Some Thoughts on Idolizing Other Practitioners

(Minghui.org) I was deeply moved by an article about idolizing other practitioners that was recently published on the Minghui website. It was clear that imitating or being jealous of practitioners, instead of following the Fa can be harmful. Below are two incidents that illustrate this. Fa-rectification is almost over. We’re running out of time, so we should be alert and take this issue seriously.

Idolizing Other Practitioners Creates Karma

A local coordinator is admired by the other practitioners. She diligently reads the Fa, is clear-minded, wise, and self-disciplined when she does the three things. She is “full of great aspirations while minding minor details.” (“Sage,” Essentials for Further Advancement) She is also considerate of others.

One elderly practitioner who did well in clarifying the truth and helping people quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). However, she was pretentious and had a strong attachment to showing off. She idolized the coordinator and relied on her for all her supplies, such as truth-clarifying pamphlets, Dafa calendars, amulets, and money printed with Dafa information. She wouldn’t share her cultivation experiences with anyone except this coordinator and she started imitating the coordinator’s clothes, mannerisms, and demeanor.

This coordinator often advised her, “It’s Dafa that’s good, not me. You should let go of your ego and study the Fa more. Take Dafa as your teacher and immerse yourself in it. Master has asked us to do the three things well, and we shouldn’t let him down.”

However, this elderly practitioner didn’t change. This gave the old forces an opportunity to exploit her gaps. She had a stroke and needed medical treatment. Afterwards, she became bedridden.

The coordinator and a few other practitioners tried to help this elderly practitioner study the Fa, send forth righteous thoughts, and share cultivation experiences. But the elderly practitioner didn’t look within for her attachments; it seemed that something was blocking her from improving her xinxing. Her health condition also fluctuated.

Idolizing and relying on other practitioners create barriers that hinder practitioners’ xinxing improvement. If these barriers aren’t eliminated, practitioners won’t be able to meet Dafa’s standards, and there isn’t much we can do to help. Later, her family wouldn’t let us visit her. Her physical health deteriorated and eventually she passed away. This was such a big loss!

Looking Inward and Removing Attachments

We also have another local practitioner who did the three things very well. She clarified the truth and helped people quit the CCP in the morning, and studied the Fa in the afternoon. One afternoon a week, she attended the same Fa study group as this coordinator. This practitioner said that studying the Fa with this coordinator brought her peace and serenity.

When this practitioner attended other Fa study groups, she looked down on practitioners who didn’t sit cross-legged, or missed words while reading. She refused to study the Fa with them, and her arrogance persisted for a long time. One day, she was arrested when she went out to clarify the truth, and was later illegally sentenced to one year in prison. She served the term outside of prison and became deeply depressed.

With the help of the coordinator and another practitioner, she was able to study the Fa diligently and send forth strong righteous thoughts. She was willing to share her cultivation experiences, learned to look inward, and recognized her own attachments. Once her attachments of admiration and complacency were removed, her cultivation level improved greatly.

Truly Cultivating

The coordinator I mentioned is very respectful towards Master and Dafa. During Fa study, she always reads the book word for word. She sit with both legs crossed and holds the book with both hands. She doesn’t go home until after we send righteous thoughts at 6 p.m.

I asked her how she maintained her diligence when so many practitioners relied on her and looked up to her. Her answer was simple: “I let go of ego and became selfless. I believe in Master and Dafa and put the Fa first. I maintain righteous thoughts and immerse myself in the Fa. I ask for nothing. Master has made us into beings in the new universe. I am filled with gratitude. Dafa is so great! Master is so great!”

At this final critical moment, we must improve ourselves according to the Fa and help Master rectify the Fa and save sentient beings. On our path towards divinity, we should fulfill our missions as Dafa disciples and move toward the new universe!