Letting go of Fundamental Attachments and Co-operating well with Others

My respect to Master and greetings to my fellow practitioners:

I’m greatly honoured to share my experiences with you all today. I sincerely hope that my sharing will give the impetus to cooperate as one body and advance diligently. Please kindly point out anything inappropriate.

I found that I have a difficult time answering the following question, “Where are you from?” I am not sure if I should tell them where I live at present, where I had lived for most of my life, or where I was born. Alas, the answer I hold in my mind cannot be said openly, as I hold the believe that “I’m a Being from the Universe.” Though, there are times when I jokingly tell people this actual answer of mine. Although that person laughs, I have the distinct impression, that she/he understood what was in my heart.

There are times when someone asks me, “Tell me where you feel most at home?” I’m a little on the edge to answer this question. I must admit that my human side never felt anywhere quite at “home.” Yet, those who have a chance to practise Falun Gong no longer have any feelings of being lost, and the meaning of “being at home” increases in significance and is beyond description. I’m reminded of this concept quite often when reading the Falun Gong texts. It is as the founder of Falun Gong, Master Li says,

“It has been said: “When I come to this ordinary human society, it’s just like checking into a hotel for a few days. Then I leave in a hurry.” Some people are just obsessed with this place and have forgotten their own homes.” (Li Hongzhi – Zhuan Falun, Lecture 9)

If I forget my “true home,” I’m governed by the concepts I formed in my mind. I believe that such perception is coloured by my having lived in a number of countries. At times, some attachments manifest, such as: feeling sickly, unhappy, lost, timid, mistrustful, frigid, arrogant, and so-forth. But, the subtlest attachment is holding the belief that I don’t have the right to tell people about my origin. For me, this deeply hidden attachment creates direct interference during times when I read the Falun Gong teachings and enlighten to the fact that numerous sentient being are waiting to be saved by us. As my trust in the Fa (Law or Principles, the teachings in Falun Gong) was confined by my attachment, I was stuck in limbo for a while. I understood that I hadn’t done as well as I wished regarding the three things Master asked us to do. No matter how much I wanted to improve and be diligent, I just could not make the grade. I finally recognised after diligently studying the Fa and frequently reading the experience sharing articles from fellow practitioners on Falun Gong websites that I did not see myself as a true Falun Dafa practitioner of the Fa-rectification period. Our teacher said,

“For a Fa-rectification period Dafa disciple, personal liberation is not the goal of cultivation: when you came, saving sentient beings was your great aspiration, and that is the responsibility and mission history has bestowed upon you in Fa-rectification. Thus great numbers of beings are to be saved by you. Dafa disciples, don't forsake the magnificent responsibility that has been bestowed upon you in Fa-rectification, and even less should you disappoint those beings, as you are now their only hope for entering the future.” (“Let Go of Human Attachments and Save the World's People,” Li Hongzhi, 9/1/04)

It was as if I could not fathom the importance of what Teacher said. It was as if I watched everything as an “outsider,” and behaved as some sort of observer. For example, when local practitioners held discussions and planned activities, I distanced myself and waited for a decision to be made. At that time, I agreed with the decision and just moved with the tide. My constant excuse was that I did not quite understand the crux of the matter, because I was not yet fluent in the language. When I observed another practitioner with the same problem as I, not being well versed in the local language, candidly giving his/her opinion and suggestions, I felt jealous and a little voice inside me told me, “How can this foreigner be so confident?” Finally, I recognised this terrible thought and was able to eliminate it.

The tendency to remain aloof and at the same time be a follower became clearly evident when I travelled to my place of birth to introduce Falun Dafa to the people there. This attachment also influenced me negatively in a more familiar environment. For example, my husband doesn’t practise Falun Gong, and criticises me frequently, became the tool to wake me to the fact that I appeared to follow the “orders” of fellow practitioners. He wasn’t quite convinced that I really wanted to participate in all of the Falun Gong activities.

Since the day I participated in a number of activities I wanted to visit my place of birth, Chile. I was under the impression that I had to go there because there are so few practitioners who speak Spanish, at that time I knew of only one practitioner in Chile, and the APEC meeting was to be held there. Mostly, I wanted to help the local practitioner during the Falun Dafa related activities and also to visit my relatives and tell them about Falun Dafa.

After my arrival in August, I met a local practitioner and one practitioner from Europe. They already had been there for a week and had established contacts with the media. As both of these practitioners were used to doing things on their own, I held the belief that I could just join in any project they had already started. Once I arrived there, I was surprised to find everything totally different than I had expected.

After calling the practitioners, to find out what was going on, I found that everything was already going quite smoothly. First I visited the European practitioner who was involved in media work. I was impressed with her efficiency. She had a large suitcase filled with factual materials about Falun Dafa, ready made packages and so on. Also, immediately after sending righteous thoughts early in the morning, a quick breakfast and the exercises, she was back on the phone making appointments, one after the other. Her schedule was ready and there was no place for me to participate in it. After calling the local practitioner I found that she was just as busy and was getting on with whatever needed to be done. Therefore, I was somehow confused and left standing on the side.

A few days went by and I spend time visiting my relatives and talking to them about Falun Dafa. Finally, the other two practitioners and I had a chance to meet. When we did meet both practitioners asked me, “Please tell us what you will be doing?” I was taken unaware and had no idea how to respond. At this point I suddenly realised that I had the tendency to be a follower and that I just waited for others to make a decision about Falun Dafa projects and activities and then simply join in. I had travelled thousands of miles to do something important for the Fa-rectification, yet I was totally unprepared for it. I suddenly understood that I had to take the initiative and decide what I wanted to do. At the same time I also realised that although we were strangers all of us were practitioners and that we had to cooperate well, especially since we were going to be staying together for a few weeks.

It involved a cultivation process for us to reach this point. Most of the time I was in a comfortable role, helping the European practitioner to translate radio interviews into English. Although she was grateful for my help, she compassionately pointed out my shortcomings, one of which was my lack of urgency, which I could recognise in all she did. At the same time, she was able to recognise and resolve her attachments and some of her conflicts with the local practitioner. I was caught in the middle, too timid to give too much feedback, yet waiting patiently for the tension to tone down. I now know that I was selfish at that time, involved only with myself and caught in the attachment to draw back because of the fear to be hurt. I should really have had enough compassion to point out the shortcomings I recognised in both of them.

I continued to visit relatives I had not seen in years. While talking to them about Falun Dafa and explaining why I had decided to come to Chile in winter, but especially after my exchange with the practitioners, I became crystal clear in the role I had to play at this time. I decided to contact the government leaders.

With the help of the European practitioner I was able to prepare some informational packages. To save time I stayed with her overnight and needed to borrow some of her belongings. This was very difficult for me, as I did not want to become a nuisance. Again, I had the distinct feeling that I had no right to reveal my origin. She openly showed her anger frequently about being unable to be alone, as she was accustomed to and did not hesitate to tell me so. Naturally, everything was arranged perfectly.

I spent the afternoon of the following day writing letters to the government leaders in Spanish. The local practitioner arrived and helped correct my grammar and gave me feedback. I put my heart into every word in the letters. Once I was finished, I felt great satisfaction and peace. The next day I delivered the packages in person to the presidential palace and other government buildings. I told everyone I met the truth about Falun Dafa and the persecution. All of them were open and accepted freely what I told them and some appeared to be grateful for my efforts. There were also some who wanted to know what motivated me to undertake this activity. When I answered, my words just flowed forth. I was no longer stuck in the rut of having to follow others and was no longer thoughtless and involved with my little old self. I was concentrating on the things a Falun Dafa practitioner had to do during the Fa-rectification period. Though, I must admit I was nervous at times, but it did not take me long to calm down. All in all, I felt as if our Teacher was supporting me during this process.

Before leaving Chile, we three had time to reflect, see what we had achieved and also look at our shortcomings. I suddenly understood the concept of cooperating as one-body, especially when we can let go of self, we are able to cooperate with others and walk our path openly. Looking back, I know now that I have made a step forward, even if it is just a small one.

Master Li, thank you. Thank you fellow practitioners and thank you for letting me share my experiences with you.

Original article: http://de.clearharmony.net/articles/200505/23691.html