(Clearwisdom.net) In North America, children are sacred for Chinese families, especially the young ones who are called "teenagers" in English. Many people think they are "troublemakers." The differences in culture, language, habits, and parental expectations create special circumstances for Chinese families. It seems that the young people who grow up in Chinese families are even harder to communicate with. Let's look in on three Chinese families and talk with young cultivators of Falun Dafa. We hope their experiences will bring us some understandings.
Elaine, 17 years old: "Falun Dafa is the guideline in my life."
Elaine, a typical ABC (America-born Chinese), is youthful and lively. She likes rabbits, and she likes to participate in school organizations. She's running for the chief editor position of her school newspaper and she's preparing for the SAT exam. I was surprised by her fluent Chinese and her kindness and calm manner.
She said, "I started to cultivate when I was eight. At that time I was only a child and followed simply what my parents did. Later I discovered that I really am different from other high school students. For example, my good friend is also an excellent person, but she drinks wine when she goes to parties, and I don't. I mean, actually, even if I weren't a practitioner I wouldn't do that, but I have imagined what it would be like if I decided to take part in drinking and smoking. Would it be very cool? Would I have more friends because of it? And so on. But now I won't even have these "imaginings." This is because the teachings of Falun Dafa have filled my mind. I clearly know what is good and what is not. However, teenagers like us don't always know what is good or what is bad, but always think they are doing the right things."
When I asked how she felt the first time she stood in front of the Chinese consulate to condemn the Sujiatun organ harvesting crimes, she said she was a little bit embarrassed. Then she added, "It was Mama who decided we should go. At the beginning I was very displeased. But later I thought, 'My English is good, reading in English won't be hard for me.' Mom also encouraged me. She said I was doing the most righteous thing in the universe. I think so, too."
When talking about her routine work clarifying the facts every week, Elaine was very happy. She said, "I am very happy because I can also do something for Dafa, especially by using my skills. I still go shopping and watch movies with friends. I discovered that if I could make a good plan to budget my time, it would not affect other things. Oh, I was just informed that I will be the chief editor of our school newspaper!"
After I sent my congratulations to her, Elaine said, "I feel lucky to practice Falun Dafa. Now, before I do something, I first consider if it conforms with Dafa. Dafa could be called the guideline of my life."
Taotao, 18 years old: "I have a predestined relationship with Dafa."
To interview Taotao seemed like a hard thing to do. He refused initially, and he talked very little during the interview. But during the interview, Taotao pointed out that he has a predestined relationship with Dafa so he cultivates in Dafa. It's not hard to see that Falun Dafa helped him to get through a hard time and start a new life. This might be the predestined relationship that he talks about.
Taotao could be called a genius. His father is a professor at a famous university. His mother has her masters degree in computers. Taotao is a good student at school. He likes computers. He always attends competitions. He's tall and he plays piano well. All his teachers like him very much. For a time he went to a famous local private high school. However, he yielded to curiosity and did something bad with computers. He was expelled from the school and had to go to an ordinary high school. It was a hard time in Taotao's life.
He recalled, "At first, I only thought about going back to the private school." His parents, who are also Falun Dafa practitioners, told him that it was okay to re-apply to the school, but if he thought too much about it, it would become an attachment. Taotao said later he understood why it was an attachment. The reason why he thought about going back was because he was concerned about his feelings. "Thinking about it again, I realized it would be better to face my new life, and I discovered that my new teachers and schoolmates are also very excellent. Mom said to me, 'This is your predestined relationship.'"
Taotao finally put down his heavy attachment. Because of his excellent behavior, Taotao is representing his new school at math competitions. He is also finishing homework with his classmates. Taotao's mother said that he knows he has not totally forgotten about the past, but reading through Zhuan Falun, he thinks he is doing well to let go of attachments. This is cultivation.
With help from his parents, Taotao also started to so some Dafa work. He uses computers to clarify the facts of Falun Gong to people in Mainland China.
Jianjian, 18 years old: "Take every chance to clarify the facts."
Jianjian came to the US when he was 13. Speaking the English language became a problem for him. However, Jianjian, who has experienced the persecution in China firsthand, seems more mature than the others.
When he first came to the US, everything was new for him, especially learning English, which was urgent. Once in his seventh grade English class, the teacher said, "Today we shall learn a new word 'persecution.'" After the teacher explained what the word "persecution" meant, Jianjian put his hand up and told the class in English "There is a cruel persecution happening right now in China." For the first time he clarified the facts of Falun Gong to his class. The teacher and the students were shocked. The teacher asked him to tell this to the whole grade the next day. When Jianjian went home, he prepared posters and flyers with his uncle, who is also a practitioner. He thought about what to say and practiced by himself many times. The next day he was well-prepared and gave overall information about what is Falun Gong, how Falun Gong has spread all over the world, and how the persecution started. After his speech, all the teachers and students applauded. Jianjian said, "At that time the self-immolation incident had just happened. To my surprise, several of my teachers had negative views of Dafa because of the incident. Later they found me and thanked me for letting them know the facts. They said they would never believe the CCP again."
This 13-year-old middle school student began to clarify the facts. Jianjian said, "Because of my English, I was nervous every time. But I like Falun Dafa very much. I started to practice Falun Dafa when I was six. Dafa has been with me since my childhood. I want people to know the truth. Later I discovered that after I clarified the facts to someone I was very happy." Jianjian also called the media and called to Mainland China using his young voice. He went to talk to a congressman. He clarified the facts to people who work in Chinese restaurants. Reporters from the media, people from China, a congressman, and the workers in Chinese restaurants all thanked him.
Jianjian also said, "I have never thought of clarifying the facts as a task. It is part of my life, actually. It's just like I am a member of our school football team or the captain of our school tennis team. They are all part of my life."
I asked him if there are schoolmates around him who smoke or take drugs. He said, "Yes." Then I asked if he would be laughed at if he didn't do those things. He thought for a while and said, "There were people who laughed at me. But I don't think it's a big deal. Dafa is more important to me. I never think I will fall into temptation. Smoking and taking drugs are all bad behaviors."
After our interview, he asked me suddenly, "Can you interview me again next year? I think I will do better!"
These three young people are just like other teenagers. They are positive and confident even though they have also done some wrong things. Their dream is to go to a good university. At the same time, they all use Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance as their guideline. All of them have said, "Falun Dafa is my guideline." They all said they felt bad after they did wrong things because they know they did not follow what Dafa requires. When they became clear about the wrong things, it was easy for them to correct themselves. Their parents think so too.
I am pleased to be able to tell the stories of the three young cultivators. I hope their stories can give you some new understandings of Falun Dafa.
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