(Minghui.org) Greetings esteemed Master! Greetings fellow practitioners!
I'm a young practitioner from Singapore. I started practicing Falun Dafa in early 2010, so I cannot be considered a new practitioner. After reading Master’s latest lecture, I truly felt that time was pressing. When I look back at my short cultivation journey, I have many regrets. I cannot help but weep with remorse at not being more diligent in cultivating myself.
We should seize the time, cultivate as if we were just starting, maintain an optimistic, motivated attitude, and not wallow in depression and self remorse. This is what Master wants. I became more diligent in cultivation recently and whenever I made a little progress, Master gave me a lot more in return. Much of my wisdom was unlocked and I understood more Fa principles. I would like to take this opportunity to share with everyone some of my experiences and understandings.
Letting Go of My Notions, Collecting Signatures
I discovered that there can be many types of fear. Besides fear of death, which may be one’s greatest fear, there is also the fear of losing face, of being reprimanded, of rejection, and so on. Collecting signatures for the petition to end the live organ harvesting is a great opportunity to eliminate these attachments. As I stood on the streets watching people, I truly felt that they were all equal. Regardless of their ethnicity, social status, or looks, their knowing sides are calling out for me to save them, and I should not look down on anyone. It appears that we are asking people to sign the petition, but in reality we are saving them.
I first went to a specific location to collect signatures. I soon realized that as long as I let go of my notions and constantly had the heart to save people, they were willing to sign. As a result, I started to look at the people around me with greater compassion. No matter who was next to me, my first thought was how to save them.
I’m often blocked by my own notions. For instance, I hesitate because I wonder if it is the right opportunity, if he has time to listen to me, and so on.
I then recall Master’s words,
“You have to make a distinction: this is something huge—everyone is waiting to be saved!—so as long as you don’t overdo it, people will understand.” (“Dafa Disciples Must Study the Fa”)
I quickly stop these notions and think to myself, “Don't you want me to save you? I must save you.” I greet the person kindly and then ask, “Hello, live organ harvesting has been taking place in China, and it is very brutal. Can you sign a petition to help stop this and help those in China?”
I once showed the petition to a bus driver. He unexpectedly gave me his card and asked me to write his name on the petition. He commented that he always thought that there were no human rights in China. Most of those I asked agreed to sign.
I met a young Singaporean at the park one day. After signing the petition, he took my sign and said he would help me to collect signatures from other people. He stopped several people in succession and even guided me to clarify the truth to someone who was taking a rest on a bench. It turned out that he was a Singaporean who had a huge business in China. I told him the facts about Falun Gong, the true situation of China’s economy, as well as the evil nature of the Communist Party. I also told him if humans didn’t do anything about it that heaven would. He was very receptive and supportive of what I told him, however he was afraid to sign the petition. Instead, he asked his wife to sign it.
On another occasion, I met a tourist from Africa. She was lost and was very anxious. She asked me to help her find a store. I hesitated in helping her because it would take up my time. I then remembered that since I was a practitioner, if someone needed help I should help them. I told her about the live organ harvesting when I took her to the train station just before we parted.
She was very shocked to hear that such a terrible thing was happening in this world. She told me she was a human rights leader in her country and often gave speeches in front of thousands of people. She said she would definitely mention this atrocity in her future speeches and ask people to sign the petition on the website.
I have been very touched by the support shown by everyday people. Surely we practitioners should do even better than everyday people!
Strengthening My Righteous Thoughts, and Clarifying the Truth to People from China
There is a huge population of people from China in Singapore. Some have come for work and some for studies. This was indeed a sacred opportunity. I have talked to Chinese people from different backgrounds about Falun Gong during the past few years. They have different thoughts and opinions, and I felt a little lost as to how I could explain the facts about the persecution to them. I realized that I cannot regard this problem from a human perspective. I must believe in Master and the Fa one hundred percent. Only when I studied the Fa and sent righteous thoughts well could I use my supernormal capabilities when clarifying the truth. With my righteous thoughts, the other party’s bad thoughts were eliminated.
We should remember that when we clarify the truth, huge changes are taking place in other dimensions. Sometimes my competitive mentality was stirred up and I would keep trying to convince the other person to accept my view point to gain the upper hand. When I thought about it later, I wondered, what is the evil most afraid of? Isn’t it Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, the fundamental principles of the universe? Evil can never restrain the righteous.
Thus whether I’m clarifying the truth face to face or validating the Fa at tourist destinations, I tell myself to keep a pure mind without negative thoughts. I caution myself against the mentality of doing things, that things are not as they appear with the naked eye, and that human logic might not be correct. I should regard things from the perspective of a practitioner. The crux of the problem is our xinxing. Did I have any attachments or thoughts that were not from the Fa? Often when I raise my xinxing, things turn around instantly. Such is the miracle of cultivation!
For example, when I was doing the exercises at a tourist destination one day, I kept wondering if there was anyone around. If there was, I would do the sitting meditation with a straight back. Otherwise I would relax and swat at mosquitoes. In the end, no tourists came during the entire afternoon, and the mosquitoes kept attacking me. I subsequently enlightened that doing the exercises was a sacred thing, and I should do them properly.
I thus focused my energy and felt myself turn into an enormous, upright god. It is such an honor to cultivate the great way of the universe. I did the exercises with a smile on my face. The mosquitoes stopped biting me, and tourists frequently stopped to watch me.
Some even commented, “It is not easy to do the exercises so well. She is amazing.” I could feel myself radiating a harmonious and compassionate energy field that was big enough to encompass tourists in a large area. This helps to lay a foundation for them to understand the truth. Many times, when I opened my eyes, I saw several tourists standing next to me, watching me joyfully. They asked me to tell them about Falun Gong and explain why the persecution was happening.
I can give another example illustrating the importance of righteous thoughts. I was clarifying the truth to a friend over the phone one day. Because I was afraid that the phone call was tapped, I avoided mentioning Falun Gong, thinking that doing so would protect my friend. In fact this increased his fear and after listening to what I was telling him. He became quite scared and did not want to get involved in the matter.
Showing My Compassion
On the contrary, when I clarified the truth in an upright and open manner without any notions, the other person’s courage and righteous thoughts were brought out. I purchased several copies of the book Zhuan Falun, because people would often come to borrow it. Many times, a copy of the book would be returned to me, and then loaned out again the next day. I’m grateful for Master’s compassionate arrangement.
I had a close friend once who had been misled by the communist propaganda about Falun Dafa, and avoided me. She even said bad things about me, and I was very hurt. One night I thought about how pitiful this was. Since she did not know the truth and refused to listen to me, I decided to write her a letter.
I wrote a very touching letter, and throughout the entire night, my heart was filled with compassion and empathy. However I wasn’t sure if she could accept what I wrote, and wondered if I should amend it a bit before sending it. Thus I did not give her the letter. Unexpectedly when I saw her the next day, her attitude towards me had changed tremendously. It seemed as though she had transformed into a different person. She greeted me warmly. I thought of what might have happened, as I hadn’t even given her the letter.
I understood that my compassion had disintegrated the evil controlling her in another dimension. Later on, I persisted in finding an opportunity to clear up her misunderstandings about Dafa, and she came to understand many things. She also read Zhuan Falun . She said, “I admire your persistence the most.” A friend also said, “If I run into religious followers, I will not listen to what they tell me. Because it is you, I believe what you say. You are very kind.”
I clarified the truth to someone on one occasion, and he realized that Falun Dafa practitioners were saving people unconditionally. He asked me to look up at the full moon one night, and said that my heart was just like the moon.
On another occasion, I told someone that Dafa taught me to follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I earnestly uttered those words, and the other person suddenly exclaimed that when I said the words, he seemed to see my whole being emitting light!
I usually don’t leave out anyone Master has arranged for me to come into contact with, and I seize the opportunity to clarify the truth. Sometimes I joke that I have become very good at striking up conversations with strangers. As a matter of fact, I treat all people I have just met as my relatives. I believe that they have come for Dafa with righteous thoughts, abandoning their divine status and descending to earth. When I think about these magnificent beings, I cannot help but resolve to work hard in saving them.
How I Start Up a Conversation
I usually greet people amicably with a smile, and ask if they came from China. I then strike up a conversation before moving on to clarifying the truth. I ask, “Do you know about quitting the CCP to avoid disaster? It's very simple. The main thing is you want to renounce the Party in your heart. I can help you send a statement on the Internet proclaiming your intention to withdraw from the CCP organizations, using an alias. You will then be blessed by heaven and won’t be implicated by the bad deeds committed by the communist regime.”
I even tried sitting down at a table with Chinese people having their meal at the food court, and telling them about Falun Gong. I did not strive to achieve a certain number of withdrawals. I only wanted everyone to know the truth. One person initially claimed that he was a staunch Communist Party member. In the end he asked how he could withdraw from the Party. When we first started talking, many people were standing by, listening to our conversation. They gradually realized that I was saving them and expressed their gratitude for telling them the facts.
It seemed that the more I clarified the truth on the front line, be it face to face or on the phone, the stronger my righteous thoughts became. My attachments are rapidly eliminated in the process, and every day I enlighten to completely new Fa principles. I sometimes talk to people for the entire day, and upon returning home although I feel tired, my heart is filled with joy. When I sleep I feel myself flying at times, with the wind blowing past me, and it feels wonderful.
If a few days go by and I haven't clarified the truth to someone, my whole body begins to feel uncomfortable, as if something is amiss. Indeed, I am already on the path of fulfilling my vows. Who knows, it might be written in my vows that I have to save even more people. My mission is pressing. On the other hand, if I don’t go out to clarify the truth, I feel myself being wrapped in layers of substances, and I become depressed and lethargic. Many human attachments come up, and it is as if the old forces are dragging me down.
I hope fellow practitioners can overcome their inhibitions and tell people the facts about Falun Gong. Master will help us. It is such an honor to be able to save sentient beings during this historic period. These beings likely come from very high levels, especially those from China, many of whom were kings in the heavens. When I think about this at times, I treasure this opportunity even more. Time is flying by and the clock cannot be turned back.
Cultivating My Heart
There were also many occasions when I didn’t do well. There was a time when I always woke up late. I dreamed that an exquisite heavenly world had been destroyed. The high ceilings in this world were made of glass. My head was hit by pieces of the broken glass. I escaped alone, and when I awoke I was very sad. One morning I woke up and saw the character Forbearance, amidst the three characters Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance hanging on the wall, that had become crooked. I instantly felt very ashamed. During my childhood I was spoiled, and very seldom experienced hardships. I always thought I was lacking in forbearance. Master was giving me hints. I must eliminate my attachment to seeking comfort.
I often go to tourist destinations situated in the mountains. It takes a lot of effort every time I climb the mountain. Gradually I have become able to take joy in hardship. Master said we must cultivate according to the righteous principles of the universe. I feel that ever since I started cultivation practice, I have deliberately avoided trouble, and I always pursued comfort. How can this be cultivation? I am now determined to eliminate my attachment to seeking comfort. When I am comfortable and relaxed, I no longer experience pleasure. Instead it seems that I am coated with something sticky, and there is a sense of warning. Similarly, when I experience desires and emotions they seem very dirty. I immediately eliminate them, and I no longer pursue them.
I surfed the Internet one day, and out of curiosity briefly watched a drama program. I immediately felt many bad substances enter my body. The next morning I woke up with a terrible stomachache, and I was in pain for some time. I realized that I should go out to validate the Fa.
I told the beings in other dimensions causing the interference that if I owed them anything in the past, I would repay the debt in the best possible way upon Consummation, and advised them not to interfere again. I also promised to be diligent in the future and not let Master down. My stomach pains diminished at once. That was the first time I witnessed the miracle of “settling malevolent relationships with benevolent solutions.” I wept for a long time. It is true that every time we are not up to par, we should think about those beings we are supposed to save. Are we being responsible to them?
This is the great way of the cosmos. Dafa disciples must walk our paths straight in order to measure up to Dafa. I wondered in the past if I should endure more physical hardship, or if I should be persecuted so that I could cultivate to higher levels. These thoughts are not in accordance with the teachings of the Fa. Dafa is here to save people and does not lack wisdom. We must play the leading role in this world, being upright and dignified, and show the beauty of Dafa. We should joyously save even more people so that we can all go into the new and wonderful universe together. Let us fulfill our ancient vows!
What I’ve shared are understandings at my level. If there is anything inappropriate, fellow practitioners please kindly point them out.
Thank you Master and fellow practitioners!
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