PureInsight | March 28, 2005
[PureInsight.org] Su Shi (1036-1101), also known as Su Dongpo, was a brilliant writer, artist and calligrapher. When he was young, he became friends with a Zen Buddhist Monk named Foyin. Su Dongpo was very confrontational and therefore argued frequently with Foyin, with the attitude of winning the arguments. Yet somehow he always ended up on the losing side. One day, when Su Dongpo met with Foyin, he jokingly said: "You look like a piece of cow dung." The senior monk did not get angry. He replied with a smile: "You look like a Buddha." Su was in seventh heaven. When he went home, he told his younger sister Su Xiaomei gleefully: "I finally defeated Foyin in an argument." Then he told Su Xiaomei the whole story. Su Xiaomei said: "Brother, you lost again!" Su was flabbergasted. His sister explained: "Others look like cow dung to you because your heart is like cow dung. The Buddha school teaches that all thoughts are from the heart. Foyin cultivates Buddha wholeheartedly, and Buddha is in his heart all the time. Therefore, whatever he sees looks like a Buddha. This is the real reflection of his realm."
In the real world, a person's perceptions can decide his or her quality of life. You are a wise person in the immense universe if you can accept people at their face value and if you can see all beings with an upright mindset. Every person has strengths and weaknesses, which make up his/her personality. If you are able to see others' strengths and learn from them, so you offset your weaknesses amidst conflicts, you are able to turn negatives to positives and perfect yourself. Moreover, you have reached a high level of forbearance if you can endure others' weaknesses.
Of course, any human characteristic will be seen as weakness based on your our own frame of mind. If there is really a problem with others, we should point it out compassionately and responsibly. At such times, you will feel that the world is boundless and life is wonderful.
The greatest difference between cultivators and everyday people is that while cultivators look inward when they encounter problems, humans will view others as having a problem. Everyday people see themselves as good and others as being problematic.
What we cultivators see are all reflections of our own field that needs to be rectified. Our Master arranges such incidents for our improvement. Master told us that we should look inward every time when we have a conflict. The more we abandon bad thoughts, the higher our levels are, and the more beautiful will everything seem to us.
When validating Dafa, if you can pay more attention to fellow practitioner's strengths and let go of self, the evil won't have any opportunity to take advantage of any loopholes that affect our coordination. No matter what problems occur, please let's look inward and think more about others' strengths. Thus, problems will resolve themselves.
Finally, please allow me to quote from one of Master's lectures to share with fellow practitioners:
"A wicked person is obsessed with selfishness, spite, caused by jealousy, and complains that he is not fairly treated. A virtuous person always keeps a heart of compassion. An enlightened one has no attachment at all. He quietly watches the common people being lost in illusions." ("Realm" in Essentials for Further Advancement)
Translated from:http://www.zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2004/12/26/30466.html
