(Minghui.org) Greetings, venerable Master. Greetings, fellow practitioners.
Today I’d like to share my understanding about cultivating forbearance.
I’d always considered myself a reasonable person, but I would argue with and seek justice when I encountered unreasonable people or situations. If I was misunderstood or treated unfairly, I would become resentful, and even angry. I either tried to explain or distanced myself from unreasonable people. I tried to avoid suffering because I wanted to be comfortable.
Master said:
“Why do you encounter these problems? They are all caused by your own karma. We have already eliminated for you many, countless portions of it, leaving only that tiny bit that is divided into tribulations at different levels for improving your xinxing, tempering your mind, and removing your various attachments. These are all your own tribulations that we use to improve your xinxing, and you will be able to overcome them.” (Lecture Four, Zhuan Falun)
Master explained it very clearly in the Fa, but when I encountered problems or felt sad, I still thought, “How can I have so much karma? It is obviously the other person’s fault.”
I gradually understood the Fa principles and learned to look inward. I realized that what I thought was reasonable was actually human reasoning. The laws of the universe are fair, and everything has its cause and effect. How can we not have created karma life after life? We have to repay our karma, so why feel it is unfair? All the difficulties I encounter are things I have to endure, resolve, and overcome. I also realized they are Master’s arrangements for me to improve in certain areas.
With this understanding, I now deal with tribulations more calmly. I no longer avoid them or feel pain. I look within and see which attachments I need to eliminate. I also thank Master for his protection and guidance. I used to dismiss the attitude of “accepting what comes my way,” because I felt that was being helpless and cowardly. It becomes a process of facing things calmly with an understanding of the Fa, actively enduring them, and achieving spiritual elevation.
The universe is flourishing and is filled with diverse lives and things. The levels and realms are endless. Facing the vast universe, our tiny selves should revere this masterpiece with a humble heart. If we only accept people or ideas that we agree with, or if we have strong egos, we will be like the frog sitting in the bottom of a well. Our world will become tiny and boring, and our wisdom will be greatly limited.
After a meal at a Chinese restaurant with coworkers, we each were given a fortune cookie. My fortune read: “Put the universe within your heart, and you will possess it.” I felt this was Master’s enlightenment that I should embrace everything.
I understand that true tolerance only comes when we view differences with appreciation. Only then can we truly understand others, think from their perspective, broaden our own thinking, and see a wider world—one filled with more solutions and wisdom to face the challenges before us. No matter how intelligent or capable we believe we are, as beings within the human realm, we are inevitably bound by limitations. Only by acknowledging these limitations and letting go of a strong sense of self can we begin to see the goodness in others, grasp the vastness of the universe, and make genuine progress in our own growth.Now when I encounter different opinions or behaviors, I no longer simply jump to conclusions like: “How could he do that?” “Why doesn’t he use his brain?” “He leaves me speechless.” “He’s so overbearing.” Instead, I pause and ask myself: “What’s the reason for his behavior? Is there something I’m not aware of? Am I wrong? Did I not explain it clearly? Or is he truly struggling? Is his approach better?”
When I noticed a practitioner hadn’t arranged something well, I calmly pointed it out to her. She raised her voice and spoke to me sarcastically. I asked her, “Why are you reacting that way? I’m just giving you a suggestion based on what I saw. Whether you adopt it or not is up to you.” She was silent.
She reacted the way I would have before. When I encountered anything different from what I thought it should be, I rejected it and jumped to conclusions. I always thought that I was right. Now I remind myself: “Don’t jump to conclusions. Listen to different opinions because different heavenly worlds have different ways of operating.” The traditional Chinese character for saint (聖) has an ear on the left and a mouth on the right. I understand it to be a reminder for us to listen more and talk less, and to listen first and then speak.
We all have many attachments and notions, as well as limited abilities, and we all occasionally make mistakes. We also strive for perfection. But how can human society, which is at the lowest level of the universe, be perfect? How can it be without mistakes? So how do we deal with this?
One of my favorite computer functions is “Undo.” If I make a mistake, I can simply “undo” it and it’s gone. I often thought: If only we could easily “undo” our mistakes. When we make mistakes, we all hope to be forgiven. The path of cultivation is inherently difficult, so why shouldn’t we forgive others?
Master said:
“The driver indeed drove the car too fast, but how could he possibly hit someone on purpose? Didn’t he do it unintentionally?” (Lecture Four, Zhuan Falun)
We should remember that the driver who hit someone did not do it intentionally. But do we understand that when others make a mistake that hurt us, or when they get angry at us, they also didn’t mean to do it? In fact, the person who gets angry is often the one who suffers the most. I’ve lost my temper myself, so I understand this.
I remember an article on Minghui.org about a practitioner (B) who was sentenced to seven years in prison because another practitioner (A) was unable to endure the torture and exposed him. B’s wife divorced him and left with their child. His life was difficult after he was released. After he finally settled down, practitioner A, suffering from severe tribulations, sought B’s help. B realized that A betrayed him because he could not endure the torture, so he let go of his resentment and offered to help him. I was deeply moved by this story; only enlightened beings possess such tolerance.
I used to think I was pretty good because I could always see the essence of a problem and speak directly and precisely without being hypocritical. Now that I think about it, I was not tolerant or understanding. I was just able to see other people’s mistakes.
There is a saying “where ignorance is bliss, it’s folly to be wise.” I came to a deeper understanding of this proverb. It is natural for people to make mistakes, just as it is natural for rivers to flow into the sea. We are usually able to overlook ordinary people’s mistakes, but we should also tolerate practitioners’ mistakes. Master is taking care of every practitioner, and I believe that every practitioner will eventually overcome the difficulties they are destined to face. There is no need for me to dwell on them.
One practitioner thought no one was more capable than him, and he gave me a hard time. He also said to me arrogantly, “Do you want me to respect you? You have to earn it.” It took me more than a year to let go of my grudge against him. I saw him recently and he hadn’t changed, but I was very calm. I wanted to give him a reminder, but I thought that, since he still seemed arrogant, he might not listen, so I let it go.
These are my personal understandings.
Thank you, Master. Thank you, fellow practitioners.
(Selected article presented at the 2025 San Francisco Fa Conference)