(Minghui.org) I started practicing Falun Dafa in December 2019 when I was 65 years old. After less than three months, my unpleasant health problems, including a herniated disc, neck and shoulder pain, heart palpitations, and high blood pressure, disappeared very quickly. It had been a long time since I’d had so much energy.
Why I Decided to Memorize Zhuan Falun
Ever since I started practicing Falun Dafa, I’ve always had one thought in my mind: Since I started to practice so late, how can I keep up with fellow practitioners and the Fa-rectification? I know that I have a lot of karma and many attachments. When I read what Master Li (Falun Dafa’s founder) said about practitioners who memorized the Fa, and read articles on the Minghui website written by fellow practitioners who have memorized the book, I also had a longing in my heart to learn and memorize the Fa. Master then arranged it for me.
It’s really not easy to memorize, especially at first, as everything interferes. Sometimes I’m sleepy, but when I pick up my phone to watch the news, I’m so awake. There are other times when I’m really distracted.
But then I remember Master’s words: “Nothing is truly unbearable or impossible.” (Zhuan Falun)
I started to memorize the Fa six months after I started practicing Dafa. There were times when I would ask Master for help. I was determined to continue memorizing Zhuan Falun so that I would have a deeper understanding of the Fa.
I remember that Master said:
“The Fa can break all attachments; the Fa can destroy all evil; the Fa can shatter all lies; and the Fa can strengthen righteous thoughts.” (“Drive Out Interference,” The Essentials of Diligent Progress II)
How I Memorized Zhuan Falun
I started by learning one sentence at a time, then copied it down and gradually connected the sentences into paragraphs. I would copy the paragraph again, recite it again, and go on to the next paragraph. The second time, I did not copy the sentences. I just learned them and then connected them together into paragraphs.
The second time, although it still felt fairly new, it was easier to put things together and I was faster. The third time was faster still, and connecting the paragraphs was easier.
Benefits of Memorizing Zhuan Falun
Although I had memorized Zhuan Falun only twice, the benefits I saw were significant.
The first thing to mention is the ability to look inward quickly and effectively.
Falun Dafa gave me the ability to look inward to find my own mistakes faster, to be more self-aware so as to discover them more clearly and deeply. Since then, my mental abilities seem to work more quickly. There are times when I can face my mistakes and look at them directly, as if they clearly aren’t me.
My consciousness is more awake and more transparent. Since I’ve started doing this, my behavior has been more in line with the Fa. For example, in the past, I always thought that what I said and thought was usually right and I forced others to listen to me. I also liked to be praised. Whenever I thought about others, I was often very subjective and negative. When I memorized the Fa initially, I was clear about the importance of watching my speech and being aware of when I was jealous, or when I felt joy or fear. It helped me to correct my negative thoughts.
I feel that I have to pay close attention to my words, be aware of my thoughts, and be careful not to comment on or judge people—especially fellow practitioners—in a negative way. My heart now feels more at ease and more compassionate.
Falun Dafa has increased my ability to control my jealous thoughts, and it has given me the ability to “pause” my behavior, my thoughts, and my actions. Of course, I can’t always distinguish right from wrong according to the criteria of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, but I believe if we keep memorizing the Fa over and over, each of our microcosms will be imbued with the Fa. When we immerse ourselves in the Fa, we will gradually, one day reach consummation.
The greatest benefit I have derived from memorizing the Fa is that my faith in Master and Falun Dafa has gotten stronger and stronger!
Our Master says:
“But the righteous faith of a Dafa disciple is a godly state. It results from a rational understanding of the truth, it’s the godly state of the side that has been successfully cultivated, and it’s definitely not something that external elements can have an effect on. It’s not about having firm belief for the sake of having firm belief, or being steadfast for the sake of being steadfast—you can’t achieve it that way.” (“Fa Teaching Given at the Metropolitan New York Fa Conference,” Collected Teachings Given Around the World, Volume III)
When we have strong faith in Master and in Dafa, we don’t need anything else, and we can accomplish our mission.
I have a very specific example. During the time I was studying “Your Mind Must Be Right” in Lecture Six, I was surprised when two local practitioners who were doing the three things very well both got COVID. They had to go to the hospital for emergency care, and the husband had to be put on a ventilator. I wondered, “Why did these diligent practitioners get COVID? Their house was where we often studied the Fa. And then I thought, “Will it be contagious? Should we continue to do things together?”
In my confusion and worry, I remembered, “What’s there to fear if we have Falun Dafa and Master right by our sides?” So I kept studying over and over, studying and thinking about the above passage. I found my fear and what I am afraid of. After looking at it from the Fa, everything returned to normal. Master gave me more wisdom to know how to handle that situation and to have a broader, deeper perspective. We are still a solid one body, sharing and protecting each other and doing the three things well.
In addition to the vast wisdom of the Fa and Master’s guidance, we will overcome everything put in our paths, keep improving, and go home with Master. That’s why at almost every Falun Dafa conference, Master mentions studying and reading the Fa a lot.
When I first started studying the Fa, I worried when I was so easily distracted. There were times when I read it out loud but I was thinking about other things, or when I finished reading with a group, I closed the book and I remembered nothing. It was like reading aimlessly.
But memorizing changed my mind. Repeating each sentence over and over not only helps us remember it, but at the same time, we will also realize many things we did not “see” before. The Fa gives us a feeling of immense happiness that cannot be described in words. I feel that when we sincerely study the teachings this way, Master always opens up our wisdom. The feeling of “cultivating as we did at the beginning” is real!
Memorizing the Fa also helped me clarify the truth, awaken lives, and coordinate with fellow practitioners more effectively.
When I first started working online and clarifying the truth to awaken people, I was criticized and cursed at. I felt resentful and angry. Thanks to memorizing the Fa, I gradually became more tolerant, and able to distinguish between what is real and what is false, what is important and what is not. Overcoming these mental tests made me more moderate, flexible, sincere, and effective.
Master said:
“Whenever there’s a problem you should turn to the Fa for answers. You should examine yourself and look inside, asking: ‘What did I do wrong? Did I do something wrong and cause the problem that sprung up today?’” (“Teachings at the First Conference in North America”)
All of this has encouraged me to be more diligent in doing the three things Master asks us to do. Certainly, the more we immerse ourselves in the Fa, the more wonderful things we will discover.
Thank you, Master and fellow practitioners.
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Category: Improving Oneself
