PureInsight | October 20, 2025
[PureInsight.org] I have been cultivating for twenty-eight years now. Looking back, most of it was superficial. Although I have done a lot of Dafa work, but haven’t truly put effort into genuine cultivation. I’ve often mixed in human notions while doing things. When problems arose, I would say with my mouth that I was looking within, but it was just like brushing off a bit of dust—my attachments were still wrapped up inside. To others, I may have looked radiant on the surface.
I always thought I wasn’t a selfish person. Among ordinary people, I didn’t like to compete or fight, and from childhood I was willing to give to others. In terms of money and material things, I considered myself quite generous. After starting cultivation, I thought that when it came to interests, I didn’t need to painfully cut things off from deep inside.
Some attachments don’t show themselves until they’re touched. When it’s time to remove them, things will happen. My mother-in-law has always lived with my husband’s younger sister. When my mother-in-law was hospitalized, my husband asked me to give money to his sister. I gave her money twice without thinking much of it. But when my husband asked me again, I thought: my mother-in-law’s hospitalization didn’t really cost much, yet I’ve already given several thousand, and now he wants me to give more. My mother-in-law receives tens of thousands in salary each year. At my sister-in-law’s home, all she does is eat, and she can’t possibly spend all her income. Besides, she has medical insurance, so medical expenses don’t cost much. Their family’s monthly income is so high paying these medical bills is nothing for them. But when I give money, they take it for granted.
My sister-in-law even told me, “Sister-in-law, Mom has her own salary. None of the other sisters gave money, but I accepted yours. You’re really thoughtful, you’ve really done your part.” Those words really hit my heart. Outwardly, I agreed with her, but inwardly I thought: why don’t they take anyone else’s money, but only mine? Isn’t this clearly targeting my attachment to imbalance over personal interests? This notion still needs to be cultivated away.
In cultivating within Dafa, I gradually came to realize that selfishness does not only manifest in matters of personal interest—seeking fame is also selfishness. For example, when buying something, in order to have a vendor recognize Dafa, I would let him overcharge me without minding it. In handling matters, I would intentionally take a loss, which earned me praise from many people, and I even felt pleased by it. Although it seemed to be for validating the Fa, in reality it was mixed with the attachment of seeking reputation. Sometimes ordinary people take advantage of Falun Gong practitioners’ kindness and keep demanding things from us. That, too, allows them to commit sins, and at its root, it is still selfishness. After reading the article “What Is True Compassion” with Master’s commentary, I realized that the fellow practitioner spoke with great rationality. He corrected ordinary people’s incorrect thinking and prevented them from committing crimes against Dafa disciples. I came to understand that we should elevate from ordinary human kindness to true compassion—only by not letting sentient beings commit sins can it be called selfless and compassionate.
Selfishness is the attribute of beings in the old universe, while the new universe is built upon selflessness and living for others. Dafa disciples cultivate in the human world: the parts that are cultivated well assimilate to the new universe; but the parts not yet assimilated still belong to the old universe, still full of human attachments. Sometimes these must be removed through heart-wrenching trials. I have come to understand that the process of Dafa disciples assisting Master in Fa-rectification and saving sentient beings is also the process of tempering and assimilating to the new universe.
Looking back on some of my incorrect states in cultivation, I have gradually been rectifying them. Yet long-formed stubborn notions still surface from time to time. Although I know from the FA that I should cultivate tolerance, endure, and look within, sometimes I still look outward, measuring right and wrong with human reasoning. When working with fellow practitioners, conflicts may arise; sometimes I’m even wrongly blamed, and then my heart of imbalance comes out, followed by complaining and grievance—everything spills out. Even when spending money, deeply hidden attachments are still there. Now I truly regard it as a good thing when these attachments surface, because it gives me the chance to put in effort to eliminate them.
I’ve discovered that when my heart broadens and my rationality elevates, those attachments are no longer towering mountains—they become very small. My heart can remain calm and unmoved. The tolerance among fellow practitioners sometimes makes me feel deep warmth when meeting them—it is the compassionate field of practitioners that influences me. I’ve also found that when I don’t dwell on others’ shortcomings and instead keep their good points in my heart, my own sky becomes clear, and the dark clouds disperse. The new universe is built on living for others. By cultivating a realm of tolerance and selflessness, Master lifts up his disciples.
Chinese version: https://www.zhengjian.org/node/297656
