School Life Helps Point Out My Attachments

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

I attend the Northern Academy of Arts, and I’m in the 11th grade. I’d like to tell you about some of my recent cultivation insights.

Eliminating Jealousy

I recently noticed that I look down on others, which is a manifestation of jealousy. When I see others do better than me or are praised, my negative thoughts surface. I’m usually able to catch myself in time, but other times it takes me a while to realize these are bad thoughts.

For instance, when I see classmates doing better than me academically or artistically, I feel uneasy and think of ways to show that I’m better. I should be happy for their achievements instead of feeling the situation is unfair.

Master taught us,

“A wicked person is born of jealousy.Out of selfishness and anger he complains about unfairness towards himself.A benevolent person always has a heart of compassion.With no discontentment or hatred, he takes hardship as joy.An enlightened person has no attachments at all.He quietly observes the people of the world deluded by illusions.” (“Realms,” Essentials for Further Advancement)

Even trivial matters can expose our attachments. Mishandling even the smallest matter can lead us to behave contrary to the teachings. Master also pointed out in Zhuan Falun the seriousness of jealousy:

“If jealousy is not abolished, everything that you have cultivated will become fragile.” (Lecture Seven, Zhuan Falun)

I’ve observed that jealousy blocks rational thinking. Instead of envying others, why not learn from them? Why hang onto such negative feelings? Jealousy serves no purpose and only harms oneself and others.

Looking Inward in Daily Life

I sometimes feel certain events are odd. Yet, many of these occurrences are not coincidental but rather manifestations of my attachments. Master said in Zhuan Falun,

“This “oddness” will stop your practice.” (Lecture Six, Zhuan Falun)

If we merely find things strange but do not look inward, our attachments may go unnoticed until they are pointed out by others.

Once during an academic class, the classmate who sits behind me received their graded assignment from the teacher. They began cursing incessantly, which struck me as odd since they hadn’t behaved this way before. I realized it was not coincidental that I overheard this. I remembered those times when I felt resentment after receiving my assignments—I was even angry at the teacher and felt she graded unfairly. This incident made me realize how Master often reminds me through others to see my own shortcomings.

In the cafeteria, if I see there’s only a little food left, I may take less in order to leave some for others. However, the person behind me may take it all, which makes me feel uncomfortable. I recognized my tendency to grab more when there’s something I want, leaving less for others. This realization pointed out that I need to rectify my behavior and have a mindset of self-improvement.

Another instance was when I noticed a person’s temper worsened. As a result I wanted to avoid interacting with him. However, I realized my own temper was deteriorating. I decided to change by handling conflicts with kindness. My temper improved and others became more accommodating.

One day, I found some purple spots on my leg, which were neither painful nor itchy. I looked inward and found I still had selfishness and lust. I sometimes ignored these thoughts because they’d become a habit. For instance, desiring more benefits or being overly concerned with one’s appearance are forms of lust. I sometimes noticed someone who looked attractive. This showed that I hadn’t cultivated well.

When I discovered these impure thoughts, I eradicated them with righteous thoughts: My mind became clearer and I had fewer distractions.

My friends occasionally tease me and say my demeanor is “girly.” Although this was said in jest, I realized there was some truth to their words.

Master taught us,

“Yin and yang’s reversal harms the worldMen have no manlinessIndecisive, hesitant and effeminateNarrow-minded, they are worthless wretches.”(“Yin and Yang Reversed,” Hong Yin III)

After reading this, I remembered instances when my attitude was narrow-minded, like those times when I was reluctant to lend people things due to selfishness. This revelation led me to let go of such attachments and cultivate a broader, more generous mindset.

Every experience serves as a mirror, reflecting our inner state. If we can look at ourselves from these instances, we can recognize our shortcomings and strive for self-improvement.

Maintaining the Mentality of a Cultivator

This year, our school welcomed many new students from various backgrounds. Some are deeply influenced by society. Observing their behavior, I sometimes found myself swayed. However, I realized I must maintain a practitioner’s high standards.

Master said,

“Only by being among the most complicated group of people and in the most complicated environment can one cultivate high-level gong—it implies this.” (Lecture Nine, Zhuan Falun)

Realizing that society is declining, I do my best to uphold moral standards. Whenever I witness inappropriate behavior or language, I gently remind the person.

I also noticed I have a tendency to stereotype others, but I know judging people is wrong. I’m striving to eliminate these prejudices, and have a compassionate attitude.

Please point out anything that is not in line with the Fa.

Thank you, Master! Thank you, fellow practitioners!

(Presented at the Northern Academy of Arts Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference)