PureInsight | October 21, 2008
[PureInsight.org] Last night, I had a dream that made me think a lot after I woke.
In the dream, I was going to join a basketball game, and the coach was very supportive of me. In the end, for some reason, I was unable to play and felt very upset. Only later in the dream did I realize that I actually played basketball very poorly. Were I to join the game, others would surely laugh at me. Fortunately, I no longer needed to participate in it. Why hadn’t I realized this earlier?
After waking up, I thought about some recent experiences. Whether I’m at my daily job or among practitioners, I sometimes feel my capabilities are not fully recognized by others. Whenever this happens, I often feel upset. Of course, I am aware that I should support other practitioners, and in everyday society, I also try to avoid the attachment of jealousy. Still, I feel sad about this, and this situation has lasted for awhile.
When recalling this dream, I enlightened to some new understandings. It is probably true that I am capable of doing some things. But, at the same time, I am certainly doing poorly in many other aspects. Were I placed in those positions, I may not be able to handle them. In addition, regarding my own shortcomings, others may be reluctant to point them out to me, and I lack self-awareness. Yet, rather than remaining humble and fulfilling my own responsibilities well, I have been complaining and dissatisfied with others.
Moreover, in terms of work in everyday society, knowing some skills is only one aspect of doing a job well; it might be more important to understand the overall project, collaborate with other groups, and interact with the various people involved. But these are areas that I am not good at—just like playing basketball. This morning, when reading the section “Jealousy” in Zhuan Falun, I had some further understandings. Everything has reasons behind it, such as who does what type of job and who interacts with whom. There are even deeper reasons involved such as karmic relationships. How can my shallow understandings dictate how things should be? For example, Shen Gongbao did have some abilities, but could he grasp the layers upon layers of reasons why Jiang Ziya was chosen to confer titles on immortals?
From another angle, since I began my cultivation, no matter how many so-called abilities I have manifested among everyday people and regardless of the tiny bit I have done to help Respected Teacher in Fa-rectification, all of these came from the Fa. They were able to happen because of the requirements of my cultivation and in validation of the Fa. If I become attached to them and even pursue this way or that way, haven’t I then deviated from the path that I am supposed to take?
In the end, I have to do well all of the things that I am supposed to do as a Dafa disciple. At everyday work or in my daily life, I have to do well the things that I am responsible for. That way, from an everyday person's perspective, at least I am a good person. When having some thoughts, it is all right to communicate with others, but it is not right to pursue something or complain over something. It is enough just to think about how to do well all of the things that need to be done, rather than being attached to doing those things in and of themselves. One should keep the Way in the heart and, on the surface, also present the beauty of Dafa.
Every practitioner has his or her own path. My path does not come from my own notions or speculation. I will follow the Fa to do well all of the things that I am supposed to do as best as possible. Gradually, I will know my mission and fulfill it.
September 8, 2008
Translated from: http://www.zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2008/9/8/54754.html
