(Minghui.org) I have been living in San Francisco for several months. My new environment led to new experiences and therefore new understandings in cultivation. Initially, because of the language barrier, feelings of loneliness, and many other reasons, I felt very disappointed and planned to go back to China.
But later I realized that all my "difficulties in adapting to a new environment" were due to sentimentality and that I should eliminate these attachments.
So I thought about how I should "get rid of" those difficulties? The only way was to study the Fa as much as I could. I paid great attention to studying, especially Master's new writings.
I studied "No Obstacles" in Hong Yin Vol. II “Cultivation paths are different Yet all are within Dafa With no attachment to anything The path underfoot is naturally clear” (English Translation Version B)
I realized that although the environment may change, the desires of our heart never does. We need to firmly remember our mission wherever we are: to assist Master in Fa-rectification and saving sentient beings. We can practice cultivation in any environment.
I then tried my best to study the Fa more, and diligently do the exercises and send forth righteous thoughts, so as to join the great current of Fa-rectification in my local area as fast as I could.
I participated in sending forth righteous thoughts and truth-clarification in front of the Chinese Consulate soon after I arrived in San Francisco. When I sent forth righteous thoughts, I added one thought: to completely eradicate the evil forces and Communist elements that manipulate the personnel in the Chinese Consulate, so those people can be saved and be free of participation in the persecution.
On one occasion a Chinese lady who was about 60 years old went there. I handed her a truth-clarification flier. She took it and said, "Please tell me what it is going on, quickly!" I then spoke to her about Falun Dafa, about the staged Tiananmen Square "self-immolation" and how Dafa has spread throughout the world. Finally, she said, "Oh, Jiang Zemin is so bad! Sooner or later, China will be ruined by the regime if they continue to do those things." I then successfully and easily persuaded her to withdraw from the Chinese Communist Party and its affiliated organizations.
On another day a western lady who was about 30 years old, walked over to the poster and read for a while. Then she asked, "Is the live organ-harvesting really true? It is so dreadful!" I gave her a flier in English, and she read it carefully. I then explained to her the truth about Falun Dafa in greater detail. She asked, "What can I do for you?" I said, "If only you remember 'Falun Dafa is good', then you are supporting us and calling for justice."
I was learning English at a community college. One day the teacher taught one word, "persecution." In the last 15 minutes of the class, the teacher asked us to write an essay based on what we learned in that class. I wrote an essay exposing the persecution of Falun Dafa in mainland China by using the vocabulary learned in that class, and some information provided on the English fliers I had. After reading my essay, the teacher gave me very high praise, "Your essay is excellent; it is great!"
The teacher often asked us to discuss specific topics. I knew that my classmates were from different countries and that they may not know about the persecution or the truth about Falun Dafa. So I thought that I should take this opportunity to clarify the truth to them.
I eventually had a good chance to do so. One day, the teacher asked us to discuss "volunteer work." I said I volunteered to promote the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance. The teacher showed great interest and asked me to send her some photos; she gave me her email address.
That night I sent her photos of my promoting the Shen Yun show in a supermarket and distributing Shen Yun fliers in front of the War Memorial Opera House, as well as a link to their official website. In the next class meeting, the first thing she did was to write the website address for Shen Yun on the blackboard. All the students were copying it down. The teacher also showed the website with the projector to all the students. When the Shen Yun video trailer began to play, I felt the strong power and energy of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, which filled the entire classroom. I felt the grand mercifulness of Master, and I cried. Master has prepared everything for us very well; we only need to take action and speak.
In another English class, a lady about 40 years old was sitting next to me. We greeted each other. She said she was from Hong Kong and had been in America for many years. I showed her the English Falun Dafa flier and explained the basic facts to her about it. She saw the picture of a practitioner meditating on the cover of the flier. She asked me, "Is it like yoga? Do we need to meditate if we practice it?" I said, "Yes." She asked, "Do you do the meditation every day?" I said, "Sure." Then she asked further, "Have you benefited from practicing that?" I answered, "Every time after I finish meditating, I feel energetic and light. Furthermore, the pressures of life or work can all be eased; it makes me happy, both physically and mentally."
She continued to ask, "If I want to learn it, how should I start?" I then showed her the five sets of exercises. She said, "Wow! It is beautiful!" I told her we have over 30 exercise sites across San Francisco, where she can learn the practice for free, and that I can also teach her. She was happy and said she would think about it.
Days later, I met her again and asked her, "Have you decided to learn Falun Dafa?" However, she asked, "Are you always with those who are involved in politics?" Immediately I understood that she must have heard some rumors. Then I said to her, "Do you mean Falun Dafa is involved in politics? Let me give you an example. Supposing your family members are being arrested, imprisoned, and tortured in mainland China. Would you appeal for the cessation of the mistreatment? If the government doesn't listen to you at all and insists on the persecution, would you resort to international justice and continue to appeal for the cessation of the persecution? If so, are you involved in politics?
It is the case with Falun Gong. Tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners in mainland China have been jailed, tortured, or had their organs harvested when they were still alive. We are calling for cessation of this persecution and for support from around the world. This is not getting involved in politics, but is a basic sense of conscience." Then she said, "Now I know! I want to learn Falun Dafa now!"
After I came to America, I actively participated in different truth-clarification projects, such as joining the RTC platform to make phone calls to China, clarifying the truth to Chinese tourists at the tourist attractions, distributing Shen Yun Performing Arts fliers, among other things. Because I just came from mainland China, I still have many elements of Party culture that I need to eliminate. So I encountered quite a few xinxing tests while trying to cooperate with fellow practitioners.
When some fellow practitioners, who were working together with me, acted against my ideas or understanding of the Fa, I always tried to persuade them to do things my way. When they refused, I always felt they were so stubborn!
When I studied these specific Fa teachings, "From now on, whatever you do, you should consider others first, so as to attain the righteous Enlightenment of selflessness and altruism." (“Non-Omission in Buddha-Nature” in Essentials for Further Advancement) "You should always be benevolent and kind to others, and consider others when doing anything. Whenever you encounter a problem, you should first consider whether others can put up with this matter or if it will hurt anyone. In doing so, there will not be any problems. Therefore, in cultivation practice you should follow a higher and higher standard for yourself." (“Lecture Four” in Zhuan Falun)
I realized I was too attached to the self and always attempted to validate myself, and I did not "consider others." Although I had been clear on the Fa about this issue, my behavior fluctuated in some situations. I then repeatedly reminded myself to act in line with the Fa.
Let us do the three things better, so as to fulfill our mission! Thank you, Master! Thank you, fellow practitioners who have helped me!