(Minghui.org) Greetings, compassionate Master! Greetings, fellow practitioners!
As we near the end of Fa-rectification cultivation I increasingly feel the pressing urgency of time, my vows, and mission!
Clarifying the Truth Using Cell Phones
Because I run a small business, my schedule is flexible. I have tried my best to use every opportunity to clarify the truth. One way is using cell phones. I send text messages, leave voice messages, and make phone calls to tell people the truth about Falun Gong.
I encounter all kinds of people when I send text messages. Some accept what I say, but some reply with foul words. Sadly, many Chinese people have been affected by the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) lies about Falun Gong, but so many people are waiting to hear the truth and be saved. Some people immediately text back comments like, “I've been thinking about quitting the CCP but didn’t know how to do it. Thank you for telling me how.” One person replied, “I really admire Falun Gong practitioners. Keep up the good work!”
I've seen a noticeable increase in people answering my phone calls, as well as an increase in the length of each call.
No matter whether I send text messages or broadcast audio calls, the effect, good or bad, depends on my cultivation status. When I cultivate well and have strong righteous thoughts, more people answer and choose to quit the CCP.
Another key factor is to frequently send forth righteous thoughts to eliminate the evil factors that interfere with cell phone truth clarification. I enlightened that every aspect needs to be done well, so together our effort can improve and upgrade.
About six months ago, I began making phone calls to persuade people to do the three withdrawals. I feel it's a great breakthrough in my cultivation.
There was a lot of interference in the beginning. Many times, just as I was about to make a call I immediately began having odd thoughts, and I was reluctant to pick up the phone. I knew the evil was afraid of being eliminated and was attempting to stop me from clarifying the truth. Whenever this happened, I immediately sent forth righteous thoughts to eliminate all the evil factors that were blocking me from saving people. I then picked up the phone and called people.
I sometimes became nervous and couldn’t speak fluently, or even felt it was hard to breathe. I knew that in addition to the old forces’ interference, there must be some attachments I needed to remove. I looked inward, and found that I was in a hurry to succeed and was afraid of losing face and being criticized. I became determined to eliminate these attachments, so I focused on the righteous thought that I would break through. I gradually improved. I could talk to people fluently and freely over the phone, which had a good effect in truth clarification.
At first, I paid much attention to how to begin a conversation. I searched around, looking for a better beginning form. After a while I realized that whatever I said would work, as the form was not important. No matter how I started a conversation, the important thing was remaining unaffected when I encountered all kinds of attitudes and situations. I reminded myself to clearly clarify the truth and pay attention to being compassionate instead of focusing on the result. As long as I remained unmoved with a heart saving people, outside factors could not affect me and usually my phone calls had good results.
I remember one person who immediately quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations after learning the truth. He told me that his job was to assist police in arresting people, which involved danger at every moment. He didn’t like the job. But in order to support his family, he had to take this job because it paid well. He talked a lot, and kept saying, “The CCP is frighteningly evil. It's definitely going to be destroyed.” I asked him to say, “Falun Dafa is good. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” He thanked me repeatedly.
Another person quit the Party after I said only two sentences. He told me that he met practitioners while he was in prison. He knew that Falun Gong practitioners were good people. He also asked me to pass his appreciation to the practitioners who helped him.
Studying the Fa Well Is the Basis of Everything
We all know that studying the Fa is the basis, the foundation of everything we do. Everything of ours comes from the Fa. Master repeatedly told us to study the Fa more. Everyone should know the importance of studying the Fa, but implementing this well is not always easy.
In the past I was attached to the number of lectures I studied. I made myself study at least one lecture of Zhuan Falun every day. I also studied Master’s other lectures. However, many times I was just going through the motions. I didn’t clear my mind and focus on what I was reading, so I was not really studying.
For a while I felt something blocking me from the Fa. I felt very troubled about this, but didn’t know how to break through. I then read fellow practitioners’ sharings on the Minghui website, which gave me the hint that I should study the Fa from my heart. I changed, and began reading the Fa slowly. I no longer pursued how much I had read. I instead just concentrated on what I was reading. This worked well for a period of time, but I later felt that I couldn’t maintain a focused mind. I then started to recite the Fa. It was very hard in the beginning. I spent half a day but could only recite one paragraph. I persevered, and stayed unaffected by my slow speed. I gradually made improvements and I can now recite the Fa.
I attend group Fa-study twice per week. Practitioners help and cooperate with each other to form one body. When someone has a problem, other practitioners point it out compassionately according to the Fa. Everyone looks within and cherishes others' comments. One practitioner couldn’t bear criticism from others at first. When she couldn’t remain calm, other practitioners helped her calm down. They reminded her that the anger was not her real self, and should be restrained, and we should cultivate to remove it. This practitioner gradually learned to maintain a compassionate heart and a calm mind. During the process, everyone felt upgraded through looking inward. Whenever someone points out another person's problem, even when I was criticized, I can always feel the energy field of compassion and thinking of others.
Letting Go of Ego
Besides clarifying the truth through cell phones, I also distribute the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and other truth-clarifying materials face to face once or twice a week. Although this doesn't seem as instantly gratifying as making phone calls, I believe it's important and necessary. This is a group activity during which we can cultivate together and cooperate with each other to form one body. It also contains many cultivation factors and tests. How do you react when your opinions aren't listened to by others? What’s your first thought when facing danger?
One day I went to a place to distribute materials with three other practitioners. I arrived on time. Practitioner A had already started distributing the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party . But the other two practitioners weren't there yet. I was a little unhappy, thinking, “Why didn't you wait for us! Where are the other two? Why are they late?” As soon as I thought this, I realized it was wrong. “Aren’t I complaining again?” I immediately adjusted myself. “Maybe practitioner A didn’t want to miss people with predestined relationships, so she started early. The other two practitioners might be in a traffic jam.”
I calmed down and sent fourth righteous thoughts for practitioner A. About 15 minutes later she came to me. She had handed out all the materials that she brought. The other two practitioners still hadn’t arrived. She said, “Please go and distribute your materials, and I’ll send forth righteous thoughts for you.” I started distributing the Nine Commentaries . After I handed out two copies, I sensed something odd about a person walking towards me. I asked Master for help, and sent forth righteous thoughts.
I felt my fear rolling up at that moment. I immediately reminded myself, “I'm a Dafa disciple.” At the same time I tried my best to restrain the fear and sent forth strong righteous thoughts. Soon that person turned around and walked away.
The entire process seemed nothing special here in our human space, but in another space it might have been a battle between good and evil. Our hearts play an important role in the battle. Whether our thoughts are in accordance with the Fa determines the outcome of the battle.
During the process of distributing materials with other practitioners, I also enlightened that as long as practitioners cooperate well, Dafa's power will manifest. In order to cooperate with others, we need to let go of ego through cultivation. I felt I gradually eliminated my ego, selfishness, complaining, and fear during the process.
I usually sent forth righteous thoughts before going out to distribute materials. After I went out, I recite Master’s writings,
“…the Fa will be with you when your thoughts are righteous, and this is the greatest assurance.” (“Fa Teaching Given in Manhattan” 2006) “…you should truly have no fear in your mind, be confident and aboveboard, do what you should do, continue on the path to divinity in a noble and dignified manner, and not be afraid.” (“Fa Teaching at the 2013 Greater New York Fa Conference (Questions and Answers)”)
I felt that Master was strengthening me when I recited the Fa. Bad substances within me were removed, my righteous thoughts were strengthened, and my fear diminished.
Master said,
“…I will use any troubles or unpleasant things you come across—even if they involve work for Dafa, or no matter how good or sacred you think they are—to eliminate your attachments and expose your demon-nature so that it can be eliminated, for your improvement is what’s most important.” (“Further Understanding,” from Essentials for Further Advancement)
One day a practitioner invited me to go to another area to make truth clarifying phone calls. I originally had work to do for my business. But I said yes, thinking it was a precious opportunity to clarify the truth and share experiences to improve together.
The place was far away from my workplace. I hurried to finish my work and rushed out without eating lunch. It was about 104°F that day. I boarded a bus and traveled two hours to get there. I went to a public telephone kiosk and called her cell phone. However, her phone was turned off. I waited for a while and then called her again. I still wasn't able to reach her.
I was already sweating from the heat. I thought, “What should I do now? It’s a long walk to the bus stop, and there are no taxis.” I began to complain, “We made an arrangement. How can she be so irresponsible! The next time she asks me to come, I won't accept her invitation. It’s a waste of time.” I realized I should remain unmoved. I thought, “Maybe she's busy and forgot to turn on her cell phone. Maybe something suddenly came up. Maybe her cell phone broke down. Why am I complaining?”
Master said,
“...a human being can’t turn into a divine being merely by sitting there sipping tea and reading over the book. Only when someone is able to truly cultivate on the path will it work.” (“Fa Teaching at the 2013 Greater New York Fa Conference”)
I had managed to calm down by the time I got home. I reminded myself that nothing is accidental on our cultivation paths.
The fellow practitioner called me that evening and apologized for her cell phone being turned off. I said, “Don’t worry. Please remember not to turn off your phone tomorrow.” When I went there again the next morning. I couldn’t find her. So I called another practitioner, but was told, “We didn’t plan to go there today. Didn't she call you and tell you last night?” She hadn’t contacted me at all. But this time I was calm and unmoved. I thought, “There must be some attachments I need to eliminate. Meanwhile, I cannot let the old forces interfere with saving people.”
My business partner was a new practitioner who had obtained the Fa two years before. She suddenly submitted her resignation in July this year because she had found a job that paid more. This meant that I had to take over all of her work within a few days, which would be very hard, as the transition process in the industry is very complex.
My first thought was that I should let customers know about the change in advance. I talked to my partner, asking if she could ask her new employer if she could stay with me several more days so we could help customers through the transition process.
As I was busy with the transition process, the practitioner who made truth clarification materials with me also found a job, so I had to carry her workload too. While all this was going on, my father got sick and had to be hospitalized.
I thought, “This isn't coincidental!” I tried to maintain an unmoved heart. I reminded myself, “Everything has been prearranged. Maybe I’m cultivating to the next level so the requirement is higher now.”
To my surprise, my partner stopped by the next day. She said that I wasn’t thinking about her situation from her perspective. She said I should have felt happy about her obtaining the new job. She also complained that I often criticized her when she made mistakes, and that I never said anything positive about her. She told me that she had been suppressing this in her heart for a long time.
At that moment I realized, “It's a test for me to upgrade!” I kept a calm mind and said to her peacefully, “I’m very sorry I made you uncomfortable for a long time. You should have told me earlier so I could correct myself. As for being happy about your new job, I don’t feel it's good for you, as practitioners have different standards from ordinary people regarding what's good or bad. I didn’t praise you before, as I saw your heart of wanting to be praised. So I didn’t do it.” I sincerely exchanged my understanding with her from the perspective of cultivators. I appreciated her from the bottom of my heart for her pointing out my ego, which I was determined to eliminate.
One week later, the practitioner who made truth-clarifying materials with me informed me that she didn’t need to begin working right away, so she would continue producing the materials. Two days later, my partner told me that her new job seemed to have evaporated, so she would continue working with me.
This experience let me have a deeper understanding of Master’s teaching:
“Under the effect of righteous thoughts, everything around you, as well as you yourself, will undergo changes.” (“20th Anniversary Fa Teaching”)
Whenever I think of my vows, my mission, and my responsibilities as a Dafa disciple, I feel a pressure. I will seize these last opportunities to eliminate all my human attachments and strive forward diligently to fulfill my vows!
The above is my cultivation experience over the past twelve months. Please compassionately point out anything that's inappropriate.
Thank you Master! Thank you fellow practitioners! Heshi!
(10th China Fahui on Minghui.org)
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