Minor Details Are Also Important

I have always wanted to point out something to my fellow practitioners. I thought that many people would only consider this point a minor detail and that everybody, including myself, carries this habit. But after reading articles on Falun Dafa related websites, and recalling the things Master has mentioned many times about similar problems in lectures, I enlightened to the fact that worrying about it is an attachment. I believe I should make this clear in order to protect the image of Falun Dafa.

Many of us have a habit. When we sit, some of us like crossing one leg over another, or placing one leg on the other knee. Some people sit with two legs wide open and some people like shaking their legs. These behaviours are in fact very uncivil. It is disrespectful if you talk to others like that. In traditional culture, humans didn't have this type of demeanour. I am reminded that those who practised martial arts in ancient times had a saying: "Stand like a pine tree, sit like a clock, sleep like the bough of a tree and walk like the wind." Nonetheless, people today pursue self-liberation and never take this saying seriously.

Master said in his "Congratulatory Statement to the New York Fa Conference":

"At present, all that you are doing is the most sacred, all that you are doing is for the sentient beings, and all that you are doing is creating the future."

We were bestowed with such a heavy responsibility. Then won't our actions and demeanour be imitated by people in the future? Although we may view this as a minor detail, it is in fact closely related to the future of mankind. This is not something minor. Master said in the article "Sage" that "he is full of great aspirations while minding minor details". I understand that he is actually telling us the characteristics a cultivator should possess. Therefore cultivators should be strict with themselves in their demeanour and actions, including details that are considered to be minor by others.

In our Falun Gong related materials and VCD's, some hosts and interviewees, of which many are practitioners, often carry this habit. Of course they do it subconsciously. Some hosts and interviewees speak very well and what they say sounds very convincing. But unfortunately, due to their improper sitting posture, people feel uncomfortable and thus it weakens the effect of the materials. For those who care a lot about these minor details, these subconscious actions may form an obstacle to their understanding of the truth. Therefore we should pay more attention to this problem.

I used to have this bad habit. This was a habit formed over a long period. I am fairly tall and have long legs. I feel comfortable with one leg crossed over another. Although I knew it was a bad habit, I wasn't determined to correct it. I would even sit like that when I read Falun Dafa books. I later on decided to correct this habit. I would sit straight while reading Falun Dafa books and pay more attention to my appearance while talking to others. But when I was alone, I would slack off. Now I am determined to completely correct this habit, to behave properly regardless of whether or not others are present.

Chinese people have the saying, 'to have consistent demeanour in all circumstances'. We cultivate our nature to purify our hearts. At the same time, we need to have a proper image and be upright Falun Dafa practitioners.