Shared by a practitioner from the UK at the 2002 European Fa Conference in Copenhagen
Greetings to Master, Greetings to fellow practitioners
I am Jane from England. I made the decision to cultivate at the New York conference March 1998. Four years have passed, and I have not experienced any special physical feelings nor miraculous things. I don't even have many dreams. Sometime I even wonder whether the Master is taking care of me. I told myself that this is a trick on me by the thought karma. So long as I act according to Dafa, I am definitely a disciple of Master; the key is whether one truly cultivates.
Since 20 July 1999, practitioners have come out to validate the Fa and almost every weekend there are Hongfa or truth clarification events at various cities and towns. The first time I stood in the street to give out leaflets, I felt quite uneasy, and was like a little wooden person watching streams of people passing by, not knowing what to do with the materials held in my hands. After the day's activity was finished, the effect wasn't as good as one would have liked and I was quite concerned. What could be done? Through studying the Fa, I became genuinely clear that giving out leaflets is for clarifying the truth and saving sentient beings. I looked inward and found that my state of mind was not righteous: I cared about how I looked to others, I was afraid of being refused and was holding an attitude of being superior rather than a heart of genuinely caring about other people when giving out leaflets.
Having found the attachment, next time when I gave out leaflets, it became quite different. I changed from being like a log in the street to smiling and looking at people with sincerity while passing the leaflet to the person. I felt that they can feel the message and almost everyone took a leaflet. When someone refused to accept a leaflet, I just regretted his missing an opportunity but it would not affect my continuing to give out leaflets. From this experience, I understood that cultivation is not following others or copying a popular action. In Fa rectification, only after being clear about a project from the Fa's perspective, can one do it well. In the past, I liked to choose the Fa-rectification work that I enjoy doing. Later I understood, this way I have not placed Dafa in the 1st place. As a Fa rectification Dafa disciple, if the Fa-rectification process requires me to do something, then I should do it as best as I can.
I often think of how to keep up with the Fa rectification process and what is the requirement of the current Fa rectification stage for us. Studying the Fa, explaining the facts and sending forth righteous thoughts are three things that every practitioner should do. I not only read the Fa daily but have also experienced the benefits of group study. In the Midlands in the UK, there are two group studies a week. Chinese and Western practitioners study the Fa together and share experiences in a compassionate and harmonious atmosphere, which is great for ascending together. Practitioners not only understand issues within the Fa but also deal with it by taking concrete actions. When there is a project or activity, there is no need to push with lots of energy, one only needs to mention it and practitioners will act together.
Studying the Fa reveals the importance of sending forth righteous thought in close proximity, so I have taken part in events in Germany, Russia and Latvia. During those days, we sent forth righteous thoughts -- studied the Fa -- sent forth righteous thoughts -- practised the exercises, the cycle continued. The Fa study helped to purify the thoughts, practising exercises helped to replenish the energy. In those days the effect of ending forth righteous thoughts was very good. I realised that to have the purist righteous thoughts is the requirement for Dafa disciples during Fa rectification. The quality of our righteous thoughts could be more important than the quantity.
Returning home from the visits is like coming to a different world, being busy with various things. Recently, my computer developed problems and was almost paralysed. There are technical issues involved but also lots of interference. I examined myself. I was busy with various tasks and was less diligent with sending forth righteous thoughts. So I started to send forth righteous thoughts to the computer. Afterwards, I would test the computer to see if it worked. I then realised that my thought was not righteous enough. Why is it I must test the computer after sending righteous thoughts? -- because I was subconsciously doubting the effectiveness of sending righteous thoughts. Then it would not be effective, because the mind was not pure. When sending forth righteous thoughts, the heart should be certain of its effectiveness, then it can be effective. Actually, this is also a test of whether one firmly believes in Dafa. Now, although the computer still has some problems, I can do quite a few tasks with it.
I felt that explaining the facts to people is quite important. This is saving sentient beings. Clarifying the truth to Chinese people in and outside China should be broadened. The effort on government and media work should be deepened. I felt that the recent incidents in Germany, Russia, Iceland, Hong Kong, Cambodia etc are all opportunities for clarifying the truth. How do we make the most and best use of these opportunities? Because I was busy with other projects, I felt dealing with what happened in the Hong Kong trial was somehow not directly related to me and that it was a matter for other practitioners. I didn't think much about it in my heart. Teacher told us that his issue is your issue and your issue is his issue. I asked myself why the persecution incidents could be exported by Jiang's regime to abroad? Is it an arrangement of the old forces? Or is it because we have loopholes in our cultivation? Where is the loophole? What should be improved? Teacher mentioned in "Touring North America to Teach the Fa" that the old forces direct vicious people to beat practitioners. They said that their intention of beating the practitioner is to force him to come up with righteous thoughts. The evil old forces seem to be beating us again and again--is it because righteous thoughts are lacking? We not only need to send forth righteous thoughts, but also need to use righteous thoughts in dealing with each issue. The first thought when encountering an issue is important and should be righteous -- denying all persecution against Dafa, we should resist it, because it shouldn't happen. When righteous thoughts come out, they will be followed by righteous actions. At the same time, ideas about how best to make use of the opportunities will come up to clarify the truth from various angles and in various areas. When I understood the situation from within the Fa, the ideas came. For example, the relationship between Hong Kong and the UK is special. The trial in HK is not only a good opportunity of clarifying the truth to the government and media, I also realised that it is a good subject for explaining the facts to the legal sectors of the society, which we have not worked on as much as we did in other areas. The people in legal professions resent placing political power over the law, so the incidents in HK allow us to make use of this to clarify the truth. When I understood this, action started to make it a reality.
The above are some of my personal experiences, please kindly point out anything that is not appropriate.
(Copenhagen, September 22, 2002)
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Category: Journeys of Cultivation
