Shared at 2003 European Falun Dafa Conference
(Clearwisdom.net) I attended my first Falun Dafa class in 1998 during my final year of college. One day I saw a poster on campus: "Falun Dafa, a high-level qigong based on the principles of the universe, Truth, Compassion, Forbearance." I had studied many other cultivation practices beforehand, and was initially quite skeptical. Nevertheless, I went along to the Falun Dafa class, and learned the exercises. I also read Falun Gong. The first sentence I read in "Lunyu" challenged many notions I had at the time, ""The Buddha Fa" is most profound; among all the theories in the world, it is the most intricate and extraordinary science." Many notions were preventing me from seeing the deeper principles of the Fa at this time. After a few weeks, I stopped practicing.
On almost exactly the 20th of July 1999, I began to feel severely depressed with life, so depressed that I did not seem to care about anything anymore. I now believe that this was an arrangement of the old forces. In the "Fa-Lecture at the Conference in Florida, U.S.A.," Master told us: "During the period of time after July 20, 1999, probably every student felt that the evil seemed to penetrate everything, being everywhere. The whole thing really seemed like what those prophets had said--the evil came as if eclipsing the sky and covering the earth, and it was really as if the heavens had collapsed. The evil was everywhere." I really felt like this at that time, and I believe that the old forces were trying to prevent me from obtaining the Fa and becoming a Fa-rectification disciple.
This continued for two years, until May 2001 when I came back to the Falun Dafa classes. During my first reading session, while reading the Falun Buddha Fa - Lectures in the United States, I felt that my mind was opening up. Master Li's insight and the power of the Fa penetrated beyond the depths of my depression and despair. As Master talked about dimensions and other phenomena, I instantly accepted it, and found it fascinating. This time there was no doubt in my mind that "The Buddha Fa is most profound!"
I felt better than I had felt in years, and this was only in the space of a couple of hours.
I could not believe how powerful Falun Dafa was. I was overjoyed, as I felt that I had been given a new life. After reading about the persecution, I wanted to help expose the evil and show people how great Falun Dafa truly is.
Two days later I went with the other practitioners in Dublin to clarify the truth and assist in the Fa-rectification, and I appeared on a national TV program practicing the exercises with the other practitioners in Ireland. I found it hard to believe that I had barely learned the exercises, and yet I was appearing on television and helping Master to rectify the Fa! I decided to dive right in to the process of Fa-rectification. About one week later, I started going to one of the busiest shopping streets in Dublin, to do Hongfa and clarify the truth. I also found it a precious environment to get rid of my attachments, such as my fame and reputation.
I read Zhuan Falun and many more of Master's books in a short space of time, and as I continued to read the Fa, I felt better and better. So many things suddenly became clear to me, and the questions I had pondered all my life were answered. I knew that this was what I had been searching for my whole life. I could not believe my great fortune at obtaining something so sacred and precious.
I began to have some extraordinary experiences. I had a dream that Master's fashen gave me a Falun. When I was watching the exercise instruction video, I could see a purple aura around Teacher. When I watched the lectures on video, I could see bright light and Master's gong flowing out of the television and filling the room. One day, I saw a white aura around a fellow practitioner. Having experienced these fascinating things, I thought I was dreaming and was waiting for somebody to wake me up!
After a month, I went to my first Fa conference in Gothenburg, Sweden. Meeting practitioners from all over the world, I felt that I had come home to my true family.
One day, while we were practicing, a big sun-ring appeared in the sky. I felt that it was like a door into another dimension, and though I could not see anything, I could feel in my heart that there were many Buddhas, Daos, and Gods watching us, and that they were very happy for us and for what we are doing in the Fa-rectification. It was just like Master told us, "The immeasurable and countless Buddhas, Daos, and Gods in the cosmos and the beings in even larger cosmic bodies are all watching everything on this tiny speck of dust in the cosmos" ("Towards Consummation" Essentials for Further Advancement II). After a big parade through the streets of Gothenburg, I felt that there were countless Gods safeguarding the Fa and watching over us.
In July 2002, I had the great privilege of listening to our Master teach the Fa at the conference in Washington DC. Tears streamed from my eyes as I watched Teacher lecture. I could not believe how lucky I was to see Him. As Master lectured, I could see Falun coming out of His body, and the big Falun symbol in front of Master was shining brightly.
Having experienced such wonderful things, I became even more determined in assisting Teacher in Fa-rectification. I knew that I had to work hard to be worthy of being called a Fa-rectification Period Dafa disciple. I had the great honor of being asked to help with some media work. Master says in "To the Clear Harmony Website of Europe," "This site is created to clarify the truth, to expose the evil's persecution, and to save the world's people. Also, you should realize the effect media has on the general public. It is extremely important in terms of people learning the truth about Dafa, saving the world's people, and exposing the evil; and, its influence is enormous."
Last October, I went to Houston to send forth righteous thoughts in close proximity to the evil head. As I was there, I felt how incredibly powerful our righteous thoughts are. I felt the Gong from Dafa disciples all over the world converging in the hotel where the evil head was staying, completely annihilating and destroying the evil in other dimensions. I felt that our bodies in other dimensions were incredibly huge and indestructible, like diamond, and that the evil was terrified by the power of Dafa disciples.
Throughout my path of Fa-rectification I have had many tribulations and tests. Probably my most difficult attachment to relinquish was that of reaching Consummation. Having obtained the Fa relatively late, I always felt that I needed to catch up with my fellow disciples, and for a while, my personal cultivation became more important to me than the Fa-rectification. As I study Fa more, and realize the sacredness and magnificence of the Fa-rectification, I have almost completely let go of this attachment. I also find that when I have a pure heart to help Master save sentient beings, I improve very quickly and don't really need to think too much about personal cultivation. Master also tells us, "Having heard the Dao in the morning, one can die in the evening."
Master continually emphasizes that in order to do a good job in Fa-rectification, we must study the Fa a lot and with a calm mind. From my understanding, when we study the Fa, we are assimilating to the requirements of the new cosmos, and only then can we do Fa-rectification effectively. But if we don't study the Fa, we are likely to be restrained by the old forces' deviated arrangements and by the principles of the old cosmos. Master says, "If things were done according to everything they arranged, think about it: wouldn't it be the same as nothing having been done, even after this was completed? How could it be acceptable if the same realm and standards were to remain after this is completed?" ("Teaching the Fa at the Great Lakes Fa Conference in North America") So only by studying the Fa a lot can it be true Fa-rectification that meets the standard of the new cosmos.
By studying the Fa, we have already assimilated to the Fa at different levels, so where will we go in the future? Master only looks at our hearts, and when we are pure, Master will help us overcome anything, and will certainly do everything in His power to ensure that we reach Consummation.
I often ask Teacher, "Out of all the countless sentient beings in the cosmos, why did you choose me to help you in the Fa-rectification? Out of all the magnificent Buddhas, Daos and Gods in the immense universe, why am I so lucky to be a Fa-Rectification Period Dafa disciple?" I sometimes cry when I enlighten to what Master has done for us. I will never understand our Master's Compassion, and I can never be grateful enough to Teacher. Just as Master said to one disciple, which applies equally to every single one of us, "You're the luckiest being in the cosmos. You're a Dafa student, and even Gods in the heavens are envious of you" (Lecture at the Australia Fa Conference in 1999).
These are only my own experiences and the manifestation of Fa at my own limited level.
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