(Minghui.org) The COVID virus began spreading during the New Year at the beginning of 2020. Most cities in China were locked down and the economy came to a halt. At that time, my righteous thoughts were not strong and I decided to go overseas and visit my daughter. I thought I could avoid the troubles in China and quietly practice while I was there. I did not think about my responsibilities as a Falun Dafa practitioner. I did not think about saving people. Instead, I thought about myself and my family.
After I joined my daughter, I read the Fa and sent righteous thoughts every day. However, whenever I meditated, I just could not bring my legs up into the full lotus position. Even when I used rope to tie my legs up, the pain was bone-deep. Master told us to look within when things happen. I recalled what Master said:
“As you already know, Dafa disciples have gone through the process of Consummation, and history today has bestowed upon Dafa disciples an even greater responsibility: not your own liberation and Consummation, but saving more sentient beings.” (“Fa Teaching Given at the Metropolitan New York Fa Conference,” Collected Fa Teachings from Around the World Volume III)
Master’s words were like a heavy hammer that pounded me awake. Yes, Dafa disciples should be selfless and put others before ourselves. How can I only think about myself? I should have stayed in China to clarify the truth and save people. When I did the exercises the next day my legs no longer hurt and I was able to meditate in the full lotus position. I decided to go back to China. However, due to the lockdown, no matter how many times I booked the tickets, they were canceled. Although I could not return immediately, I could still save people.
I found the local practitioners and joined their group Fa study and truth-clarification efforts. However, I understood that the sentient beings that I need to save are in China so I had to return as soon as possible.
Examining My Cultivation State
After I returned to China, I had to be quarantined in Shanghai for 14 days. I made use of this time to read the teachings. Every day, unless I was practicing the exercises or sending righteous thoughts, I read the Fa. While I read the Fa, my husband listened to the recordings of Master’s lectures. Under the influence of the Fa, he changed. He practiced the four standing exercises with me every night.
Because I spent so many hours reading the teachings every day, my righteous thoughts were strengthened. I felt that, in the past, although I read the Fa every day, my mind was not calm. I also did not really make good use of my time to read the Fa. Studying the Fa well is fundamental to saving people. I felt that my attachment to protecting myself was very strong. So, although I talked to people about the persecution, I still had fear. I was afraid that people would not accept what I said or that they would not understand. I was afraid that I would be reported to the police. I knew my selfishness was stopping me. I felt embarrassed to clarify the truth to strangers. I strengthened my righteous thoughts. I had to do the three things well.
Eliminating My Attachment to Material Things
My daughter recently phoned me. She said I had to do two things: One was that I had to sell one of my houses as soon as possible and transfer the money into an overseas bank account. Then I had to write my will and leave all my money and property to her. I said, “You are the only child your father and I have, so you can be assured that the money and property will all be left to you. Who else would we give it to?”
The house that our daughter asked us to sell is located in a busy part of the city. The land is valuable, about 50 to 60 thousand yuan per square meter. However, we could not sell the house because my husband’s parents live in it. They are very old. We could not make them suffer in their remaining years by making them move back to their own place. That place has no lift (elevator) so they would have to walk up and down seven flights of stairs just to go out.
I always tried to fulfill all my daughter’s requests. This time, because I did not immediately do as she asked, she made a fuss about it. The conflict happened suddenly, so I did not know how to resolve it. I called my older sister and asked her advice. We talked for a long time but she had no suggestions. I suddenly remembered that every matter a cultivator encounters is a good thing. I thought Master was offering me an opportunity to let go of my attachment to my daughter.
When we first married, my husband worked in another city. I was busy with work but still had to take care of our daughter. His parents did not treat me well and never helped me. Now they are old. As a practitioner I knew I should treat them well—as though they were my own parents.
I told my daughter, “I cannot ask your grandparents to move out. In this corrupt society we should remember the ancient virtues such as, ‘respecting the elderly and taking care of the young.’ Furthermore, I am a cultivator, so I cannot do that.”
Nowadays, the children in China have all been brainwashed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Influenced by the Party culture, these young people just focus on making money. Seeing that I hadn’t gone along with her plan, she suggested that we transfer the ownership of our two houses to her. She asked us to write her name on the deeds and write our will. I thought that she was going a bit overboard. My in-laws are in their 80s, but we never asked them to make their will. What was happening to my daughter?
My daughter called me every day and made a fuss about this. It seemed that money was more important to her than anything. We cultivators are not attached to these material things that people fight over. My husband and I discussed the issue, and in the end we decided to transfer the house to our daughter.
Using Every Opportunity to Save People
One of my former classmates who is a retired division-level CCP member came to my house. I told her how wonderful Falun Dafa is and about my cultivation experiences. I reminded her that I was in my 60s but was in perfect health. She said I looked younger than most people our age. She said that Falun Dafa was good. However, when I mentioned quitting the CCP and its youth organizations, she hesitated. I wondered if I had explained everything clearly. I suddenly remembered Master said:
“Have righteous thoughts! However you think something should be handled, just go ahead and do it, and when you run into problems you will naturally know how to solve them. If your righteous thoughts are strong, everything will work out smoothly and it’s guaranteed you’ll do well.” (“Fa Teaching Given at the Metropolitan New York Fa Conference,” Collected Fa Teachings from Around the World Volume III)
She thought for a few moments and then said, “I should quit the CCP to be safe.”
Last autumn I sang a song as I walked in a park. The lady walking in front of me suddenly stopped, turned, and smiled at me. I said, “You must also enjoy singing.” We began chatting about which songs we liked to sing. I asked her if she’d heard about Falun Dafa. I explained that Dafa’s principles, Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, are universal. I said that millions of people in China practiced Falun Dafa more than 20 years ago.
She said, “I know. A Falun Dafa practitioner who works in our hospital will be confined in a secure place when the higher authorities come for inspection.” When I asked why, she replied, “Because she practices Falun Dafa.” I asked her if she thought that was right, and she answered, “I don’t know.” Then I asked her what she thought about this practitioner, and she immediately replied, “She is a good person.” I said, “Your hospital is persecuting good people.” She nodded in agreement.
I began explaining the facts to her, including how Falun Dafa was first introduced to the public on May 13, 1992, to how it has spread worldwide over the past two decades. I also told her about how the CCP started the persecution and its state-sanctioned organ harvesting atrocities. After quietly listening, she agreed to quit the CCP and its youth organizations. She said she would remember to say, “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” We exchanged phone numbers.
She invited me to her home to teach her the exercises. She said, “After practicing the exercises, I feel very relaxed and I’m able to sleep really well.”
A week later, she introduced me to her friends. I started clarifying the truth to them the moment I met them and they all quit the CCP and its youth organizations. They kept thanking me.
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Category: Improving Oneself
