Some Understanding of Forbearance and Faith

(Minghui.org) Greetings, esteemed Master and fellow practitioners!

I am a relatively new practitioner who began to practice Falun Dafa two years ago. I would like to take this opportunity to share with fellow practitioners how I obtained the Fa

My family members practice Falun Dafa. They decided to sign me up for a nine-day Dafa seminar in Taiwan in 2005. My sister and I attended the seminar, learned the five exercises, and came into contact with Falun Dafa for the first time.

Needless to say, it was natural for my sister to begin cultivating Dafa after the nine-day seminar. However, I had accumulated many human notions and attachments during my studies. I viewed the principles of the Fa from an analytical and critical point of view, so I missed out on becoming a Dafa cultivator. .

Cultivating Forbearance

I then went abroad to study and was without my family’s cultivation environment. After missing this chance, it was 15 years before I had the next opportunity to cultivate. I lived the life of an ordinary person and pursued happiness like everyone else until I was confronted with an unsolvable interpersonal conflict at work. At the time, the methods of ordinary people could not resolve the issue. When I had reached an impasse, I got the book Zhuan Falun my family had given me from my shelf.

Master said:

“The altercations or mistreatment that you encounter as you practice might be either of two scenarios. One is that you mistreated the other person during a past life. Perhaps the situation preys on your mind, and you can’t believe someone would treat you as they are. Well, then you shouldn’t have treated them that way in the past. You might say that you didn’t know better back then and that this lifetime has nothing to do with that one. But you can’t write it off like that.” (The Fourth Talk, Zhuan Falun)

Master’s Fa told me that conflicts have reasons and are fated. Consequently, I stopped analyzing and trying to understand the reasons for the conflicts.

Master also told ushow to behave when facing conflicts:

“When we get into a disagreement we should first of all stay calm and not act like others. Of course, it’s fine to try to explain things with good intent; there’s nothing wrong with trying to clear things up.” (The Fourth Talk, Zhuan Falun)

“If you stoop to the other person’s level, then you are no different from them. And not only shouldn’t you respond like them, neither should you feel hatred or resentment. And I sincerely mean that. Any bitterness towards another person means that anger got the best of you.” (The Fourth Talk, Zhuan Falun)

I was very taken by these basic principles of the Fa. After reflecting on myself, I had to admit that I had indeed done some things wrong or not very well. However, I could barely understand the major conflicts that I suddenly faced.

Therefore, I tried to follow the Fa principles I learned in Zhuan Falun and explain the issue with good intentions and a calm state of mind. I also experienced the situation described in Zhuan Falun. When I arrived at work, I felt that something was wrong, and everyone gave me a strange look. Later, my supervisor called me in for a private conversation. Unexpectedly, he spoke in a sharp tone. He insulted me and didn’t let me myself or explain anything from my point of view. He had just spoken with the coworker I had a conflict with. I admitted my mistake but felt unfairly treated. Shortly after, I came across Master’s Fa addressing my situation.

What Is Meant by Forbearance

Master said,

“Forbearance is the key to improving one’s xinxing. To endure with anger, grievance, or tears is the forbearance of an everyday person who is attached to his concerns. To endure completely without anger or grievance is the forbearance of a cultivator.” (“What is Forbearance (Ren)?” Essentials for Further Advancement)

Only then did I realize how high the demands are for a Falun Dafa practitioner.

In my mind, “Forbearance” meant neither arguing nor fighting back in a conflict, accepting criticism, and not reacting to scornful looks. But that is not a cultivators’ true forbearance. It only means bearing it on a superficial level, a superficial tolerance consisting of anger and tears. I could hardly imagine a practitioner’s true forbearance at the time. However, I realized that the principles of the Fa could help me with emotional fluctuations. It was like being in a sail boat in a thunderstorm and suddenly coming across an anchor.

Since we worked in close proximity, the conflicts triggered negative feelings in me. That’s why I began to read Dafa books on my way to work. At the same time, I tried to eliminate the loopholes that my coworkers had pointed out. I thought of others’ needs and took on more tasks. No matter what had happened earlier, I’d looked at and thought only of my own needs and wants. I never considered that others might be right. I did know that my coworker was a disciplined and good person. If a conflict arose, it meant that I did not meet others’ expectations.

Despite the fluctuations in my emotions, I conformed to the Fa at the time and did not make a single negative remark about my colleague. After a few months, I noticed that her attitude toward me had not changed, although I had tried my best to affect the situation positively. Slowly, I could face the conflicts openly and no longer felt trapped by negative thoughts. Although the conflict never was resolved, my supervisor’s attitude changed completely over the months. When I handed in my resignation, he expressed his sincere regret.

Given this experience, I learned the exercises anew and gradually began to cultivate in Dafa. A year ago, I made contact with other practitioners in my area, and since then I have regularly participated in group practice and weekly Fa-study.

Breaking Through Human Notions

As a new practitioner, I was confronted with the question of faith at the beginning of my cultivation. Having attended regular schools and been exposed to human notions, I still had doubts about cultivation, even though I was doing the exercises and studying the Fa.

When I first participated in a Fa-study group, I spoke honestly about my situation. I understood that I had put one foot through the door of Dafa, but my body was still outside. I was not sure if I had received the Fa. The practitioners smiled and said, “You are here studying the Fa today. Haven’t you already left ordinary people’s environment?”

I faced a problem of not being able to absorb the Fa when reading the Fa. There was a thick wall that kept me apart from the Fa. The many attachments and human notions had formed a field around me and prevented me from receiving the Fa. Then, after some time, I realized that it was better when I read the sentences aloud when I studied. When studying the Fa online, I sometimes read aloud even though it was someone else’s turn. Given this positive energy field, I could concentrate better when studying with the group. We read the Fa as a group and shared with each other. It enhances our understanding of the fundamentals of the Fa and has a positive effect on our cultivation.

When I was on my way to a Dafa group exercise at the lake, I realized that I had left my cosmetic bag in the restroom on the train. Trains in the region go back and forth continuously. It was highly doubtful that I would find the bag. I decided to just follow the course of nature. If I found it, I would believe in the power of Dafa. Then, I let go of that thought. After the group exercise, I went to the restaurant with fellow practitioners for a while. Without paying attention to the timetable I waited on the platform and caught the next train. I went into the first restroom and opened the door: My cosmetic bag was exactly where I had left it. Although it was not a big deal, I experienced the amazing power of Dafa.

In retrospect, I realized that belief in Master and the Fa is unconditional. Dafa’s miracles should not be looked as a condition for believing. Whether I truly believe in it and whether I have already obtained that Fa is actually not relevant. Why? Even if I consciously believe in Dafa, it does not mean that I can believe in Master and the Fa 100 percent if it takes a xinxing test. But, when I consider myself a practitioner and do the tasks required of a practitioner—studying the Fa well and doing the exercises, sending forth righteous thoughts, and clarifying the truth and saving sentient beings—while at the same time paying attention to my thoughts and looking inward when facing problems, then I am already on the path of cultivation.

Before I went abroad, my sister talked to me about cultivation. I had my personal beliefs at the time and firmly believed in science, not cultivation. I told her that I was not interested. When I started on my cultivation path two years ago, she told me that, after that conversation, she’d had a dream about my main consciousness two days in a row. My main consciousness appeared to her with an excited expression as it wanted to truly obtain the Fa.

It was not until many years later that I found out about her dream, and it shocked me. People’s enlightened side knows that Falun Dafa is very precious. However, the other side, which among ordinary people has several layers of views, is hidden by human notions. Also, if one has the opportunity to come into contact with Falun Dafa, an ordinary human being often cannot break through the educated outer layer and perceive the Fa himself.

Therefore, when clarifying the truth about Dafa, it is important for practitioners to realize that ordinary people’s reactions are often superficial or a behavior merely driven by human notions. Realizing this will help us focus even more on sincere thoughts and better deal with those who do not yet know Falun Dafa. No matter what reaction we encounter when talking about Falun Dafa, we should be aware of the realities and address the enlightened side of a human being.

(Presented at the 2021 Switzerland-German-Speaking Region Fa Conference)

German article available