(Minghui.org) I was imprisoned a few years ago for refusing to give up my belief in Falun Dafa. About one year after I was released in 2012, I joined a local Fa-study group. The more I get to know each practitioner in the group, the more I appreciate their presence. I have been greatly inspired by their firm faith in Dafa and their unwavering efforts in telling people about the persecution.
By studying the Fa and sharing experiences with them, I have also relinquished many of my stubborn attachments, including doing things for the purpose of doing things, jealousy, and the mentality of showing off.
Joining the Fa-study Group
I initially declined a local practitioner's invitation to join the Fa-study group held at her house shortly after my release. I said no because most practitioners there were seniors in their 60s or 70s, and I didn't think they could do anything big in truth-clarification activities.
One year later, she invited me again. This time, I accepted.
It was quite a test for me at the beginning, because I was not used to the marathon Fa-study session, which went from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with only a one-and-a-half-hour lunch break. We read Master's recent articles in the morning and two chapters of Zhuan Falun in the afternoon.
I had to work really hard to concentrate on the reading and was exhausted by the time we finished.
Little by little, however, I became better at such Fa-study sessions. Before I knew it, I could read the book for two hours straight without falling asleep, which was impossible before I joined the group.
I really appreciated the practitioner who invited me to join the group Fa-study. She not only helped me catch up, but also provided such opportunities to many other practitioners.
The Door Is Always Open
Many Fa-study groups do not welcome newly released practitioners, as they worry about the police monitoring such practitioners.
The above-mentioned practitioner, however, always keeps her door open. She bought a big house specifically for the purpose of hosting Fa-study sessions. She often said, “The newly released practitioners need the most help from us. How can I shut my door in their faces?”
She lives alone, and her three daughters are all very supportive of her practice of Falun Dafa. Her routine includes doing Dafa exercises in the morning, reading three chapters of Zhuan Falun, and distributing materials exposing the persecution of Falun Dafa. She has been doing this for more than ten years.
Recently she added one more thing to her routine: making phone calls to urge people to quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its associated organizations. Although she is over 70, she is adroit at using smartphones and other forms of technology.
She remains level-headed no matter who is on the other end of the line. She is not deterred when that person refuses to quit the CCP, nor is she elated when the person agrees to sever ties with the CCP.
Being Persistent in Everything We Do
There is a practitioner in my Fa-study group who is over 60 years old and has a very solid understanding of the Fa. One thing I learned from her is to never give up and to be persistent in everything we do.
Despite pressure from her family and workplace, she has not skipped even one day of delivering Master's new articles and truth-clarifying materials to other practitioners.
In recent years, she began to dial phone numbers to broadcast pre-recorded messages urging people to break free from the CCP. For a period of time, she doubted herself when very few people she called quit the CCP. However, she pushed on after realizing that every project needs practitioners' participation.
Saving More Sentient Beings
I was also inspired by another practitioner in her 60s. She started to practice Falun Dafa in 1996 and has remained very diligent. Like the Fa-study group host, she also reads three chapters of Zhuan Falun every day.
Once a local police officer came to her home to order her to sign a statement to give up her belief in Dafa. She scolded him, “I follow my Master's teachings to be a good person. Why do you want me to do something less than good?” The policeman was taken aback by her words and muttered, “No, I won't ask for your signature anymore...” He left and never returned.
She said, “It's not easy for each practitioner to have come this far. As long as we maintain our righteous thoughts, we will be able to dispel the evil.”
In the early years of the persecution, she often went out at night to put up stickers bearing information about the persecution. She recalled that she sometimes saw scenes in other dimensions in the middle of putting up the stickers. She knew it was encouragement from Master for her to save more sentient beings.
She doesn't pass up opportunities to save people. In her own words, “I didn't do anything big, but I'll continue what I'm doing as long as the Fa-rectification is not concluded yet. It is my responsibility to save people.”
I Can Learn Something From Everyone
The oldest practitioner in the group is over 70. Every day she has to do household chores and take care of her disabled husband, but she never misses morning exercises and Fa-study. She also sends forth righteous thoughts at set times.
Rain or shine, she goes out three days a week to distribute truth-clarifying materials with another practitioner.
There is a practitioner who is very quiet, but I noted she always cooperates well with others. I am also moved by how everyone is doing their best to save people.
After more than a year of group Fa-study, I have refreshed myself and felt like the same me when I first started to practice Dafa. I have become more diligent, thanks to fellow practitioners in my Fa-study group.
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