(Clearwisdom.net) I started to practice Falun Dafa in 1998 after a visit to my parents' home that summer. I met many people there who were practicing Falun Gong, including my father. They told me that practicing Falun Gong was good for one's health, and I wanted to learn more about it. I watched a DVD about it and saw the beautiful picture of a "Falun" (Law Wheel) rotating on the screen; the atmosphere felt pleasant and happy. I started to do the exercises according to the instructions on the DVD. The very first time I practiced the "Falun Standing Stance" I felt the Falun rotating on my fingertips. More than ten years have passed since then, and I have walked an uneven path of cultivation.
I found a practice site after I returned home. Eventually, I watched Teacher's Fa lectures on DVD, listened to it on CDs, and even obtained a copy of the book Zhuan Falun. It was unforgettable--the most wonderful year of my life.
I lived with my in-laws. Each day I got up early, made breakfast, and then went to the practice site to exercise. After exercising for one hour, I went home for breakfast, tidied up the house, and went to work. After work, I looked for other practitioners and went with them to the practice site for meditation until after 9:00 p.m., day after day. I was very busy but felt happy and contented. On weekends, I did the exercises and validated the Fa with other practitioners. Over time, little by little, my "xinxing" improved, and I had much more patience dealing with family members and co-workers. I treated others with compassion, took initiative beyond my responsibilities, and tried to do my best at my job. I quit playing Mahjong and watched less television. My friends all noticed how I had changed.
However, my life took a turn for the worse after July 20, 1999. I was still a relatively new practitioner and was not prepared to deal with the massive and brutal persecution the government started on that day. It was just like a severe thunderstorm that was trying to destroy the earth. I was in agony. My father came with other family members to visit me. They kept trying to persuade me to give up the practice. I could only stay in bed, crying and asking why this had to happen. Since I was just learning the Fa and practicing the exercises, it seemed like it should be the most wonderful thing anyone could possibly do. I did not understand why the government would not allow it. I became depressed and went home with my father to stay for a few days.
In my absence, Communist Party officials confiscated most of my Falun Dafa books. I decided that I would continue to practice Falun Gong, no matter what. If the police wanted to talk to me, I would say that I was not against the government. From the very moment I started to practice, Falun Dafa had become deeply rooted in my heart. One night when I was already half asleep, Teacher appeared to me. I think I told him, "I don't have any more Dafa books." Teacher replied, "One book is sufficient." Just then, I saw a beautiful crystal blue colored object flying past me and into the distance. I thought perhaps that was my heart awakening. After thinking for a long time, I felt ashamed for being so weak. On the one hand, I wanted to continue the practice, on the other hand, I was not ready to suffer losses. A few days passed, and while I was tidying my desk, I found a copy of a Dafa book in my desk drawer. I had forgotten about the book I had used to copy the Fa! I remembered the dream in which Teacher told me that one copy of the book was enough. Excitedly, I vowed to Teacher, "I will continue my practice."
Under the prevailing conditions, my family tried to prevent me from further practicing, but I insisted on continuing with my cultivation. During discussions with other practitioners, we wondered whether it would be good to go to Beijing to validate the Fa, but we decided that to validate the Fa locally was just as good. One snowy evening, I went out and delivered home-made Dafa materials to the general public. This might seem like a small thing, but to me it was a big step forward. On my way home I felt lighthearted: I finally was able to go out and do truth clarification.
When Dafa practitioners maintain their righteous thoughts in accordance with the Fa, they have the ability to present Dafa's magnificence to the public. It may unexpectedly influence others. This has happened to a good friend with whom I frequently spent time. She understands the goodness of Dafa to some degree and also believes in cultivation. I taught her the exercises and gave her Dafa books and CDs with Teacher's lectures. Although she was not very determined to practice, she has nevertheless changed her temperament greatly and is often more considerate when dealing with others.
Once, while on her way to work, she saw a bunch of firewood in the road and jumped off her bicycle to move the wood out of the way so others would not get into an accident. She would not have done that before having been exposed to Dafa. When she told me of this incident, I praised her for it and she was very happy to hear it. Another time, she called me at home and said she was hit by a bicycle but she was not hurt at all. I was happy for her. She has listened to Teacher's lectures, read Zhuan Falun, and often recites, "Falun Dafa is good." Although she is not a consistent practitioner, she has been exposed to and has benefited from Dafa. I do believe she has laid a good foundation to receive the Fa in the future.
I may not have done enough during the last few years, but I persevered in truth clarification and encouraging others to make the "Three Withdrawals" (withdrawing from the Chinese Communist Party and/or its two youth organizations). My co-workers, friends, and relatives all know about the goodness of Dafa. Although some do not quite understand the whole concept, they have all agreed to the Three Withdrawals. Their lives have been saved. Each practitioner has to walk his/her own path of cultivation. It does not matter how difficult the road in front of me, I will persevere and do my best to validate the Fa. On my personal cultivation path, most of the opposition comes from my family members.
Once, I was speaking to a history teacher when I was alone with her in an office. I wanted to urgently let her know the truth about Dafa so she would never repeat any slander about Dafa to her students. With these righteous thoughts in mind, I felt very calm and peaceful. Slowly, I started to tell her the wonderful things about Dafa and how the government officials had staged the "Tiananmen Square Self-Immolation" incident in order to defame Falun Gong. I told her not to believe the fabrications and rumors on television and in the media, as they are nothing but lies to deceive the public. As I continued to speak, I could feel a strong energy field surrounding me, which made me feel calm and wonderful. From her expression, I knew she really understood. Thank you, Teacher, my friend's life has been saved. I am convinced that if my third eye were open, I would have seen the most wonderful, beautiful future for her. Fa-rectification has come to its final stage; I want to be diligent and follow the progression of Fa-rectification and get rid all of my attachments. I need to form an indestructible, unified body with my fellow practitioners to harmonize with and help others, and I need to improve and do the three things Teacher has asked of us to the best of our abilities. I want to righteously walk the path that Teacher has created for me and not take Teacher's mercy for granted!
Views expressed in this article represent the author's own opinions or understandings. All content published on this website are copyrighted by Minghui.org. Minghui will produce compilations of its online content regularly and on special occasions.
Category: Clarifying the Truth
