I came across the Falun Gong practice in an unexpected way. Two years back, while I was walking in the streets of Mumbai, my eyes fell on the book Falun Gong in a sidewalk bookstall. I bought the book without a single thought in my head. At that time, I was not looking for any new path, as I was already involved in other spiritual practices. Initially, I did not realize what the book was about. Without reading it seriously, I looked at the instructions for the first exercise, "Buddha Showing the Thousand Hands". The moment I did the movements, to my amazement, I felt as if I had been transported to a different realm. I could not understand how such a simple movement could be so powerful. Then I read the whole book and started doing the first two exercises. By this time, I came to realize the extraordinary nature of Falun Dafa and wanted to give up all other spiritual pursuits. I contacted the assistant at the Mumbai centre, learned the other Falun Dafa exercises, and obtained the book, Zhuan Falun. Reading the book was such an elevating experience. It clarified many of my inner doubts and confusion about spirituality and cultivation. Many disconnected experiences in my life became coherent and meaningful. I effortlessly gave up my attachments to certain sentimental relationships of mine. Nevertheless I had difficulty in maintaining my xinxing level in times of tribulations. I had a setback in my practice for some time. I found that the hold of my earlier spiritual interests had not left me and I had difficulty getting fully into Falun Dafa. I was in a peculiar state of not belonging to any system with conviction.
But one night, I had a dream that I was at a gathering of Falun Dafa practitioners. When I joined the group, the practitioners told me that the Master was upstairs. I climbed the stairs and saw Master seated, surrounded by people. I decided to approach Master, as I wanted to hand over some pamphlets from my handbag. These pamphlets contained all the details about the spiritual paths I had been interested in earlier. But try as I might, I could not approach Master while holding on to these pamphlets; the more I tried, the further away He became.
I woke up with a sudden clearing in my head. I could feel that my previous involvements had been dissolved, and I regained my determination to be a wholehearted Dafa practitioner. Earlier I had relied upon a greater force to do everything for me without any rational outlook. Whatever improvement I gained was superficial and temporary. Now I see that my nature is being transformed from within and every little step of progress is sure and steady. However, cultivation practice is long and arduous. What is gained one day might be lost the next day if one's "xinxing" is not guarded. Sometimes I get a glimpse of the enormity of the task of cultivation, which is daunting. But I will continue as a Dafa practitioner, for I know that my future lies with Falun Dafa.
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Category: Beginning Cultivation
