(Minghui.org) The second Falun Dafa Experience-Sharing Conference at the Little Lotus Academy in New York took place on May 26, 2023. The principal, teachers, and 24 students all shared their experiences of practicing Falun Dafa and following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance in their daily lives.
Despite their young age, the children were able to look within and constantly identify areas where they can improve. These include jealousy, the competitive mentality, and others. The parents were impressed that the school provides such an opportunity for these young ones to develop healthily and happily.
Located in Middletown, New York, the Little Lotus Academy is an elementary school that offers comprehensive teaching based on traditional values, particularly Falun Dafa and the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Traditional Values
Xiong, the school’s principal, said that education plays an important role in this morally degenerate society. She said she is happy to work with teachers and parents to improve the situation through the teachings of Falun Dafa and to create a path for future generations.
Falun Dafa’s principles and ideals are integrated into the school schedule. The first class every day is reading the Falun Dafa teachings for one hour. Every month’s theme is related to a virtue. For example, May’s theme is “Falun Dafa is good.” Other than participating in various Dafa activities, teachers also invite practitioners to give talks on certain topics, review how Master Li (founder of Falun Dafa) introduced the practice to society, tell stories of practitioners’ determination and courage in the persecution in China, and encourage children to cherish the opportunity.
Once during group study in the morning, the students were reciting a poem in Hong Yin VI. One girl’s voice was very soft and she could not focus. When the teacher asked her to read louder, the girl replied, “No, I cannot. I am tired and want to go home.” “You have to study Dafa teachings well to return to your true home,” several students explained to her, “We mean, your true, heavenly home where you came from.”
The girl immediately understood. She stopped complaining and was able to focus on reading.
Solid Cultivation
Wang, one of the teachers, is in charge of leading the senior class in group study while teaching fourth and fifth graders Chinese. When some students are distracted during group study, she sits next to them and reads with them. Every day, a student does a self-assessment reviewing his or her state of studying Dafa teachings to improve themselves.
In the beginning, Wang found that many students did not know how to cultivate. That is, they did not look within or reflect on how they could do better. As a result, she started a routine of reciting the poem of “ Solid Cultivation” in Hong Yin at the beginning of group study every day.
Every Friday, there is a group discussion where students exchange ideas or share understandings on cultivation stories on Minghui from young practitioners. When issues surface or something related to the cultivation environment comes up, the class discusses it and everyone talks about his or her thoughts. Wang also openly shared her own understandings so that everyone can improve together.
Gradually the children opened up their hearts. Some students who previously did not listen to others now happily accept feedback and say, “Thank you.” They also look inward and help those who lag behind. “From this I also learned that cultivating Falun Dafa means that we need to be considerate of others with compassion and selflessness,” Wang explained. “After all, as we know from Falun Dafa’s teachings, the students are all young practitioners, and it is our mission to take good care of them.”
Three Stories
Ranging from the second and fifth grade, the twenty-four students talked about their own stories. Lunar is 10 years old and came to the United States seven years ago. She shared three stories that happened in the seven years after she started practicing Dafa. When she was three years old, Lunar contracted an eye disease called allergic conjunctivitis. Although her parents took her to receive all sorts of medical treatments back in China, none of them worked. After she began to read the Falun Dafa teachings in the United States, her eyes improved in two weeks, and she later fully recovered. Lunar is very thankful to Master Li. After witnessing this, her grandmother said Falun Dafa is good and began to practice.
Once when she was doing the second exercise when she was seven years old, Lunar said, “Falun Dafa is good” and “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” She felt as if is someone was helping her hold her arms up, and she no longer felt tired when she did the exercises. After she finished the exercises, she saw a huge, golden Falun rotating, and it was very impressive. She said that she had recently slacked off in doing the exercises and decided to do better.
During dance class this semester, Lunar and another girl had a conflict. “I don’t like you,” both of them said at the same time. Considering Master’s words on Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, Lunar knew she did poorly and regretted it. After class, she immediately apologized to the other girl, and after that the two became good friends.
Letting Go of Attachments
Jason, also ten years old, always remembers Master’s words, “As practitioners, you won’t fight back when you’re beaten or sworn at.” (Lecture Nine, Zhuan Falun) As a result, he never fought or argued with other children. When he was very young, he did not like to participate in parades because he would become so tired that he felt as if his legs would break. By looking within, Jason realized that he was lazy and had an attachment to comfort. The next time he participated in a parade, he did not feel tired even though it was much longer. He hopes that those who hear his story can learn from his experience and let go of their attachments.
Alice transferred to the Little Lotus Academy last year at the age of nine. In the beginning, she would become upset and argue back when someone pointed out her mistakes. She later looked inward and was able to eliminate jealousy and the mentality of showing off. When another girl pointed out to Alice where she was not doing well, “I was unhappy and thought something negative about her,” Alice recalled. “Immediately I felt something warm had been taken from me, and I regretted it. In fact, she gave me de (virtue) and helped me identify this attachment–not being able to take criticism. I really need to do better.”
Students from lower grade levels also talked about their stories. Tavia is in the third grade. One day while she sat outside, she saw two hummingbirds come to the bird feeder. Then two more came and the four began to fight. “I wondered why I saw this scene. It could be that Master Li is using this to remind me how everyday people fight with each other for personal gain,” she said. “From then on, I have always tried to maintain a pure, calm mind when doing the exercises and sending forth righteous thoughts. I am very happy.”
Tianqi is in the second grade. He woke up at 5 a.m. and could not go back to sleep. When his mother asked him to meditate, he was unhappy but did it anyway. While he meditated, he saw Falun (law wheels) of various sizes. Tianqi was very excited and said he was also able to sleep well after doing the exercises.
Since the school was launched two years ago, an experience-sharing conference has been held every year, said Xiong. “I am grateful to Master Li for this opportunity for all of us to study together, identify areas to improve, and do better according to traditional values,” she added.
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