Good morning, Master Li.
Good morning, fellow practitioners.
My name is Wei Ji. I am a practitioner at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. I have been practicing Falun Dafa for two and a half years. Today, I am very glad to have a chance to report my experience to Master Li, as well as to my fellow practitioners.
When I was little I had a lot of thoughts and feelings concerning my life. I observed that in the human society people were blinded by greed and that their exclusive concern was money. I always felt sad when I saw the phenomenon. I thought about finding a cave in the mountains after my retirement where I could live freely in seclusion.
The first time I saw Master's photo was in 1996 when I went to visit my uncle's house. I can not describe my feeling when I saw him. My heart suffered for some unknown reason. At that time, my understanding for Qigong was just doing some exercises; therefore, I did not think about learning it.
In September 1997, I transferred from San Francisco to Los Angeles to finish my BA degree. I was surprised when I found out my roommate was also a Falun Gong practitioner. I didn't know why I always met people who practiced Falun Gong. She talked a lot about Falun Dafa and even lent me her book. Then I started to practice with her afterwards. At the beginning, I did not know how to practice cultivation because I did not read Zhuan Falun very often. After several months I suddenly realized that I had been waiting so long to obtain Dafa. I knew this idea came from my heart, but I did not know why I got it. I told myself that I must be a genuine practitioner, and I wished to succeed in it eventually.
In June 1999, I was under the pressure of graduation. I could not go through many barriers which were all related to my Xinxing. I could not pass one barrier, and the next one still came to me. It was the first time that I got a "D" in a midterm. One week before the final exams, the relationship between my boyfriend and I collapsed. I kept crying silently in front of Master's photo. I did not even want to attend the finals. I knew it was my barrier, so I had to overcome it. Master says in Zhuan Falun that "as long as you upgrade your Xinxing, and you will be able to overcome them unless you do not wish to do so. You will be able to make it if you want to do it." (P145) Then I put my bad mood aside and studied hard for my finals. Eventually I passed all my classes.
Right after I moved back to San Francisco, I went to attend a conference in France. I always heard people say that Paris is a very romantic city. I looked forward to its ancient culture and long history, but it seemed that I did not have a chance to enjoy anything. My passport, green card, air ticket, and some cash all disappeared when I just arrived in Paris. At that moment, I could not think about anything in my mind. Master Li states in Zhuan Falun that "of course, you will not be informed of the tribulations or conflicts ahead of time. How can you practice cultivation if you are told everything in advance." (P146) I calmed down and told myself to take it lightly. It was due to Master whom arranged everything for me to release karma and upgrade my Xinxing. If I were arranged to stay in Paris, I would still be a genuine practitioner.
The next day after the conference was my 22nd birthday. This was an unforgettable birthday because I was applying for the traveler's document to replace my passport in front of the Chinese Embassy. In the afternoon, I went to the Musee du Louvre with the other two practitioners. But when we got there, the Museum was almost closed. We stayed there for a little while. The two practitioners did not have time to go again because they planned to visit other European countries the next morning. They told me to take some nice pictures of the museum since I would wait here for my documents for the next few days.
After they left Paris, I planned to read my book near the River Seine. First of all, I called the airport and asked if there were other documents that I needed so I would prepare first. I was so surprised when I was told that all my documents had been found, and I could pick them up in the lost and found office at the airport. On my way to the airport, I remembered that Master says that " ... in our cultivation way, those who practice cultivation among the ordinary people are required to do it in the ordinary human society and to maintain maximally as close to the ordinary people as possible. You are not asked to really lose everything in terms of material interest. (P139 in Zhuan Falun.) Once I got rid of my attachment, I would get back whatever belonged to me. At the same time, I also released some karma. I was so glad to have a chance to improve myself.
Suddenly a Chinese guy blocked my way. He looked very familiar, but I couldn't remember where I had seen him before. He told me that he was applying for the traveler's document to go back to China; however, he still needed 60 Franc to get the document. He said he had a phone card which was worth 70 Franc, but he would like to sell it for 60 Franc. Then I just remembered that I saw him line up in front of the Chinese Embassy yesterday. He looked very tired so I did not want to refuse him. I pulled 70 Francs from my wallet and handed it to him. He was surprised. Maybe he thought I would refuse or lower the price of the phone card. Then he tried to give me his phone card. I said I could not accept it. He persisted that I must take it. Suddenly an idea flashed through my mind: I should spread Dafa to him. Then I told him: "I can not take it because I am a Falun Gong practitioner." He was very interested and asked me to tell him more. I did a brief introduction. He said that he saw people practicing near the area where he lived. He would like to learn if he had time. He also asked me for the phone number of the contact person in Paris.
In the following days, I did not have a chance either to visit the Museum Louvre or to go to the River Seine. I was staying at a local practitioner's house. We studied Dafa and shared our experiences with practitioners from different countries. The practitioners' enthusiasm towards studying Dafa did not lessen due to the variety of languages they spoke. We used Chinese, English, French, and Swedish to read Zhuan Falun and Essentials for Further Advances. I even helped local practitioners translate a letter to the mass media because of some incorrect news reports after the conference.
On my way back to the U.S., I met a practitioner who just came back from other European countries. I told her what I saw and heard during those days in Paris. I was very glad to have a chance to improve my Xinxing. At the same time it was my honor to do a little thing for Dafa.
Two weeks after I came back from France, the Chinese government started to crack down on Falun Gong practitioners in China. I decided to go to Washington, D.C. My parents were against the trip because they were afraid that I would lose everything again. However, I still wanted to go.
I bought the air ticket and said goodbye to my parents. When I got to Washington, D.C., I saw many practitioners put down their jobs, schools, and families to go there. I was moved when they spread Dafa and practiced the exercises under the sweltering heat. I became one of them. We visited the congressman's office. In the meantime, we also wrote letters to the president and senators. Some practitioners went to see the media. Those days I felt I was like a drop in the ocean. All practitioners were like my family members and we formed an integral whole.
At the end of 1999, I found a full-time job at the accounting department in a hotel. My boss is a joker. When he knew that I was a Falun Gong practitioner, he was very surprised and interested. But he was a very humorous guy, so he always made jokes. Sometimes those jokes were related to Dafa. Even though he bore no ill will, I felt that it was not good. I told him to be careful about what he said, but he always forgot and made the same mistake again. Once I told him seriously: "You can blame me for anything you want, but do not even say a word about Falun Gong. Otherwise, I will quit the job." My boss waved his hands and said he did not mean that. I also realized that I overstated my points. I threatened him without benevolence. Then I started to tell him the reasons why he should not make such a joke. Now he talks less about it.
During my work, Master always uses other peoples' mouths to give me some hints. One day I felt very tried when I went to work, so I complained. My boss said: "I thought you Falun Gong practitioners don't feel tired or complain." I realized I was wrong, so I said: "You're right. I shouldn't say it." Once I got home very late from the Boston Conference. The next morning I could not get up to practice. I told my boss and he said: "Too bad." I was ashamed and said to myself it would never happen again.
One of my co-workers was very mean to me when I started to gain experience from her. When I asked her questions, she did not look very patient. I was very unhappy. I thought, of course that I don't know. Otherwise I would not ask you. I never learned this before, so how could I know? Sometimes she spoke so fast that I could not remember at all. When I asked her for more help, she complained again. Those days I went to work in a bad mood. I was thinking maybe I should quit the job and go back to China. Soon I remembered Master said that "the matter and the mind are one thing." Master mentions in Zhuan Falun:
"Today those who specialize in the study activities and the human thoughts can generate a substance. At the very high level we have found that it is indeed a substance. However, this substance is not in the form of the brain wave as we have discovered in the research. Instead, it is in the form of a complete human brain. "(P195)
On one side, when I released bad matter from my mind and directed it towards other people, surely they would mistreat me. On the other side, I have been pampered since childhood because I am the only child in my family. If I saw anyone slow in doing things, I would be very impatient. I always described that my internal organs were itchy when I saw this type of person. To do things slowly or fast can be a person's characteristic, but any bad habit or attachment according to its characteristic should be gotten rid of by practitioners. After I saw my own shortcomings, I tried to change my mind. If I had any questions, I would ask her modestly. I found that she started to teach me patiently. Sometimes she complained, I smiled and told her that I would remember it next time. And she also laughed. From then on, I was not disgusted by what she said to me. Moreover, I feel she is very cute because she says whatever she thinks or feels.
Master says that "...the whole cultivation process for a practitioner will be one of constantly giving up the human attachments." (P2 in Zhuan Falun) If I cannot overcome the difficulty, my heart suffers a lot. Once I realize I am a genuine practitioner, I become confident and tell myself that I definitely will overcome it. The whole human society is in the maze. People are glad if they get a little personal interest, and they become sad if they lose some. Because they cannot get rid of human attachments, they suffer so much. To think about before, when I cried out in front of Master's photo, I could not imagine how sad he would be. After I really get rid of my attachments, my heart will be calm. Just as what Master mentions: "...there will be bright flowers and another village ahead."
How great our Master is. How many difficulties and hardships had he overcome in order to save us? I cannot imagine. What Master gives to us cannot be described by the human language and even the language of the whole universe. We are just tiny beings, but we can hear the principle of the universe? How can we not cherish it the most? How can we not strive forward? I am on the way to returning to my true home. No matter how beset with difficulties in front of me or how rugged and rough the path is, I will still march forward courageously. To always remember I am a genuine practitioner; to listen to what Master teaches; to assimilate to the principle of the universe - Zhen-Shan-Ren (Truthfulness, Benevolence, Forbearance); and to "attain the righteous enlightenment of selflessness and altruism."
Save with Hardship
Came before the calamity, steering the Dafa boat.
Billions of dangers and hardships laid the barriers.
Carried the universe, which started to crumble.
After ten thousand years of dreams, finally reached the harbor.
Thank you, Master Li.
Thank you, my fellow practitioners.
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Category: Improving Oneself
