(Minghui.org) Though I’ve been wanting to share my story, I kept putting off writing it, using the excuse that I didn't have time, or thinking that perhaps my experiences were not that extraordinary. Fourteen years have now passed since I began practicing Falun Dafa. When I look back over my cultivation journey I realize that I've experienced so many great moments!
How I Began Practicing Falun Dafa
I learned about Falun Dafa through my brother. Because of the positive changes he experienced in both his outlook on life and his health, he encouraged me to give the practice a try. I never seemed to have time however, either because of work or due to other interference. I remember watching him read the Fa teachings. When I learned that practitioners would be participating in a local book fair and introducing people to Falun Dafa, I decided to help, since I was inspired by the positive changes in my brother.
My decision to attend was a crucial and wonderful moment of connection for me! As soon as I arrived at the booth, I began distributing flyers and telling people about the wonders of Falun Dafa. It was as if I had been a practitioner for years! I still did not know how profound Dafa was, or even how to do the exercises. I just knew that Falun Dafa was great because of the changes I had observed in my brother. I felt so happy!
I participated in that activity for several days, and practitioners from the United States came to help. As soon as I met them, I felt very comfortable, as though I was with old friends or family. While one of them taught me the exercises, many people gathered to watch, and some began doing the exercises with us. My participation in that fair marked an extraordinary beginning for me, as I became a Falun Dafa practitioner!
I soon became involved in more activities to let people know about Falun Dafa. I traveled around the country with other practitioners and participated in various events. I felt radiant, totally renewed, and free of any health problems, I felt like a new person!
I had only just begun practicing, but I wanted to tell more people about Falun Dafa. But I kept asking myself, “How can I do this better?” I began to lengthen the time I spent reading the Falun Dafa teachings and doing the exercises.
A practitioner from abroad started sending me Master Li's (the founder of Falun Dafa) lectures translated into Spanish so I could revise and refine the translations. This was a great help in my cultivation. It allowed me to even more deeply understand Master's teachings, and guided and strengthened my cultivation.
I embraced this great opportunity to study the teachings. Whenever I had time I read all the lectures and everything that was available in Spanish. Other practitioners translated the teachings from English to Spanish for me. They offered great support during those first years! I printed out the lectures and bound them in blue and yellow covers, and created a little library. I constantly studied the Fa, to gain an even deeper understanding and to truly cultivate. I could feel my mind expanding, and I was filled with the strength and resolve to save people. I was amazed by the greatness of Dafa, and wanted to move forward firmly on the path of cultivation, and let more people know about the practice.
Studying the Fa and Sending Forth Righteous Thoughts Is Crucial
Studying the teachings on my own and with others became the basis of my cultivation, it was the starting point for doing many things, specifically clarifying the truth about the persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners in China.
I was able to personally deliver materials to two presidents which clarified the facts about what was happening in China and the egregious violations of practitioners' human rights. I know that it was Master's arrangement that I was present at several of my country's important events, in the company of the most prominent authorities. I used each opportunity to tell them about Falun Dafa and how it is being persecuted.
One of the highlights of my cultivation was coordinating with other practitioners in the Human Rights Torch Relay for the Olympic Games held in Beijing.
Everything flowed together, from arranging the logistics, getting the National Police Orchestra to participate, arranging state-owned buses for transportation, to securing support from the local Catholic cardinal. Various communities, schools, and movements supported by the country's highest authority on human rights participated. Gold medal athletes carried the torch in our parade and offered flowers on the altar of our country to support us. They all voiced the hope for no more crimes against practitioners, and an end to the persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners.
This event was a great experience and opportunity to let everyone know, through media coverage, why we held this Human Rights Torch Relay. It was also an amazing cultivation opportunity for me! We felt that our mission was fulfilled through constant Fa study and maintaining righteous thoughts. When we are guided by Dafa everything is possible. I have seen it manifested.
Using Every Opportunity To Save People
I've been involved in other projects every year, such as my country's International Book Fair. I truly value this event, as it has given me the chance to share the teachings of Falun Dafa with many people and to tell them about the persecution. The experience has also helped me to cultivate by allowing me to talk to people with different kinds of beliefs and perspectives, and to find myself in situations of xinxing friction.
I find resolution to many challenges by looking inside from the Fa’s perspective. Without a doubt, when we work together our attachments are revealed, giving us the opportunity to look within and elevate ourselves. How amazing! We are able to save people while at the same time improving ourselves as practitioners.
One year, our Falun Dafa stand was placed inside a museum. Since fewer people would visit the museum, I felt that we would collect fewer signatures. I and the other practitioners immediately sent forth righteous thoughts to eliminate these negative thoughts.
In the end, I talked to so many people that my throat hurt! This was the first year that the book fair was extended for an additional week. Some people who had booths from other countries left, and so the local exhibitors moved to the open spaces outside. This was wonderful because we had just expanded the signature collection campaign. That day, my voice was restored. Many more people came and signed our petition.
Looking back, I wondered how we did it. Demonstrating the exercises and studying the Fa at the stand helped to clear out the field. I learned that when we do things from our hearts, Dafa gives us the strength we need.
We were also able to screen the documentaries Free China: The Courage to Believe, Transcending Fear, and others. We first presented Free China: The Courage to Believe at the International Book Fair. Although we requested the screening in advance, it was not included in the program and we had not received a copy of the film.
In the face of this interference, the first thing to do was to see why this happened and to strengthen our righteous thoughts. After I asked to speak with the organizer, everything was settled, we got the appropriate room, and the film was included in the book fair's program. However, the movie did not arrive until the day before the screening. When it came, I cried. I told my parents that Master Li made it possible. My parents attended the screening and afterwards they said that they then had a better understanding of what Falun Dafa practitioners in China have been going through and why I have been working so hard to raise awareness about the persecution.
Last year, interference came in the form of poor weather conditions, and intense rain was forecast. We thought that the film would be canceled, but I asked the other practitioners to send forth righteous thoughts. Even though it did not stop raining, the room was filled to capacity and another room had to be added for a second screening! We knew that when we stood firm in the face of any challenges, tests, or interference, the power of Dafa would surely be shown so that people could be saved!
The Epoch Times Project
Ten years ago, we decided to bring La Gran Época (Spanish Epoch Times) to Dominica. We coordinated with practitioners in Argentina who lead the project there and who greatly supported us in this undertaking. The printed edition of La Gran Época has now been available here for ten years. Many practitioners from other countries have worked with us to make this possible.
At the beginning of this project I thought that I was in a good state of cultivation. I soon faced many challenges and tribulations, and it seemed like all of my attachments were being exposed. Even though I thought I had matured in my cultivation, some days it felt as though I had just begun to practice. Of course everything we encounter is a chance to improve our cultivation, and our attachments will be touched on.
When we published the first edition of La Gran Época in October 2007, Dominica was affected by Hurricane Noel. The publication of the second edition coincided with Tropical Storm Olga that November. Despite all of this we were able to distribute the paper on time.
During the process, my forbearance (Ren) was tested, since one challenge we faced in the beginning was the print quality. When my forbearance finally improved, the printing improved. I realized that this was not a coincidence, but instead part of the process, because I was cultivating myself while working on this valuable mission. I could see clearly that many of the obstacles I encountered had to do with my cultivation state.
We had many difficulties with the distribution. I did not have a vehicle, and sometimes other practitioners were not available to help distribute the papers when they were ready. I knew that if we postponed the distribution, the information would no longer be news. I became impatient, but as soon as I looked within, the situation was resolved. One day, the practitioner who usually helped me could not make it. All the newspapers were packed and ready, and the urgency of getting the papers out as fast as possible weighed down on me. But I did not know how I could possibly distribute them.
Just then a thought came to me, “I do not accept any interference, this is an important project and the papers will be delivered today.” The cover story of that issue was about the organ harvesting from Falun Dafa practitioners in China. I noticed that whenever we had a sensitive issue which could help clarify the truth, something happened which tested our determination.
With this thought, I placed one bundle of newspapers under one arm and another under the other arm, and walked several long blocks. I took public transportation and began delivering the papers to the media. Even though the load got lighter as I made the deliveries, I was sweating profusely, since it was a very hot day. I walked non-stop through areas where there was no public transportation. The thought I had was, “This has to reach the media today, Falun Dafa is good, Falun Dafa is good!!” I recited as I hurried along. By the end of the day, I felt happy and tranquil.
A few days later, at my ordinary job, I was transferred to another unit and assigned a vehicle. I was so excited! All I could think of was how this would help me to distribute the newspapers. I knew that Master was helping me. I was later able to buy my own vehicle and no longer used my work vehicle. I thanked Master.
Looking within I found that when one lets go, the greatness of Dafa manifests.
I've overcome many difficulties, but I realize that they were part of my cultivation path. Each test and interference has only helped to strengthen my resolve to cultivate well and to save more people.
I know that when I am in the Fa, everything can be compassionately resolved, and anything is possible!
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