(Minghui.org) The 13th Israeli Experience Sharing Conference took place on December 19. Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) practitioners from all over Israel and other countries participated. They did the exercises together outdoors just before the opening of the conference.
Group practice before the conference
The conference hall
There were 15 practitioners who shared experiences of cultivating the heart and mind according to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, the principles of Falun Dafa.
Falun Dafa practitioners present articles on their experiences in cultivation.
Two relatively new practitioners talked about how they began to practice and about how, as beginners, they had to overcome difficulties as they matured in cultivation.
A 10-year-old practitioner, whose parents are both practitioners, told about when his friends tried to get him to do something not entirely in line with the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Eventually he realized that each practitioner has a responsibility to think twice before doing anything and to make decisions based on the Falun Dafa principles.
Another practitioner spoke about her journey to a country where there were no practitioners. The goal was to tell the citizens of that country, as well as the government agencies, about the persecution of Falun Gong in China. Staying with other practitioners who went for the same reason, she had several opportunities to look inwards and correct herself, instead of looking at others' inadequacies.
A veteran practitioner spoke about a tribulation that made him aware of a well-hidden attachment, one he had never been able to detect or admit having. The situation grew complicated and was not resolved until he realized what was wrong on his part and started to correct it.
Another practitioner shared how she overcame tribulations when cooperating with other practitioners on an activity to tell people about Falun Gong and the persecution. While she was examining and correcting herself, she was fully aware that everything she was experiencing was a cultivation issue of the one-body of practitioners, and not just a personal issue.
A practitioner working in the media shared how she had begun a project full of passion to do well. She was highly trained from previous work experience, but she had to do routine work and practice endless forbearance towards her colleagues. During the tribulations she realized how important it was to work together and look beyond one's own self interests: “Today I remember this with a smile and can bear such situations much more easily. I feel I do not have that much need for others’ appreciation or approval. I became more patient, quiet, and clear. From this test, and many others, I learned that if something moves my heart, I need to look inside myself for the reason, and the sooner the better.”
A practitioner who used to be the curator of “The Art of Zhen, Shan, Ren” (The Art of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance) exhibition shared how, through the years she had helped to choose the venues, decided where to hang each painting, etc. Yet it was hard for her to accept criticism. At one point, it affected her physically until she could barely walk. She also discovered her attachment to the project itself and went through an agonizing process of letting it go.
Those who attended the conference listened attentively. Some of them said that the speeches helped them see where they themselves could improve.
Three generations of Falun Dafa practitioners
Ludmila, her daughter Rachel, and her granddaughter Lian are three generations of Falun Dafa practitioners. Ludmila says it gives her great happiness to have Dafa practitioners in her family, because Falun Dafa gives meaning to their lives. She recommends it to all families. Rachel said she recommends Falun Dafa to everyone. “Challenge yourselves to read and understand the book Zhuan Falun. You will find in yourselves things you were never aware of, and then you can try to improve your character,” she said.
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Category: Experience Sharing Conferences
