Let Go of Ego and Treat Fellow Practitioners with Compassion

A few days ago, several elderly practitioners met and exchanged their views on their understandings of Fa. I noticed that, while the exchanges appeared quite harmonious, it seemed to me that each person was holding on to his own views and seemed to reject others' viewpoints. It seemed to me that this was because of ego or "self." Behind the friendly exchanges there was an insistence on a personal viewpoint. I have practiced Dafa for over ten years. I think this lack of acceptance of others is something that we need to overcome.

During another meeting with several practitioners, three of them got into an argument. At this time I noticed that one practitioner next to me was sitting calmly, unmoved by what was happening. A saying by ordinary people came to mind, "A person with great wisdom appears innocent to others." This incident allowed me to see the difference between myself and other practitioners. Actually, Master stated in "Explaining the Fa During the 2003 Lantern Festival at the U.S. West Fa Conference,"

"Don't look at the negative side of other people. You should always look at their positive side."

Further, in "Teaching the Fa at the 2002 Fa Conference in Philadelphia, U.S.A." Master stated,

"Also, if there's something lacking in it they'll unconditionally and quietly
supplement it to make things more complete and perfect."

I feel that practitioners with many years of study have learned and understood some aspects of Fa through personal experience. However, if someone insists on his or her own personal understanding and wants to impose it on others, that is a sign of ego. When some practitioners talk about their understandings of the Fa, or when they talk about how they use the Fa to get out of trouble, or how they are able to do this and that, I feel there is an ego behind these words. Just think. Without Master's protection, could any practitioner survive in today's evil environment? A practitioner plays a very small part in Fa-rectification.

Actually, I had the same problem. For a time, whenever I read practitioners' articles, I automatically judged whether the writing was good or not so good. If the ideas were in agreement with mine, the articles seemed good to me, while other ideas seemed in need of correction. Clearly, there was an ego exercising judgment. Of course, I do not mean that exchanging different ideas is not good. What I am emphasizing is the need to let go of our "ego."

While studying the Fa on jealousy, I understood more about ego. In Zhuan Falun it is states,

"This also occurs among true practitioners, for mutual disrespect and not eliminating the attachment to competition can both easily lead to jealousy."

In particular, the statement "Shen Gongbao found Jiang Ziya to be both old and incompetent" indicates that Shen had a very strong ego. Also in Zhuan Falun, the word "I" in

"You see how capable I am. After my head is cut off, I can put it back on my shoulders. Why wasn't I asked to confer titles on immortals?"

indicates that the impact of ego is very strong in the human world. It may be less obvious in higher realms in the old universe, but it is still there.

Reflecting on my own cultivation, I view it as a process to clean out the "ego." At times I felt that I had removed the ego, but it showed up again in a different setting. Over the last few years I seemed to know all the weaknesses of fellow practitioners, but I was not very clear about their strengths. Moreover, I liked to ask practitioners, "How is So-and-So now?" My family members asked me, "How come you look down on everybody? What has happened to you?"

Yes, what has happened to me? Actually, I know very clearly it is my "ego." I was not able to let go of my "ego." When the "ego" looks around, it notices everything that is not in line with the Fa. I know I am moving forward with great difficulty. When I was able to remove an attachment or some karma, the size of my ego was reduced, and I felt more peaceful and in harmony.