complaining, inciting discord or talking about others behind their backs. If we notice something inappropriate we should kindly point it out, in private.
Why do we continue complaining when we feel that others don't agree with us or they're not aligned with the Fa? I feel it's because of our selfish attachment to protecting ourselves.
Identifying the Source
It's easy to point out others' mistakes. But that person may not accept what we say and may even hate us for it. Resentment and complaints against each other can expand over time and we may feel the need to vent. We may even air our complaints to other practitioners behind that person's back. Although we feel that this is just exchanging cultivation experiences, but what we're talking about is the other person's shortcomings. Some of our “understandings” may be illusions caused by thought karma. The more we talk, the more agitated we become. This is how negative thoughts spread.
I've experienced similar conflicts with fellow practitioners. I later realized that this negative thinking did not originate from my mind. These thoughts were formed over time by negative opinions which turned into thought karma. The old forces used this to cause conflicts. If I let my thoughts follow this negative thinking it could cause greater divisions among practitioners.
Only through studying the Fa more and breaking through this negative thinking was I able to eliminate this thought karma. In order to break the vicious cycle I firmly resolved not to spread, speak about or listen to any negative news about fellow practitioners.
We know from Master's teachings that everything we encounter is a cultivation opportunity. We should cultivate ourselves during conflicts, look inward to find our own shortcomings and improve ourselves. We should not use the Fa to examine other practitioners' behavior or talk about them behind their backs, spreading gossip and negative thoughts. In this way we can change our environment: “...turn into one for true cultivation practice, and thus they will be able to become real gods. ” (“A Dialogue with Time,” Essentials for Further Advancement)
These are just my own understandings. Kindly correct me if I've said anything inappropriate.
Category: Improving Oneself
