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Eliminating Attachments and Improving in Cultivation

January 20, 2017 |   By an overseas Falun Dafa practitioner

(Minghui.org) As more practitioners have wanted to clarify the truth through phone calls to China, I have become increasingly busy. As coordinator of the phone team in our area, my responsibilities include helping new users install software, providing training on software usage, and providing technical support for all team members. It has kept me busy every day.

Miscommunication

An elderly practitioner had a problem with her software and made an appointment with me to fix it. We were scheduled to meet after sending forth righteous thoughts at noon. I had gone out to help another practitioner that morning and after I got home I turned on my computer and found the elderly practitioner online. I sent her a message, asking for her remote assistance password, but she didn't reply. After sending another few messages without answer,

I told her I would have to leave for other things if I don't receive a reply from her. She still didn't answer. I finally turned off my computer and left home. When I got back, I found many messages from her saying that I had delayed her work offering salvation to sentient beings, that I hadn't kept my promise, and that the wisdom Falun Dafa has given me wasn't for pursuing fame and fortune.

I thought her words were a bit off, because I hadn't been pursuing fame and fortune and she was the one who didn't reply to my messages. I felt a little moved, but then I corrected myself. I remembered what Master told us,

“We all know that we are cultivating. Since it’s cultivation, nothing on our path of cultivation is coincidental.” (Teaching the Fa at the Conference in New Zealand)

“As cultivators, you are going about personal cultivation, and so in the process of your improving your understandings, I won’t let you encounter things that have nothing to do with your cultivation. Since your personal path of cultivation and improvement before you have been painstakingly arranged by me, I won’t arrange unnecessary things for you.” (Teaching the Fa at the Conference in Houston)

I calmed down and sent her a message to apologize. I wrote, “I'm sorry! I had too many things at hand. Please send me your remote access password, so that I won't delay your offering salvation to sentient beings.” She replied right away, “I have too make many calls each day. You are the professional technical support person, but I don't know anything about technology. I was very anxious when I couldn't make a call. We had made an appointment at noon, but a whole day has passed. Do you understand how I feel?”

I knew she was still mad. I requested her remote access password again, while thinking, “When did I become a professional technical support person? I'm not. I only learned a few ways to solve problems so I could help others. I sent you messages again and again, but you didn't reply. Now you are berating me?” My second thought was to eliminate my human notions and increase my tolerance. I told her, “Don't be mad. It's my fault. I have wasted your time! Please grant me remote access.” She finally gave me the password. I helped her solve her technical problem.

Overwhelmed

I'm also involved in writing text message scripts for the RTC platform. Because we had a shortage of scripts recently, I had to write faster. Sometimes I spent a whole day writing scripts on my computer. In recent years, I have felt that the demands for this project often increase faster than I anticipate. New things always seem to mess up my plans. I had to drop everything to help practitioners with technical problems. My writing team leader asked me why I hadn't turned in anything for a couple of days. I had to tell her I was overwhelmed with work.

I felt it wasn't right for a cultivator to be in a spin every day, but I didn't know how to breakthrough. I sometimes felt aggrieved, being so busy. I couldn't have a meal until the evening some days. When I finally went to bed, I found I was woken by my alarm clock far too soon. How I wished I could hide myself away and sleep longer. As soon as I opened my eyes, I would be kept busy all day long.

While I was struggling with my helpless feeling, Master published “A Congratulatory Letter to the Fa Conference of Europe”

Master wrote,

“What a cultivator cultivates is none other than him or herself. The outside pressures that Dafa disciples face are tests as well as opportunities to be more diligent, while the internal conflicts and pressures among Dafa disciples are, likewise, tests and opportunities to be more diligent. Every one of us, excepting me alone, is a cultivator. How well you do is a reflection of your cultivation state, and no one is an exception.” (A Congratulatory Letter to the Fa Conference of Europe) (Team Yellow Translation)

Great Opportunities to Improve

It dawned on me that the tests I'm facing are great opportunities. Isn't it great to be able to help practitioners with truth-clarification phone calls and to write scripts? Isn't it great to follow the course of nature? Why should I feel anxious and frustrated? Isn't it my state of mind that the old forces have been taking advantage of? I finally corrected my state through studying the Fa and sending forth righteous thoughts.

A fellow practitioner gave me a great idea. She suggested I make a video for new software users about how to solve some of the common technical problems. I followed her advice, and ended up saving a lot of time.

I learned that genuine improvement is possible when I eliminate my attachments and gain a better understanding of the Fa. Master must have enlightened me with this idea through my fellow practitioner. It solved our problem!