(Clearwisdom.net) I started practicing Falun Gong in May 2009, after having collected information on the Internet. Ten months have gone by, and have I treated everything as a bona fide practitioner. I have benefitted a lot since I became a practitioner.

I recently began to feel that my cultivation was proceeding slowly, and my truth clarification efforts weren't going that great. This was due to misconceptions on my part. Since starting the practice my understanding of the principles of Falun Gong had changed. I thought that it didn't matter how I spoke to people about Falun Gong, that is, using my present understanding or from the level of an everyday person who had not been exposed to the practice. I suddenly realized that speaking from a more advanced stage of the practice may prevent sentient beings from understanding the facts about Falun Gong. I understand now, after searching within, that I held the mentality of showing off. I want to share my understanding with fellow practitioners.

1. Learning Falun Gong

I had searched for the true meaning of human life since I was a high school student. I read a lot of relavent books, but had not found an acceptable answer, so I decided to search the Internet.

In 2003, I received an email with truth-clarifying materials about Falun Gong. I was subsequently able to break through the Chinese Internet blockade and visit overseas websites. I searched many different topics, including political, economic, cultural, historical, and many other issues. I thought this would help me understand the world better. After the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party was published, I immediately quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). I spent a lot of time comparing the eastern and western cultures, so I could understand traditional Chinese culture. I even read books of prophecy about the future. One day in 2009, when walking home, I suddenly decided to cultivate in Falun Gong! I was firm in my decision. Since then I searched and downloaded all Falun Dafa materials I could find on the Internet, diligently studied the Fa, and never slacked off.

2. Cultivating Dafa is Most Important

I feel very fortunate to be a practitioner of Falun Dafa. After reading half of Zhuan Falun, I sensed the Falun's rotation in my abdominal area. After I finished reading Zhuan Falun, and Zhuan Falun (Volume II), Zhuan Falun Fajie-The Law of Zhuan Falun Explained, Explaining the Content of Falun Dafa, and The Great Consummation Way of Falun Dafa, I learned the exercises. I had done the exercises for just about two weeks, when I realized that I had achieved a disease-free state. I was no longer afraid of anything. Although I had taken many different types of nutritional supplements and medicines, I never achieved the state I had reached now. Furthermore, I finally found the meaning of life. I was overjoyed and can't describe the feeling in mere words. I decided that no matter how great the difficulties I faced, I would follow Teacher to the end. I was sure that I could let go of all my attachments.

Because of fear of being persecuted by the CCP minions and the affect on our entire family, my husband initially forbid me to practice Falun Dafa. He even often beat and cursed at me. I cried and felt resentment towards him. But I told him that I would cultivate forever, even if I were beaten to death. I calmed down, looked within, and I experienced a miracle. Because of this one thought, I felt no pain when I was beaten. I realized that Teacher suffered the pain for me, and that this was also a test I had to pass. After some time, my husband stopped beating and haranguing me, and said that I could practice at home.

I was then faced with another test. My husband and his friends played computer games, and they persuaded me to give it a try. I almost failed this test. It used up a lot of time that was earmarked for studying the Fa. I sensed that it was bad for my cultivation, but I nonetheless kept some "joyful" games for entertainment. After about a month, I realized that this was the old forces trying to stop me from cultivating in Dafa. I immediately deleted all the games on my computer and decided to no longer surf for any everyday people's information. I truly put Dafa first and looked at cultivating in Dafa as the most important thing.

3. Letting Go of Lust

In contemporary society, pornography and wanton desire are part of life. This was a crucial hurdle for me, as a young woman in my 30s. My attachment of lust was a great burden on my soul. I read books and watched videos about sexual exploits. I had become addicted to it.

I practiced Falun Gong, so I soon realized that it was inconsistent with the Fa and that I should get rid of everything on the subject, which I did. But after some time I got hooked again and downloaded some of the material from the Internet. I watched it and then felt remorseful, with deep regret. I again deleted all the materials on my computer. I then got interested again. I looked for the CDs and videos in my home and watched them again. I even knew it was wrong while watching them. This helped me realize that I was being controlled. I quickly cleaned out everything on the subject and I slowly was able to let go of my heart of lust.

My righteous thoughts have now become much stronger. My family life has become increasingly more harmonious, and our life is filled with peace and happiness.

4. Clarifying the Facts and Saving Sentient Beings

As I wanted to take part in telling people the facts about the persecution of Falun Gong, I had to do a lot of research. I downloaded everything I could find about the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and other materials. I downloaded various information from the Minghui website. After some time, I also downloaded the Shen Yun performances from 2008 and 2009 [the Shen Yun performers travel the world to bring back traditional Chinese culture and depict stories from modern times, including the persecution of Falun Gong, through dance, song, and music]. Whenever there was time, I watched them with my family. At first, my husband was very impatient, said a few vicious words, or appeared to be on the verge of beating me. I talked to him about Falun Gong and sent righteous thoughts to eliminate those demons behind him. I promised Teacher that I would save him. Gradually, my family environment became more peaceful and no one wanted to do bad things any longer. My husband finally woke up and understood what practitioners are doing. He quit the CCP.

Before I cultivated in Dafa, I got along well with my colleagues. After practicing Falun Gong, my work atmosphere changed. Those around me seemed to be dissatisfied with me, and the director even asked me to resign. I carefully looked within and asked myself, "Why did such things happen?" I realized that the requirement for a practitioner is much higher than for an everyday person. All that was happening was for the benefit of the practitioner. It appeared out of nowhere and was arranged by Teacher to test my resolve and my moral standing. I found more attachments, including selfishness and seeking comfort.

I turned into a different person. I arrived at work ahead of everyone and did some of the early-hours chores, such as boiling water, cleaning the kitchen, and so on. In addition, I accepted all assignments, worked hard, and finished everything on time and well. My work environment gradually improved and my fellow workers liked me a lot. The environment became peaceful and people became more polite. Some colleagues even found that when sick, they returned to health faster at work than at home.

5. Remove the Heart of Seeking Comfort

Besides cultivating, I looked within unconditionally. I found that my attachment to seeking comfort has been very strong and I was very pained when trying to eliminate it.

When I was young, my parents adored me and I always liked to seek comfort. I thought that I was smart. The heart to seek comfort plays with the emotions of a practitioner. It affects my improving on the Fa. I often felt sleepy when studying the Fa and making Dafa materials. I couldn't get up to do the exercises early in the morning, and I was interfered with half way through the exercises. I liked to go to bed earlier and wanted to stay in bed as long as possible. I was not keen on telling my co-workers about Falun Gong for fear of being reported, arrested, and losing my job and my family.

I studied the Fa diligently, so I could quickly get rid of my desire for comfort. I then changed many of my habits. Every day, I go to bed after sending righteous thoughts at midnight, and get up to participate in the globally-synchronized exercises at 3:40 a.m. I use all my spare time for Dafa-related work. Whenever I felt too sleepy, I kept reciting Teacher's words "When it's difficult to endure, you can endure it. When it's impossible to do, you can do it." (Zhuan Falun) I also sent righteous thoughts to eliminate those bad notions.

6. Paying Attention to my Son's Education

My son is currently only one year and eight months old. He grows very well and is a wonderful little boy. When he had just started to walk I noticed that his celestial eye was open and that he often saw something that others could not. He likes to listen to songs or our exercise music. He dances energetically and it appears as if he is filling up and discharging energy. He loves watching Shen Yun.

I think the boy has high inborn quality and came to obtain the Fa. I treat him well. When he made some mistakes, I patiently told him how to do it right, and he seemed to understand. He is so happy and often smiles in his dreams.

Dafa is so wonderful. I've done so little and I need to hurry up to follow Teacher's requirements and do well with the three things.

I'm a relatively new practitioner, so please help me eliminate anything that is not within the Fa.

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Category: Beginning Cultivation