(Minghui.org) Master said,
“That is why it's said that always cultivating as if you were just starting will surely result in achieving your ultimate rank.” (“Fa Teaching at the 2009 Greater New York International Fa Conference,” from Teaching the Fa at the Conference IX)
I often urge myself to cultivate as if I had just started.
Before the persecution started, Falun Dafa practitioners, men and women, young and old, did the exercises early in the morning in parks across the nation, in both summer and winter. They also studied the Fa together every night.
Some practitioners know the importance of Fa study, but don't seem to realize the importance of group exercises. I seldom attended the group exercises with the excuse that my small child was not able to get up early in the morning. So I normally did the exercises at home.
I received a message asking if anyone would like to attend group exercises in the morning on weekends. I had the thought of attending, and my son agreed and went to bed a bit early the night before.
He got up earlier than usually the next day. On our way to the practice site, we recited poems from Hong Yin III. After we sent forth righteous thoughts, he meditated for an hour. Some passersby even took photos of him.
In the evening we attended the group Fa study. After studying “Lecture Five” of Zhuan Falun, we also read another one of Master's lectures.
Master said:
“Group Fa study is what I left for everyone, and group exercise is what I left for everyone. Other than in situations of severe persecution, it should be done this way in other areas outside mainland China. There is no reason not to do it, as it relates to the issue of the future humans obtaining the Fa and cultivating. Therefore, group exercise and group Fa study is not something you can do without.” (“Fa Teaching at the 2016 New York Fa Conference”)
Master's Fa went straight into my mind. I realized that we had only done the minimal and had not paid much attention to group exercises.
Actually, group exercise is the best way to let people know about Dafa and the best and quickest way to clarify the truth about Dafa to people. Many people stopped and watched when we did the exercises. If we had introduced Dafa to them or clarified the truth to them, they would have readily accepted it.
I realized that the reason the persecution was still going on is because we haven't done well. Many people still don't know about Falun Dafa. If the Fa rectification ended now, how could they possibly position themselves? They have never heard of Dafa, or the persecution, or Shen Yun. They were not offered the opportunity to make a choice. As soon as I realized this, I felt sorry that I had not lived up to Master's expectation. Master bears all the suffering and has been extending the time for sentient beings because He does not want to give up those beings who still do not know the truth. I made up my mind that I would try my best to attend the group exercises.
After the group exercises on Sunday, I asked practitioners if anyone was interested in doing the exercises at the practice site on weekdays. One practitioner said yes. We decided to start at 5:15 a.m. Just then a Westerner came and asked when she could learn the exercises from us.
I got up at 1:55 a.m. from Tuesday to Friday. I first sent forth righteous thoughts, then studied the Fa with other practitioners for two hours online. On my way to the practice site, I listened to the Fa. We started the exercises at the practice site at 5:15 a.m.
There were only three practitioners on the first day and two on the last three days. But I felt that it was totally different from when I was practicing at home. I felt like I was just starting to practice Dafa. My mind did not wander so much. My legs started to feel pain after I sat in meditation for half an hour. I knew it was a good thing and that Master was helping me dissolve karma and helping me improve. I told myself that I must bear it until the end of the exercise. Thinking about so many practitioners in China who are suffering, I had no reason not to persevere. I felt fulfilled and happy after the practice. I did not feel sleepy at all at work.
Master said,
“Have you ever thought of the fact that practicing cultivation is the best form of rest? You can obtain the kind of rest that can’t be obtained through sleeping.” (Lecture at the First Conference in North America)
I gave out fliers at the practice site on Friday evening, while others were doing the exercises. Many people were hearing about Dafa for the first time, and several wanted to learn the practice. I gave out many fliers. People's responses reinforced my determination to establish new practice sites.
As long as we have two people, we can establish a practice site. We can also set up a site near our workplace. As long as practitioners come to practice at the fixed time, a new site can be established.
I realized that clarifying the truth had a deeper meaning, and that the requirement was different at different times. We had focused more on telling people about the persecution and talked less about the practice itself. Setting up a practice site is the best way to establish a truth-clarifying site.
The above is my sharing on group exercises. The purpose of writing this was to encourage and discipline myself as well as encourage other practitioners to set up new practice sites as the Chinese practitioners did before the persecution began. If we can achieve this, I believe that the truth will spread faster and wider.
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Category: Improving Oneself
