Xinxing Versus Capability

[PureInsight.org] I have always felt that I have neglected to address many problems in my cultivation. In recent years my job hasn't been as demanding as before, so I have been able to devote more time to do Fa-rectification work. [Because of this] I have received praise from fellow practitioners, and have occasionally felt quite pleased with myself. But each time after I cooled down, I would question myself, "How have I managed to become a 'well-known figure' among Dafa practitioners in such a short period of time?" Recently I have realized something - although I have done a substantial amount of Dafa work, I haven't really upgraded my xinxing [heart-mind nature, character] much. I have only become a "well-known practitioner" because while doing Dafa work, I have been able to exhibit certain skills and capabilities that I have accumulated in my daily life in ordinary society, and some fellow practitioners have noticed these qualities in me. I feel that upgrading our xinxing should be the top priority while we conduct Fa-rectification cultivation. Let's say that there are two Dafa practitioners who have the same pure desire to save all beings. If one practitioner isn't able to make as much progress as the second practitioner because the first practitioner doesn't have the same capability in ordinary human society as the second practitioner does, the second practitioner should not think his xinxing is superior to the first practitioner. Practitioners around them also shouldn't judge how good a practitioner's xinxing level is based on how much work that the practitioner is able to do. If all of us have a clearer understanding on this subject, our overall Fa-rectification cultivation environment will become more mature and stable, which will help each practitioner who is a part of the environment and make it easier for us to fulfill our mission to clarify the facts and save all beings.

Finally, please allow me to share some Fa passages, and hopefully we will keep reminding and encouraging each other in Teacher's Fa cultivation.

Teacher said:

For a cultivator, all the frustrations he comes across among everyday people are trials, and all the compliments he receives are tests.

(From "A Cultivator is Naturally Part of It" in Essentials for Further Advancement)

Teacher said:

All of our practitioners should be sure to never behave very abnormally among everyday people. If you play a bad role among everyday people, others may say: "Why do those people who learn Falun Dafa all behave this way?" It is the same as undermining the reputation of Falun Dafa, so make sure to pay attention to this issue. In other matters and in the course of cultivation practice, one should be sure to not develop the attachment of zealotry—this mentality can be very easily taken advantage of by demons.

(From "Attachment of Zealotry" in Lecture Eight of Zhuan Falun)

Teacher said:

Of late, some assistance centers have asked those whose Third Eye (tianmu) are said to be open to examine students' cultivation. Everything those people have seen is in fact false and illusory. I said long ago that the criterion for evaluating a disciple is nothing but his xinxing, and I will never allow anyone who hasn't attained Enlightenment or reached Consummation to see clearly my disciples' actual cultivation states. What is visible to those who can see are merely manifestations shown to them at their particular low levels, and they are unable to see things at higher levels. If someone in charge uses such a person to examine other students, this person will develop an attachment to showing off. Moreover, his demon-nature will also cause interference and damage, so what he sees will be transformed by his mind activities. It was wrong for him to examine Dafa disciples in the first place. The person in charge who asked him to examine students also didn't follow my words. Why don't you listen to your Master's words: "the only criterion for evaluating a student's cultivation is his xinxing"? Don't you know that all dimensions exist simultaneously in the same place? Living beings in any dimension are likely to overlap with human bodies, and they look very much like possessing spirits (futi). Yet they exist in different dimensions and have nothing to do with humans. Can those whose Third Eye are said to be open understand these complex situations?

(From "Another Comment on Evaluation Criteria" in Essentials for Further Advancement)

Teacher said:

I am pointing out this issue to let everyone know that once there is such a person, you must be sure not to regard him as a remarkable, enlightened person. This is a very serious issue in cultivation practice. Only through following this Dafa can you do things correctly. You should not follow or listen to him because he has supernormal abilities, supernatural powers, or because he can see some things. You will do him harm, as he will develop the attachment of zealotry and end up losing everything and having them switched off. In the end, he will stumble. One who has reached the state of Unlocking Gong may also stumble. If one cannot conduct oneself well, one will also stumble even if one is enlightened. When things are not handled properly, even a Buddha can stumble, not to mention a practitioner like you among everyday people! Therefore, no matter how many supernormal abilities you have developed, how great they are, or how powerful your divine power is, you must conduct yourself well. Recently, we had someone sitting here who could disappear at one moment and reappear the next. It is just like that. Even greater supernatural powers will be developed. What will you do? As our practitioners or disciples, whether these things happen to you or others in the future, you should not idolize them or pursue these things. Once your mind goes wrong, it will be all over, and you will stumble. Perhaps you are at an even higher level than they are, but it is just that your supernatural powers have not yet emerged. At the very least, you have stumbled on this particular issue. Accordingly, everyone must be sure to pay particular attention to this matter. We have deemed this a highly important issue because such a matter will soon take place. Once it occurs, it is unacceptable if you cannot conduct yourself well.

A practitioner who has developed gong and reached the state of Unlocking Gong or truly enlightened should not take himself to be someone special. What he has seen are things limited to his own level. His cultivation has reached this level, because his enlightenment ability, xinxing standard, and wisdom have reached this level. With regard to things at higher levels, therefore, he might be in disbelief. Precisely because he does not believe them, he thinks that what he sees is absolute and that there are only these things. That is way off, because this person's level is just here.

(From "The Mentality of Showing Off" in Lecture Six of Zhuan Falun)

Translated from: http://www.zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2004/1/7/25265.html