(Clearwisdom.net) Group practice and Fa-study is the cultivation environment Teacher left for us. Since July 20th 1999 when the persecution started, many practitioners have been abducted, detained or sentenced to labor camps. As a result, practitioners lost contact with each other and missed such a good environment. As the process of Fa rectification is moving forward quickly, we reestablished our group study and experience sharing in early 2004. At the beginning, there were only four to five people meeting once a week. Later, the number increased to over ten people and sometimes it reaches over seventy people. This environment gradually encouraged those practitioners who hid at home and dared not to step out. It helped us coordinate as a whole body and ensured that we do the three things well.
Practitioner A is determined to cultivate, although she has not received much education. Since July 20th 1999, her family was opposed to her continuing the practice. She only said, "I will practice, even if I would lose my life." Now her family no longer opposes her practice. Instead, they support her in doing the three things well.
Practitioner B was detained for one month because she practiced in public after the persecution started. Under heavy pressure, she wrote a "guarantee" promising not to practice Falun Gong. Afterwards, she regretted it and kept studying the Fa and practicing the exercises at home. After attending the group study and sharing her experience with others, she realized that she made a mistake. She wrote a declaration to announce her guarantee was invalid. The head of her work unit told her, "Consider this. If you insist on practicing Falun Gong, you will be expelled from this work unit." She was very afraid and withdrew her declaration.
Through group study and help from other practitioners, she realized that practitioners have a responsibility of clarifying the truth and saving sentient beings. Submitting the declaration is not to validate herself, but to validate the Fa and to clarify the truth. She then resubmitted the declaration along with copies of some rules and laws. She told the head of her work unit, "Freedom of religion is the basic right of any Chinese citizen. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be a good person that follows the principles of Truth, Compassion and Tolerance. You will violate the law if you expel me from my work and I can sue you." This time he was scared and said, "We need to study the law. If you think that Falun Gong is good, you can practice it at home."
Practitioner C treated the torture with an ordinary people's mentality. When the evil person went to him, he would promise not to practice any more. When they left, he would distribute Dafa materials and clarify the truth. Later, he was sentenced to one year in a labor camp. He wrote a "guarantee" promising to not practice Falun Gong. After he was released, he still did some Dafa work. The evil took this loophole and endlessly harassed him by taking him to the brainwashing class. He once again promised not to practice any more. After studying the Fa and sharing with others, he realized that he treated Dafa with an ordinary person's mentality. Cultivation is a serious matter. He then sincerely documented all the torture he suffered in the labor camp and submitted it to his work unit and security office. Meanwhile, he publicly declared on Minghui/Clearwisdom that he would continue his cultivation. He has not been harassed since.
Practitioner D was forced into a brainwashing class in 2001. Influenced by those who stepped onto a deviated path, he was "transformed" and thought that he was at a high level. Meanwhile, he also wondered why there were still so many practitioners still insisting on practicing. He was confused, as he did not study the Fa. Not until fellow practitioner showed him Teacher's new article and he attended the group study and experience sharing, did he finally wake up and rejoin the current of Fa rectification. One day, when the police came, he told them his determination in practicing Dafa in a dignified manner. He also talked about his own experience whereby practicing Falun Gong had cured his fatal diseases and that good and evil will be repaid. He kept clarifying the truth and distributing Dafa materials. He is now doing the three things very well and is truly a Dafa disciple in the Fa rectification period.
The above are some examples from our group study. Group study has helped us to improve within the Fa and rectify ourselves constantly.
Please point out anything that is inappropriate.