(Clearwisdom.net) I am a new practitioner who began cultivating Falun Dafa in January 2008. I used to run a business, and had never heard of Falun Gong before that. In January 2008, a practitioner clarified the truth to me at my store. I was eager to know what Falun Gong was all about, and asked if she could find a copy of the book for me. One week later, she gave me copy of "Zhuan Falun". I thus started cultivating Falun Gong. Before the big earthquake on May 12th, I was reading the book and exercising alone at home. I had karma elimination and xinxing tribulations, but had no contact with other practitioners, and did not know about sending forth righteous thoughts, or clarifying the truth. I never read any Minghui Weekly articles or truth clarifying materials.
Two days before the earthquake, a fellow practitioner gave me several dozen buttons that said, "Falun Dafa is good" and "Truthfulness-Compassion- Forbearance is good." We are very close to Wenchuan City, the earthquake's epicenter. When the earthquaked happened, we felt heaven and earth were both moving. People were all running towards the center of town, while crying and shouting. I ran from my store, shouting loudly "Falun Dafa is good." And I asked people around me to all shout with me. I passed out the buttons I had just received two days earlier. That night, while sleeping in a tent, I saw a Falun turning in the sky.
Two weeks after the earthquake, I met with a fellow practitioner and told her my story. She told me about clarifying the truth, sending forth righteous thoughts, and persuading people to do the three withdrawals to save sentient beings. I then learned that as a Falun Dafa disciple I should do the three things. That fellow disciple invited me to read all Master's teachings besides Zhuan Falun. I studied all of them, and became clear on our mission and duty.
I began clarifying the truth to friends and family around me, persuading them to do the three withdrawals from the communist party and its affiliated organizations. They appeared to be waiting for me to save them, and almost all expressed a willingness to withdraw. Gradually I clarified the truth to my customers and shopping mall managers, and other workers. They all seemed very receptive, and withdrew. Initially a few were reluctant to do so, but after I continued talking with them, they decided to withdraw.
Although my truth clarification was smooth, I met with huge resistance at home. I have been doing business since I was young, and supported my family single handedly. I lived like a capable woman, and made all the decisions in my home. My husband supported me in studying the Fa and doing the exercises, and said he would practice in the future. But when I began clarifying the truth to my customers, he was fearful and was against it. My five siblings had been very respectful toward me, but now they were very much against me and cursed me. My husband even beat me when my siblings were scolding me.
I cried; I did not know what to do with so much grievance. I definitely would have divorced him if I had not studied Falun Dafa. I called my fellow practitioner. She encouraged me to maintain my xinxing level, and I became more determined through studying the Fa. When my family attacked me again, I said calmly, "Even if my bones were all fractured and my skin was covered with festering sores, I would still cultivate. I do not hate any of you, but please do not slander my Master, because this will bring you bad fortune." They saw that I refused to back down, so they invited my aunt from far away to come and persuade me. When she and I talked, I took the chance to clarify the truth to her. She changed her attitude, silently letting me cultivate. After so many attempts to change me, and yet nothing moved me but only made me more solid, they quit trying to stop me. The atmosphere became peaceful.
I never stop studying the Fa, and looking inward. Master said to new disciples,
"your cultivation process is merged with your Fa-validation process, and in order for you to catch up, your personal cultivation accompanies your validating the Fa, and both of them progress simultaneously." ("Teaching and Explaining the Fa at the Metropolitan New York Fa Conference")
I sent forth righteous thoughts to eliminate the evil elements behind my family, and clarified the truth to them after they calmed down. One by one, they withdrew, even my husband. All of my relatives have withdrawn, except my son-in-law. I will continue my efforts.
In several months, I have persuaded all the people I know to do the three withdrawals. I have a stable income every month and enough savings. In order to do the three things well, I leased out my store. I now do the morning exercises at 3:50 a.m., study the Fa in the morning, clarify the truth face to face in the afternoon, while picking up my granddaughter and taking her home. My five year old granddaughter can sing disciple composed songs, and helps me persuade people to do the three withdrawals. She calls herself Master's little disciple. I study the Fa in the evening, and go to bed after sending forth righteous thoughts at midnight. I memorized Master's words,
"Every person you come into contact with in society is someone to clarify the truth to, and what's manifest in clarifying the truth is Dafa disciples' mercy and their salvation of the world's people. I hope that every Dafa disciple will fully take initiative and fully play his role as a Dafa disciple." ("To All Students at the Nordic Fa Conference," Essentials for Further Advancement II)
Each time, before I go out, I stand in front of Master's photo and ask, "Please arrange predestined people to listen to the truth." I can always persuade some people to withdraw. Some have already, I will continue to find more people to listen and do the three withdrawals.
I know I started late, so I must be more diligent to advance, and seize the day to save people. I found that some veteran practitioners are not very diligent, are attached to the end of the persecution, and they fail to do the three things well. I am worried for them, I hope they can be diligent, and not miss this chance. Due to my newness as a cultivator, please help me by pointing out my omissions, and let us follow Master home by reaching consummation.
October 13, 2008