(Minghui.org) Greetings Master and fellow practitioners!

I obtained the Fa in 1998. I still remember the scene of practicing with hundreds of people in Zizhuyuan, Beijing, China.

I got to know Dafa when I just graduated from college. I joined the local study group, and held workshops to introduce Falun Dafa, petitioned outside the Chinese consulate, and participated in many parades of different sizes, as well as gatherings. A local Minghui coordinator invited me to be a member of the Minghui editorial team, which has been 15 years ago, and I am now a middle-aged woman. During the 20 years of living outside of China, I have validated Dafa.

One of Master’s quotes I treasure the most is the following sentence, “...with the master and the Fa here what is there to fear? ” (Lecture in Sydney)

Master said,

“If you do not care and do not put them on your mind, with the master and the Fa here what is there to fear? As long as the green mountains remain, there is no fear of having no firewood to burn. Ignore them! Once you give them up, you will find that the tribulations have become smaller and you have become bigger. You will overcome them in one step, and the tribulations will become nothing. It is guaranteed to be this way.” (Lecture in Sydney)

Switching from the Epoch Times to Minghui

When I first joined Minghui, I was a section editor for The Epoch Times newspaper. In the beginning, I had a difficult time to adjust, because I was used to the newspaper style and formats. I was criticized by the general coordinator and I could not let it go. My first reaction was “no big deal, I can quit and work on other Dafa projects.”

I cultivated in Dafa with the third eye closed – I could not see or feel anything. At one time, I decided to do the Dafa exercises. When I practiced the second set of exercises, I felt, for the first time, a Falun rotating slowly between the arms. It was very warm, and I was in tears knowing that Master was there to protect and encourage me. I could not give up with such small setback. Even if I could do other Dafa projects, I would not do well with that anger which would lead to conflicts.

It was happy to join the Minghui team, and knew that I had to cherish this task and do well. At that time, The Epoch Times was reorganized, and the editing section at which I worked on was eliminated, so I could focus more on Minghui project.

Addressing and Overcoming Problems

Then, I encountered a test. There were not only many typos in my edited articles, I also used improper phrases. I was frequently criticized by the final editors. When I was really discouraged, I sent an email to the local coordinator saying that I couldn’t keep up with my cultivation, I couldn’t fulfill all the requirements, and I would like to quit this project.

The coordinator responded quickly and helped me figure out the root cause of my problem. She addressed all my concerns. In the end, all the problems no longer seemed to be a problem. She suggested that I edit articles more carefully. I was grateful for her help. She used wisdom to eliminate all my negative thoughts and helped me find my weaknesses. Since then, I no longer thought of leaving the Minghui team.

Recalling my 15 years of being a member of the Minghui project, there was nothing in particular I could recall. The editing task had turned into a responsibility, a daily routine, and a part of my life. Every day I receive articles from all over the world. They are of different levels and different styles. My job is to convert them into an article, which is easy to read, to understand, and to serve as an anti-persecution article. I meet with other editors weekly to discuss articles and pictures. I also join the local media group when there are local activities.

It has been 15 years, during which I was the one who has benefited the most. I matured concerning project activities, improved my xinxing, and during unexpected events, large-scale activities, I organized reports with other practitioners to keep up with Master’s Fa-rectification progress.

Cultivation While Doing Minghui Projects

The biggest breakthrough in my xinxing is that I no longer judge others. I edit articles with a peaceful mind, and continue to be rational. Before, when I chose a manuscript to edit, I judged the article to be very difficult to edit, so I often hoped that other editors would take this article – this would save me some trouble. I preferred to select an article from practitioners with an easier and more matured writing style for easier editing. I knew I had this attachment, and had to let it go.

I have participated in our local Shen Yun reporting every year, and also supported Shen Yun reporting in other areas. Many young practitioners started participating in the Shen Yun reporting projects in recent years, transcribing from video and audio interview recordings.

I noticed that these young practitioners do not judge anything, but simply transcribe the interview as is, without complaining about the reporter’s English or wordiness. I thought that it was probably because they had never been indoctrinated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Their natural kindness and innocence struck me. I finally realized that I had been indoctrinated, had not cultivated well my speech, and was not compassionate. I saw my deficiencies when comparing myself to these young practitioners.

Master said:

“The cultivation of speech that we teach refers to: that which involves one’s reputation and personal gain that cannot be given up among everyday people, that which has nothing to do with the actual work of practitioners in society, the senseless gossiping among practitioners in the same school of practice, attachments that cause one to show off, hearsay or circulating rumors, or those discussions on some social issues that one is excited about. I hold that these are all attachments of everyday people.” (Lecture Eight, Zhuan Falun)

When I read Master’s Fa again, I felt that this Fa showed me where I lack a practitioner’s conduct, and I felt ashamed. Although I did not talk about others’ articles, the deeply hidden demeanor was the same. I was still beholden to the Party’s indoctrination, and it should be discarded. Then, I truly worked on eliminating any indoctrination that was embedded in my mind

Now, after having matured, when I look at my Minghui edits I notice that writing styles, even though they came from the same practitioner looked different, and I stopped judging them. After I cleared my mind and eliminated the indoctrination, my editing work became much easier.

Looking Within Instead of Judging Others

The Shen Yun report second level review was stricter than ever this year. Sometimes the reporters and the first level editors all felt that the article met the requirement. However, the second level reviewer still rejected them. We felt helpless and felt that much time and effort were wasted.

Our area had several Shen Yun shows this year and the pressure to report about the shows was very high. When the second level reviewer rejected my article from being published for the second time, I was truly disturbed. The chief editor said that I could complain to headquarters. Some reporters said the articles would be accepted if we changed a second level reviewer.

My cultivation experience from doing Minghui projects helped me. I thought differently, “Why should I judge the second level reviewer? I should do my job well and respect the reviewer's feedback. I should let go the thought of my article meeting the standard, and should keep improving my writing. To truthfully report the gratitude of all beings to Shen Yun, and the words of the lives obtained the salvation should be my top priority.

I quickly got rid of my negative mentality. I then exchanged my thoughts about the reporters and the chief editor. With a positive mentality, our team worked together and our writing improved greatly. From then on, our articles were accepted.

Now, when I think about the stress and the test of those days, they seem much smaller.

Master said,

“Once you give them up, you will find that the tribulations have become smaller and you have become bigger. You will overcome them in one step, …” (Lecture in Sydney)

“It’s hard to pass a test, but once you are through it and look back, you will see that that test was really nothing and it’s baffling why you were so attached to it at that time. When you truly make it past, your xinxing will improve and your karma will be eliminated—guaranteed.” (“First Fa Teaching Given in the United States,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. I)

A few days ago, a fellow practitioner was writing a large comprehensive article. After I sent her some materials, I sent her a text message, “Thank you for hard work!” She replied, “It is an honor to do the work!”

Reading her reply I thought, “Yes. joining the Minghui team to record this moving history, growing with the team, and improving the xinxing as one body is our great honor. This must be also the thinking of each member of the Minghui Team.”

Cultivating with a New Practitioner’s Mentality

I am very grateful to the practitioners around me. We helped each other on our cultivation path, no matter what difficulties we were experiencing. It is as if we had prehistoric promises. There is not much one can say – we just help each other, read the Fa together, do the exercises together, and hold project meetings. Other members helped me, so I could catch up with my cultivation.

I lost my young daughter a few years ago. I was devastated and suddenly felt that nothing was meaningful. I closed my mind and felt that I had failed to the extreme.

The practitioners around me did not give up on me. They would send me a picture of their morning exercises, send me a sharing of their understanding of reading the Fa, invite me to lunch, and sometimes got me to go with them to put up Shen Yun posters. I felt everyone’s care. However, I was still struggling. There were even days when I could not hold up the book Zhuan Falun.

The only thing that I could do was read the Minghui website. I read cultivation stories, xinxing improvement sharing, practitioners telling the truth with wisdom, and read overseas articles. All the articles, not specifically aiming at something, were just truthful recordings of this period human history. These articles quietly nurtured me, and I read all the articles without missing one each day. I read about practitioners’ firm and persistent cultivation. These stories moved me and I started coming back gradually.

Later, two practitioners of the Minghui team found me and studied the Fa with me. The three of us are in three different time zones. We started from reading Master’s 1996 Singapore lecture as if everything just started from the beginning. We started learning the Fa from the explanation of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance.

When I read the Fa, I forgot everything else and I felt as if I had returned back to 1998 when I joined the large group Fa study for the first time in Beijing. I started cultivating with a new practitioner’s mentality. I'm sincerely thankful for fellow practitioners’ quiet support.

“...with the master and the Fa here what is there to fear? ” (Lecture in Sydney)

Thank you fellow practitioners, thank you Master!

(Presented at the Minghui’s 20th Anniversary Fa Conference-selected and edited)