(Minghui.org) I began practicing Falun Dafa before the persecution was launched in July 1999. I have since experienced many trials and tribulations in my cultivation, and would like to share a few with fellow practitioners.
Relinquishing the Attachment to Gain
My husband and I moved in with his parents after we got married. They promised that we would inherit their house after they died. When our child was born, we decided to move to southern China.
His parents' house was demolished about two years ago. They were compensated with two condos. Based on his parents' promise, the condos should have been given to my husband and me, but his parents decided that my husband's older brother should have them instead.
We recently went to visit his parents and family in their new condos. My husband's family and relatives were concerned that we would make a big fuss over who would inherit the condos, since the house had already been promised to us.
I told them, “I practice Falun Dafa. My Teacher tells us to follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Thus, I will not make a fuss over who inherits the condos.” They were all surprised and relieved. One of my husband's relatives commented, “Only Falun Dafa practitioners behave this way.”
Transcending Sentimentality
We decided to build our own home when we returned to the South. My mother agreed to file as the applicant for the construction work, and said that she would transfer ownership of the house to us when it was completed. However, she changed her mind once the certificate of ownership was issued.
She demanded that we make her the sole owner of the house, and said it was rightfully hers because she had loaned us 20,000 yuan (~3,000 USD) to help cover the construction costs. We wanted to pay her back, but she refused to accept the money.
She thought that with her owning the house it would make me look after her more. She threatened that if she wasn't satisfied with my care for her, she would sell the house and move to a nursing home. The fact that I treated her better than her other four children didn't seem to matter to her.
For the next one-and-a-half years, we constantly fought over the property. Facing one painful struggle after another, I asked myself, “Why do I encounter these troubles?”
Teacher said,
“Any problem that happens to you, around you, or among you is most likely related to you, and there is something for you to get rid of. No matter whether it’s your fault or not, when my Law Bodies are having you remove your attachment, they don’t care whether it’s your fault or another person’s. As long as you have an attachment, they will try everything to have you run into problems and have you recognize the attachment that makes you fall short.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Conference in Europe”)
In tears, I asked myself, “Am I a genuine practitioner?” Every time my answer was “Yes.” I realized that I shouldn't hold human notions in one hand and divine notions in the other.
Teacher said,
“Sometimes, you think that something should be yours, and others also tell you that it is yours. Actually, it is not. You may believe that it is yours, but in the end it is not yours. Through this, it can be seen whether you can give it up. If you cannot let it go, it is an attachment. This method must be used to get rid of your attachment to self-interest. This is the issue.” (Zhuan Falun)
I realized that I needed to let go of the attachment to material possessions. If I could not, I wouldn’t be able to return to my true home.
I understood that these tribulations were part of my paying off karmic debts from previous lives. As Fa rectification approaches the end, we are not left with much time to waste over fame, profit, and sentimentality.
Once I was able to let go of my attachments, I felt my body become very light. I told my mother, “Mom, the house is yours. You can do with it as you please. If you decide to sell it, please let me know so we can find another place to live.”
I found many of my attachments through the issues around owning a property, such as selfishness and resentment. My kindness was not as strong as I wished, and it was wrong to hold any resentment towards my mother. I now treat her even better than before. I have transcended human sentimentality.
Overcoming Sickness Karma
Another trial was related to my health. I was not very diligent in my cultivation back then. Four years ago, I experienced heavy bleeding for six months. I became so weak that I could not even study the Fa, do the exercises, or work in my small convenience store.
Lying in bed all day, I could only eat a few bites of noodles each day. It was hard to even drink water. Unable to feel my own pulse, I thought I was dying.
One night Teacher's words were clearly projected into my mind:
“Having heard the Dao in the morning, one can die in the evening.” (“Melt Into the Fa,” from Essentials for Further Advancement)
“Could any difficulty stop the holy one?” (“Journeying Via The Way,” from Hong Yin Vol. II)
Tears were streaming down my face. I was moved by Teacher's benevolent mercy. He wouldn't leave me, a disciple who was not doing well in her cultivation.
I tried very hard to sit up on the bed and kneel to Teacher. I asked Teacher to strengthen me.
I managed to get up, and started to do the exercises. In the middle of the second exercise my legs became too weak to hold me up any longer. I then sat down to do the sitting meditation.
I said to Teacher in my heart, “If I am able to sit through one hour of meditation, I will pass this trial.” Sweating and in tears, I passed this trial. I knew that Teacher had just given me my second life. Through his endurance of my tribulation, my life was extended.
Thank you Teacher.
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