Practicing “Don’t Argue” Amidst Conflicts During a Project

(Minghui.org) I had a conversation with several practitioners not long ago, where we exchanged opinions and suddenly got the idea of getting together to exchange cultivation experiences, practice the exercises together, and do other activities related to Dafa. This had not been done for a long time at the national level, due to the difficult circumstances in our country.

We reinstated a cultivation activity that we’d been involved in a few years back, making adjustments based on our more recent experiences. We also asked practitioners from other countries that had similar experiences to join the planning efforts.

We were enthusiastic and started working on the program and logistics immediately. We decided that the ideal date for the activity would be May, close to the birthday celebration of Master Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa.

Once we had the rough draft ready, the next step was spreading the news to other practitioners in and out of the country.

The idea was that having the base program done, others could suggest changes if they considered something important to include in the final program. To achieve this, we set up an online meeting and shared our project, which was a major step in our cultivation.

I remember that I thought, finally, we will be able to reunite with the many practitioners dispersed throughout the country, many of whom have experienced considerable difficulties related to transportation, internet reliability, electricity failure, cell phone problems, and so on. When the meeting started, I never imagined that the xinxing frictions would start immediately.

A group of practitioners with family ties got the first opportunity to speak, and the group that proposed the project would go next. The first practitioner started speaking intensely, saying that it was very clear that the root objective of the project was not what we were proposing. He accused us of planning something like “legalizing or updating the Falun Dafa Association of Venezuela” behind his back and taking advantage of others by not allowing them to have any input. Although he did not say this exactly, those were what his concerns seemed to be.

What a shock! I could not believe what I was hearing. Where did he get this far-fetched idea? I felt my heart pounding, but I stayed in a stable mental state. We listened to his opinion and none of the practitioners from the project intervened. 

When it was the second practitioner’s turn, he expressed himself with intensity and fury. He had the same point of view as the previous practitioner, and the accusation was even greater. In this shocking moment, I could not believe what those practitioners were saying. Their words felt charged with rage and disdain. Even though they did not say bad words, they had a heartbreaking effect.

Master said, 

“We should all speak according to a practitioner’s xinxing rather than create conflicts or say something improper. As cultivators, we must measure ourselves with the standard of the Fa…” (Lecture Eight, Zhuan Falun) 

I thought that what they were saying was not based on fact, and their nonsensical accusations were never even considered in our project. My heart was now moved uncontrollably, and my solar plexus and stomach churned with a strong and unpleasant energy. Just when my mind was about to lose control while he continued to insult us all and especially me and another practitioner, I heard Master's words in my mind: 

“As a practitioner, the first thing you should be able to do is to not fight back when you are beaten or sworn at—you must be tolerant. Otherwise, what kind of practitioner will you be?” (Lecture Nine, Zhuan Falun) 

Thanks to Master’s hints, I was able to keep a steady mind to restrain myself while my body was a jumble of terrible sensations.

Master said, 

“It’s not easy to tolerate things when you run into problems. Some people say, “If you don’t hit back when beaten, don’t talk back when slandered, or if you tolerate it even when you lose face in front of your family, relatives, and close friends, haven’t you turned into an Ah-Q??”21 I’d say that if you act normal in all regards, if your intelligence is no less than that of others, and if it’s only that you have taken personal gain lightly, nobody is going to say you are foolish. Being able to tolerate is not weakness, nor is it being like Ah-Q. It is a display of strong will and self-restraint.” (Chapter III, Falun Gong)

In this moment, other practitioners intervened to clear up the honest and genuine points of our project, but this practitioner continued with his disrespectful offenses [in my opinion]. During those long minutes, wanting to intervene to air my point of view, a part of me knew that in those moments, I did not have enough control to employ Shan (Compassion) and express my ideas like a true cultivator according to the principles of Zhen-Shan-Ren (Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance). So I continued looking within as Master told us to, and I did not say a word.

I thought: Isn't this a great opportunity to improve my xinxing in this test of friction amongst practitioners? Isn't it all arranged by Master? I knew that it was a great opportunity, but it was not easy at all to keep under control while I waited for the fellow practitioner to finish speaking. Just as he finished, my entire being aligned and I could speak in controlled harmony. 

I expressed my opinion about the project and the meeting, while following the principles of Truth, Benevolence, and Tolerance. So, I was finally able to speak properly and calmly, focusing on the truth about the project we’d proposed. I took care not to discuss or defend myself against his multiple accusations, since it seemed like an attack particularly against me, which I did not understand.

When I finished speaking and gave the floor to the next practitioner. The internet in my town went out and later, the electricity went out. So I didn’t know how the meeting ended. Those 48 hours without internet or telephone were very difficult for me, alone and without being able to communicate with my companions. The xinxing tests and cultivation opportunities continued!

Later, when I was able to talk with my project partners, I confirmed that we all had the same opinion about the surprising point of view of those practitioners. I wondered: why did it affect me so much? 

Looking inward, I saw that my heart was very moved by qing (sentimentality), and I remembered that years ago when we got together to promote Dafa, I felt that some of these practitioners had been like biological relatives in other lives. I found that I had a strong attachment to family sentimentality with them. When someone you appreciate insults you or rebukes you, it is more painful and difficult to maintain your balance. I immediately began to detach myself from that familiar qing.

Over the following days I observed that from time to time my mind wanted to discuss the issue and tell those practitioners “a few truths!” Suddenly, Master’s teaching that a cultivator should not contend, entered my mind. Yet I was doing just that in my thoughts. Another test of detachment was shown, that is, rejecting that spirit of contention in my mind.

A few days later, while I was studying Zhuan Falun, a paragraph appeared to me that said that I also had to thank those practitioners, because they had created such a difficult environment for me, allowing me to raise my xinxing and make the most of this situation. I remember that in my mind I made a kind of joke to myself, something like: What? In what way? Wow, Master, on top of everything I should thank them? Ha ha ha… of course I understood: Master is always right!

My heart was moved with deep gratitude to our venerable Master Li Hongzhi for his endless teachings. If it weren't for studying the Fa and following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance that our Master has taught us, I would not have behaved as I did and would have missed this great opportunity to raise my xinxing and follow my cultivation path in Dafa.

This article expresses my opinion on this particular situation. If there is something that is not in accordance with the Fa, I thank you for kindly pointing it out.