(Clearwisdom.net) I first began practicing Falun Dafa in the early years, in 1994. Exchanging cultivation experiences is one of the cultivation forms that Master has left for us. Therefore, I would like to share my experiences.
1. Only by Studying the Fa with One's Heart, Truly Practicing Cultivation and Looking Within on Everything Can We Upgrade
From 2001 to 2008, I was twice illegally arrested and detained by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for a total of fifty-fourth months. I looked within for the reason that I suffered persecution, and found that I didn't study the Fa with my heart. Although I spent much time reciting the Fa every day, I only did this as though I were studying knowledge. I did not melt into the Fa. Surrounded by others in society, I didn't conduct myself as a practitioner, so I upgraded very slowly. In addition, I was attached to wealth and lust and these loopholes were taken advantage of to persecute me for a long period of time.
Through these lessons I understood that practicing cultivation is a very serious matter. While studying the Fa, we should let go of all other things and dissolve ourselves in the Fa. At the same time, in everyday life we need to act according to the Fa. Only by following the Fa every time and everywhere can we upgrade ourselves within the Fa.
2. With Righteous Thoughts and Pure Hearts, a Miracle Occurs
In 2001, I was imprisoned due to the loopholes in my cultivation. Practitioners there recited the Fa, sent forth righteous thoughts and clarified the facts to the guards to eliminate any misunderstandings about Falun Gong. The CCP has deeply poisoned many people with its lies and false propaganda, and many Chinese people therefore have misunderstandings about Master and us. I wrote down Master's poems from Hong Yin on small pieces of paper and then distributed them to the people around me. I also always wrote about the wonders of Dafa in the required monthly "thought reports." Many people gathered round to see what I was writing, so I took those opportunities to talk to them about Falun Gong. Many people had their misunderstandings cleared up. Furthermore, many guards began to have positive thoughts about Dafa after reading my reports. One guard said to me, "Those who practice Falun Gong should not be arrested."
In order to resist the persecution, two fellow practitioners and I sent forth righteous thoughts and recited the Fa instead of doing forced labor. In attempts to coerce me to work, the head of the guards handcuffed me to a chair in a guardhouse, and shocked me with three electric prods. I told the guards that they were committing crimes and that Falun Dafa is righteous. At the same time, in my heart, I asked Master to help me to resist the evil. I sent strong righteous thoughts that the electric current would turn upon itself, and immediately the electric prods had no effect on me. I felt very happy and then developed the attachment of zealotry. Two minutes later, I could feel the current again. From this lesson, I understand that righteous thoughts are much more effective when we don't have the attachment of zealotry and the mentality of showing off. Master said,
"When Dafa disciples have strong righteous thoughts and no fear, they can use righteous thoughts to turn the tables on the evildoers. Whether it's when the wicked policemen are using electric batons or when bad people are injecting drugs to persecute you, you can use your righteous thoughts to redirect the electric current or the drugs back to the person doing violence to you. You can do it with or without your palm erected--it works as soon as your righteous thoughts emerge." ("Stop the Evil Acts with Righteous Thoughts," February 15, 2004)
Once at noon, an inmate on duty found me reading Master's lectures. He immediately took them away and wanted to report me to the guard. I hurried to ask other practitioners to hide their lectures. One practitioner told me, "Don't panic. Just keep your composure. Our studying the Fa is the most righteous thing; nobody can interfere with it. That guard is being controlled by the evil in another dimension. Let's ask Master for help and send forth righteous thoughts to eliminate the evil behind him." The fellow practitioner's words enlightened me. I adjusted my thoughts, calmed down and composed myself to send forth righteous thoughts. Half an hour later, the inmate came back and said to me with a smile, "Let it pass this time. I won't report it to the guard. You can bring the materials back out; but be careful in the future." His demeanor had changed completely. This incident really brought about a dramatic change and also showed the great power of righteous thoughts. I felt great appreciation for Master. Actually, Master is around us at every moment. Only if we do things righteously will Master help us with everything.
3. Effect of Clarifying the Truth Closely is Related to Practitioners' Mentality
I am a taxi driver and have always clarified the truth to my passengers. Some are able to listen while some are not. In the past when I encountered those who didn't listen, I felt unhappy. Afterwards, when I had upgraded my xinxing, people's reactions, positive or negative, no longer affected me. I kept on clarifying the truth, even to those who didn't listen, because I believe that my words do have an effect on them and will lay the foundation for other practitioners' efforts talking to them in future.
At the same time, I enlightened that when we study the Fa more and keep strong righteous thoughts and pure hearts, we can easily help sentient beings quit the evil CCP. On the other hand, if we study the Fa less and have more attachments, we cannot save sentient beings well. For example, once I clarified the truth to a girl in her twenties. I told her how corrupt the CCP is and about my understanding of the significance of quitting the CCP. She agreed to quit right then. I said, "Let me use the name 'Qing Lian' to help you declare your withdrawal." She said happily, "That's great. Thank you so much! Last night, I had a dream, telling me that my name would be changed. Now this dream has come true. It's really great." Is it coincidental that her dream came true? I believe that Master's fashen brought her to me. Master arranges sentient beings to come to us. We need to seize time to save them. All sentient beings are waiting to be saved; we should cherish each day that Master extends for saving sentient beings.
There was a period in which I didn't study the Fa enough. Then when I clarified the truth, I was not able to do it well and encountered a lot of troubles. Once, a passenger wanted to report me to the police via his cell phone after getting out of my car. He stopped me from driving away and said, "You asked me to quit the CCP just now. You need to stay here for a while. I will call the police to arrest you." I reasoned with him, "What I did was out of concern for your safety. If you don't wish to listen, just let it pass. But if you report me to the police, then you are harming yourself." At the same time, I asked Master for help to eliminate the evil interfering with him. Five minutes later, his son came and persuaded him to walk away. After this happened, I looked within. Before him, I had just taken a passenger to a location far away. Then I picked him up on my way back and asked for a high price. Therefore, I developed the attachment of zealotry. With this attachment, how can I clarify the truth well? I must get rid of every hidden notion of selfishness and clarify the truth with a pure heart.
In conclusion, we should study the Fa more, keep strong righteous thoughts at every moment and do well the three things with pure hearts. Only by doing this can we upgrade ourselves within the Fa and fulfill our prehistoric vows.
Without Master's benevolent care and Dafa, I wouldn't have been able to come as far as I have on the path of cultivation. I must truly practice cultivation, study the Fa well and do well the three things so that I can repay the grace of Master's salvation. From now on, I should discipline myself and strive forward to fulfill my great prehistoric vows and achieve consummation to return to my origin with Master.
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