(Clearwisdom.net) In the Fa-rectification process, every Dafa practitioner is using his or her own talents and circumstances to clarify the truth to the world's people so as to create an environment and chance for the sentient beings to obtain the Fa. I am an opera soprano. I have studied advanced opera singing courses in Italy for seven years.
The speed of the Fa-rectification is really rapid, which makes me feel that besides doing well with the related Dafa jobs in the present situation, in our minds we should also break through our understanding of the present situation so as to be really able to catch up with the Fa-rectification process. On June 7, 2002, we performed a new symphony entitled "Falun Dafa is Good" for the first time in the Taipei National Music Hall. This is the first symphony composed about Falun Dafa. The music was brilliant and uplifting. The audience of over two thousand people was greatly moved, as I believe those who hear it performed in the future will be, having the chance to have fulfill a predestined relationship with Dafa.
My husband, Peter Ritzen, a Belgian pianist and composer, finished composing the music in the middle of this May. He named the piece "A Symphony: Falun Dafa is Good" We planned to record the music in Taipei's National Music Hall, an excellent location for this kind of project. We invited a world famous conductor for the occasion.
In March 2002, I traveled to Europe to perform in concert with other practitioners. I came to understand that when we perform, we are able to break through various dimensions and eliminate the evil's persecution of us. A practitioner from the United States said, "Wherever we go and sing, our songs break through all dimensions to clear out the old forces and the evil persecution." I now better understand the function of promoting the Fa and clarifying the truth by presenting our performances with righteous thoughts.
There were over two hundred people comprising the orchestra and choir. Among them there were thirty-eight practitioners. All of us sang together, "Falun Dafa is Good! Falun Dafa is the righteous way, with the Buddha's light illuminating everywhere (the words of the song)." We sent forth righteous thoughts while singing. Practitioners in the audience sent righteous thoughts at the same time.
The experience was an excellent cultivation experience for me. I clarified the truth to many people and I kept sending forth righteous thoughts. I sent righteous thoughts to help me better express myself when I spoke with others, and to make my righteous thoughts more powerful. I sent the thought that I should not leave any gaps for the evil to use to interfere with the many people who have had the opportunity to join in this performance. With so many people involved, there were lots of unexpected difficulties, but I never allowed myself to have the thought that the performance would not succeed, since it was supposed to be successful. Many practitioners supported and helped.
After the conductor arrived, he told me that he had not slept well, and had awoken at about 5:00 that morning, not knowing who or where he was, or why he was there. He tried to make himself fall asleep. After he woke up later in the morning, everything returned to normal. That same day, we were going to hold a press conference. My husband Peter suddenly felt a backache at noon and said that he probably could not attend the press conference. I understood that it was evil interference. We have the duty and ability to protect those who help Dafa. The evil demons have used all kinds of means to test practitioners. I calmed myself down and sent righteous thoughts for about ten minutes. After a little while, Peter got up from the bed and told me that his back felt okay and that we could go. For several days afterwards, the conductor also slept well. I knew it was the mighty power of righteous thoughts. There were also many practitioners who were sending forth righteous thoughts quietly for the performance. I enlightened that I should send righteous thoughts to save people and to help to eliminate evil interference.
The concert was going to be held on Friday. The preceding Sunday, I stayed up late to prepare the program. All day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, I received seemingly endless calls and slept very little. I kept sending forth righteous thoughts so that I could have enough time to read the books and do the exercises. On Wednesday, my voice became hoarse. On Thursday, my voice became even hoarser. Suddenly the thought came to me that if I could not sing on Friday, all the arrangements and efforts would be destroyed in one moment. Very quickly, I used my righteous thoughts to eliminate this thought. This thought was an illusion. I would be able to sing with no problem. I was not afraid. Suddenly Master's words came into my mind: "Indestructible righteous faith in the cosmos's Truth forms benevolent Dafa disciples' rock-solid, diamond-like bodies, it frightens all evil, and the light of Truth it emanates makes the unrighteous elements in all beings' thoughts disintegrate." ("Also in a Few Words") All the factors that wanted to prevent this performance failed. Their last hope was to stop me from singing. I kept thinking of Master's words, and reciting silently Master's Fa-rectification verses.
On Thursday, a practitioner told me: "I can see that you have pushed yourself to the limit." I said: "Don't worry. I will be ok." I also thought I had pushed myself to the limit. What could I do? The only way was to strengthen my endurance. I did not take the interference seriously and did whatever I could to prepare for the performance. I realized that if I didn't feel that I was enduring to an extreme, the question of whether I could forbear or not would cease to exist.
On Friday evening, the time for the performance finally came. My voice was still somewhat hoarse, but there was no problem after I began to sing. I sang with all my heart, and kept righteous thoughts with all my heart. I hoped that for this important performance, I could use all my heart and strength to finish.
After the recording was finished, we went backstage to wait for the final performance. Before I went onstage, I tried to use my voice. Since I had stayed too long in the dressing room where the cold air-conditioned air was too strong, my voice became even worse. I looked distracted for several seconds before I opened the door and went to the stage determinedly. The people in the chorus and the orchestra took their positions. The applause rose again. It was time for the grand finale of the evening, "Falun Dafa is Good!"
I did not feel nervous. I felt peaceful since I knew I had so many fellow practitioners who were just like my own family with me. I felt happy and honored. I could hardly use any words to express my feelings. Amidst the sweet and uplifting music, and righteous thoughts and beliefs, the music came to an end, and the performance came to an end. However the really magnificent music still reverberates in the human world.
Those who heard the performance were touched and moved. I felt that we should especially cherish the efforts and assistance from the many non-practitioners who helped us. The famous conductor was a living exhibition of "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance."
I want to express my gratefulness again to all who helped us.
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