(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners in Michigan held an experience sharing conference on November 22, 2015 to exchange insights, encourage one another and learn and improve from each others' experiences in cultivation. More than a dozen practitioners told their stories through papers read at the conference, either in person or through teleconferencing.
Letting Go of Selfishness and Human Notions
Dr. Xu has practiced Falun Gong for almost 20 years. In his paper he talked about how he found his shortcomings while distributing copies of the new Lunyu to other practitioners. “Three hours after I finished distributing the new copies, a practitioner showed me his order and told me that I had shorted him by many copies. I thought to myself that he could just put a note on the order and send it back to the publisher. After all, it wasn't my fault that a few copies were missing.”
Suddenly there was a voice sounding in Dr. Xu's head: “Altruism.” “It was a rude awakening for me. The guilty feeling turned into shame. I quickly changed and became grateful, because I knew that Master was using this incident to remind me that I needed to be more altruistic.” Dr. Xu began to figure out how to resolve the issue, as he understands that “Altruism is the basic requirement in the new cosmos and a chance for me to improve and to assimilate more to the Fa.”
Thinking of Others First
A practitioner who coordinates a Dafa project in his area shared, “When I saw practitioners not working well with one another or not reaching the goal I wanted, I would get upset. But I wasn't putting myself in the practitioners' shoes and thinking about their possible problems at work or at home, or their current state of mind.”
I knew that this project was to help save people and also to give local practitioners an opportunity to improve in their practice. But when things came up, I just couldn't stop selfish thoughts from emerging from deep inside. On the surface it looked like I got upset because the practitioner didn't accomplish his assignment and slowed the Dafa project down. However, my unhappiness didn't come from worrying about losing an opportunity to save people or the practitioner losing his chance to improve. I was afraid of losing face. In the past few years I have been paying close attention to this attachment of mine, hoping to eliminate it so that I can more effectively help awaken people and help other practitioners.”
Another practitioner, Mr. Liu worked on coordinating the media sales team. He talked about his attachment of zealotry. “When the goal was reached, I was complacent and even arrogant. I thought that I made it happen and that I had certain strengths and abilities. I later realized that my selfishness, my sense of I, was stopping me from improving and preventing me from walking the path arranged by Master. When I no longer showed off, I realized that I was in a relaxed state and this state could generate amazing power whenever I needed it.”
Taking Advantage of All Opportunities to Clarify the Facts
Ms. Ye has been delivering the Epoch Times newspaper every week for the past five years. No matter how harsh the weather, she drives two hours each day just to deliver the papers. “The people are waiting to learn about the persecution of Falun Gong. I have to get the papers to them. This is my responsibility as a practitioner.” Many of the readers have gotten to know Ms. Ye and enjoy talking with her. Some have said, “I love reading your newspaper. They changed my opinion about Falun Gong.” Some readers sought her out and wanted to learn more about the Chinese regime's crime of organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience, the majority of whom are Falun Gong practitioners. Others have asked Ms. Ye to help them purchase tickets to see Shen Yun Performing Arts. One person even told her that he saved every week's newspaper.
Professor Xu teaches software engineering at a public university. Every semester he talks about the Chinese regime's Internet blockade to his students. “From hearing about the details of these operations, the students realize how corrupt the Chinese regime is and how it has mobilized the entire country's resources to persecute Falun Gong. I also mention how powerful the software developed by Falun Gong practitioners is in cracking China's Internet firewall. The students are very interested in these topics. I tell them that I am a Falun Gong practitioner and because of my belief, the Chinese consulate denied my passport renewal and that I cannot go home anymore. Some of my Chinese students were shocked to hear that. Many of them have told me that in fact they admire Falun Gong practitioners.”
Ms. Wang works at a car dealership. She has told all of her Chinese customers that she is a practitioner and clarified the facts about the persecution to them. A Chinese student once told her, “I saw that you have a lotus pendant in your car that says 'Falun Dafa is good.' I knew that you are probably a practitioner. You are the best salesperson I have ever known.”
Striving Forward Diligently
Mr. Tian, who just came from China, talked about how he helped to promote Shen Yun for the first time. He had to conquer his attachment to fear. One time, he walked up to a person he had met and introduced Shen Yun to him. The person was grateful and praised his courage. He knew that it was Master encouraging him. “With a backpack filled with Shen Yun fliers, I felt like a messenger who brings good fortune to people.”
Ms. Wan talked about how she balances her practice and her family. “No matter what, you should never push your family members to the opposite side of Falun Gong,” she said.
After the conference, the practitioners felt that cultivation practice was an ongoing effort and that every little thing could be an opportunity for improvement. The practitioners were grateful to those who shared their stories and many left the conference feeling even more determined to follow the teachings of Falun Dafa.
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