(Minghui.org) I am a relatively new practitioner, since it has been only around three years since I began to practice Falun Dafa.
It was something of a miracle how I came across Dafa. I felt down in the dumps when reminiscing about my life, including the sadness I felt when my mother passed away, and the struggles while I pursued fame and gain. I longed for a change in my life, when a sudden urge to visit my cousin during the mid-autumn festival holidays came over me.
My cousin and I talked and shared our thoughts. I told her that I wanted to be a good person, and she introduced Zhuan Falun to me. After I returned home, I read that book from cover to cover and decided that this is a spiritual cultivation that I wanted to practice. Once I made this decision, I had a strong sense that the Master of Falun Dafa had accepted me as his disciple.
I benefited from Dafa. My body felt light and I could climb 10 flights of stairs without feeling tired. As I improved my xinxing, friends and relatives commented that I have become kinder, peaceful and that Dafa had a positive effect on me.
Slacking Off in Cultivation
The enthusiasm I had felt for the practice waned and I slacked off after a while. Most of all, I still had a pursuit for fame and gain, personal relationships and comfort. Master said:
“The more one is attached to fame and self-interest, the lower the level one will drop to among everyday people. One’s gong will also consequently decrease.” (Zhuan Falun)
My xinxing dropped, my health began to deteriorate and I became less tolerant. My thought karma became more powerful and I suddenly felt afraid. I did what a practitioner should not do and caused a lot of trouble for other practitioners, as well as relatives who did not practice Dafa.
This state of mind made me miserable. I wanted to practice Dafa and asked Master to accept me again as his disciple. Master heard me and sent a practitioner to help me. I pulled out of my destructive state of mind and understood how I should cultivate in the future.
Clarifying the Truth at Tourist Sites
Practitioners shared Dafa truth-clarification experiences after they went to the Alishan Mountain tourist site during the Chinese New Year. This was also a great opportunity for me to no longer seek comfort, so I went to this tourist site during the New Year holidays.
After I read one of Master's lectures, I realized that tourist sites are the front line for saving sentient beings. I longed to clarify the truth to tourists at places of interest in the area I lived.
Therefore, I went to the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. My ankle was swollen and it was very painful to walk. However I forgot about the pain when I talked to Chinese tourists from the Mainland about Dafa and the importance of quitting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliates. I took this as a sign from Master that I should tell people the facts about Dafa.
Practitioners and I also tell the facts about Dafa at the well-known Taipei 101 Tower tourist site. I participated in activities to stand up for Dafa when a violent pro-Beijing group verbally abused and attacked practitioners in September 2014.
Looking Inward
I ran into many problems because I had a lot of human attachments. I could not see my attachments because I did not look inward when I had tribulations. I faced the problems with a jealous and competitive mentality.
I learned how to reflect on my shortcomings during tribulations. Whenever I look inward, I discover that the problem can be resolved and nothing is that difficult.
I also realized that many hardships are caused by attachments. As a cultivator I must let go of human emotions and look within.
I understand that it is the most righteous thing for a cultivator to look within and get rid of attachments. It is the way of making progress on the divine path and is the most sacred thing in the world.
Master said:
“...from the outset of cultivation practice one will constantly move up and let go of human attachments and various desires...” (Zhuan Falun)
When I look within for attachments, I now find deep seated attachments and notions and have learned how to let go.
Steadfast in Cultivation
I attended the New York Fa Conference in 2015. I met a Dafa disciple from mainland China at the parade who told me that Master bore the torture she went through while in prison. Hence, she could survive the ordeal.
Mastersaid:
“A Buddha's capabilities are just awesome--with the wave of a Buddha's hand all of the human race's sicknesses could vanish.”
My understanding of her experience is that Master removed the evil elements and karma with the wave of his hand.
Master bore a lot of hardship for us, so that we can practice cultivation. If we are not diligent in cultivation, we are letting him down. The hardships and conflicts we encounter are for us to overcome and thereby establish our mighty virtue.
Therefore, we must be steadfast in cultivation. An everyday person would complain when faced with hardships, but a cultivator who understands the teachings of the Fa takes joy in it.
I often ask myself, “How can I remain unwavering in cultivation?” In my current understanding, whenever I have a tribulation, I remind myself to guard my xinxing and take every opportunity to improve myself.
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Category: Improving Oneself
