(Minghui.org) Before hearing about Falun Dafa, I was physically, mentally, and spiritually exhausted. In my quest, I practiced Taichi and it was there that someone told me that there was a Chinese discipline capable of purifying the spirit, mind, and body, so I thought, “This is what I am looking for.”
The first few times I did the exercises at the practice site, I heard a voice say, “You're going to fail.” I said to myself, “I hope it is not too hard. That's why I came.”
After a while, I fell and broke three ribs. My daughter, who was not a practitioner at the time, insisted that I had to go to the hospital, and I agreed so she wouldn't be alarmed.
At the time I didn't truly learn the practice. I only read a little in the book Falun Gong on Sundays when I went to the practice site. For a year and a half, I thought that was enough.
When my two sons started practicing Falun Dafa, they made me reflect on the importance of studying Zhuan Falun to understand in depth what I was doing.
Before practicing Falun Dafa I had arthritis. One day during a family meeting, a relative asked my sister, “What did Maria do to her hands? They are fine now.” My sister answered, “She practices Falun Dafa.” The arthritis was gone, and I enlightened to what Master says:
“I will purify your body. The body purification will be done only for those who come to truly learn the practice and the Fa.” (Zhuan Falun)
These words really moved me. I knew that Master already considered me a disciple. I cried that day just like I did when I was a little girl.
My mother is 86 years old and has had diabetes for more than 40 years. About five years ago doctors wanted to put her on dialysis because she had problems with her kidneys. Fortunately, she was able to avoid it and now she is better. The doctors were surprised, but she recognizes that Falun Dafa is good and has heard Master Li's nine lectures. Four of us in the family who are very close to her are practitioners. My niece, who lives with her, mentioned that my mother has improved because my sister, who also practices Falun Dafa, sleeps with her.
Master says:
“Our practice cultivates a Falun in the lower abdomen. I personally install it for students in the class.” (Zhuan Falun)
“The Buddha School teaches self-salvation and salvation of all sentient beings. One does not only cultivate oneself, but also offers salvation to all sentient beings. Others will also benefit, and you can unintentionally rectify other people’s bodies, heal their illnesses, and so on.” (Zhuan Falun)
Now I understand that if I cultivate my xinxing and do what Master says without intention, my environment is modified and transformed.
I am a preschool and nursery school principal. My daughter and son, both practitioners, also work there. In the school, the children are taught the Falun Dafa exercises and we try to educate them according to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. We have noticed that, as a result of doing the exercises, the children have improved their behavior and become less irritable. Some parents agree to learn the practice, and they recognize that Falun Dafa is good and have seen the changes in the children.
Even when the children are irritated or out of control, they themselves might say: “I will meditate” or “I will do Falun [Gong].” I remember one child who was aggressive when he entered school and hurt a classmate. Now his behavior has improved. Some children say to their parents, “You should do Falun Dafa.”
I remember when my kids were little, I used to educate them using violence. Today, thanks to Dafa, I have been able to see my impulsive and violent heart and I have the opportunity to make a positive contribution to the education of my students and sow the seed that Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.
Master says:
“Some people will lose their temper in disciplining children and yell at them, making quite a scene. You should not be that way in disciplining children, and neither should you, yourselves get really upset. You should educate children with reason so that you can really teach them well.” (Zhuan Falun)
These words have led me to reflect on my actions and the commitment that I have as a Dafa disciple and a teacher to educate my students based on the Fa. I need to be rational and compassionate as I face the tests that are presented to me day after day.
Master says, “If your temper is not good, you should change,...” (Zhuan Falun)
I know that the Fa has changed me and corrected my environment, and I recognize that I still have to improve to be able to advance in my cultivation.
I thank our merciful Master for this opportunity to be a practitioner.
This is my understanding at my level and I ask you all to let me know if something is not right.