(Clearwisdom.net) [The following article appears in the book Hearts and Minds Uplifted--The Power of Falun Dafa, first published by the Clearwisdom editors in 2006. The many short stories in this book were written by people of all ages, from many countries, and from all walks of life. They are all very personal and unique, and yet they share a common theme: the tremendous spiritual growth that comes from practicing Falun Gong. For more information or to order Hearts and Minds Uplifted, please see: http://www.mhbooks.org/mhbooks/index.php?target=products&product_id=29937&sl=EN ]

The age of 89 may seem a bit late to start a new commitment for the remainder of one's life. Two and a half years ago I received out of the blue a letter from an old friend telling me about Falun Gong, of which I had not previously heard. We had not been in contact for ten years, but we had practiced another spiritual path together, and I knew that he would not commit himself without very good reason. We met and talked and he gave me a copy of the main text of Falun Gong, Zhuan Falun.

I had an inner sense that I was being given a great opportunity after 30 years of frustrated spiritual search.

Like most people in the West, I had not had much contact with China, or with what has been a pretty remote cultural universe of Chinese Buddhism and Taoism. No doubt many of us have found that it is not easy to grasp some of the translated Chinese terminology. Taoist understanding of energy had hardly begun to penetrate the West before acupuncture entered the scene. These must have been familiar problems for others, and they confront us in seeking to spread the practice.

Once I started practicing, however, I felt encouraged. The exercises have given me more energy. I need an hour's less sleep and expect to reduce this even further. I have always enjoyed good health, but the aftermath of three bouts of pneumonia over the years had left a constantly recurring cough, which has now disappeared. I'd had a tiresome skin ailment for three years, for which on advice I had arranged surgery. But I canceled the surgery, and the condition cleared up completely in a few weeks

The West has had its own unacknowledged Great Cultural Revolution in the last 100 years when its belief system and values were almost entirely submerged in populist assumptions by the shallow metaphysics of a materialist science. Materialism, accompanied by a naive faith in technology as the solution to every problem, has swept over every continent at an accelerating pace, leaving in its wake the wreckage of traditional values, in spite of efforts by a minority of people to cling to them. But we have been given the answers to all the main problems in Zhuan Falun. Each time I read it, new depths of truth leap out.

We all know that Master Li has, by his saving presence and unceasing work, filled the moral void and, in the immense sweep of his vision, revealed a new rational understanding of the cosmos. Shock treatment may be inevitable as part of divine therapy for what we are doing to the world. But a healthier, less selfish and more cooperative global world community will emerge, showing in the human sphere that the essential qualities of all life, as of the Great Universe, are Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance.

I have myself witnessed first hand the global degeneration, seeing in Asia, Africa and the Americas, as well as in Europe, the erosion of traditional values.

I entered Diplomatic Service on leaving Cambridge, spending 40 years divided equally between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at home and service abroad, specializing in Commonwealth relations, a constantly evolving process as the British Empire was transformed into 50 independent countries. A child in the first World War, after the second I attended Peace Conferences and the early meetings of the United Nations, and went on to strenuous and responsible work in India, Canada, Ghana, New Zealand and Australia, Nigeria and the Bahamas. On retirement I spent 15 years in the House of Lords.

I was brought up by parents who sought to apply in their lives the teaching of Jesus on truth, love and humility. And facing hardship and overcoming attachments had been at the core of my previous spiritual path, which I tried to work on after retirement for ten years, with some years devoted to yoga. So I was helped by my background to grasp the special character of the opportunity when it came.

Writing this article has itself helped me to face up to my own daunting spectrum of failings. There is, of course, no end to what should be done in working on attachments; mental ones are more difficult than physical. As a human being I am largely unaware of them. I am a moral coward, not wanting to be laughed at, even though it can obviously do no harm. How absurd! I am stuck in my life-style and used to a soft life. It is tempting in old age to opt out of activity, making increasing limitations an excuse and carrying on with former interests. All your priorities must eventually change when you undertake the practice.

Even at so late a stage I know that I have found my way at last with a new horizon, a fresh understanding and, thanks to the exercises, more energy. But that misses the point. We have been given an inconceivable privilege, and I certainly regard myself as one of the most fortunate men of my generation.

We have been given an inconceivable gift and we face the challenge to be worthy of it and to do more to give others the same opportunity.