(Minghui.org) The Florida Falun Dafa Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference was held in Orlando on July 20, 2024. Fifteen practitioners spoke, sharing their experiences of the changes in their bodies and minds through following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and how they improved themselves and clarified the truth about the persecution.
The Florida Falun Dafa Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference was held in Orlando on July 20, 2024.
Understanding the Importance of Patience and Tolerance
Jeremy, a practitioner from Tampa, shared his understanding of “Enduring the Unbearable,” and emphasized the importance of patience and tolerance. He believes that endurance is challenging not only for ordinary people but also for practitioners. He recounted two experiences that highlighted the significance of tolerance.
When a man attacked him out of jealousy, Jeremy chose not to fight back. His tolerance ultimately earned him the respect of those around him and even the friendship of the attacker.
The second experience was more complex, involving an adopted child, family conflicts, and emotional confusion. Tensions led to the family’s breakup. After enduring pain and loneliness, Jeremy chose to forgive others, eventually rebuilding his relationship with his family.
Cultivating Compassion
Ms. Zhang from Miami shared her experiences cultivating compassion when facing various disturbances and negative emotions. Reflecting on the more than 30 years she’s practiced Falun Dafa, she said she frequently felt confused and helpless, especially during the persecution in China.
By studying the Fa, Ms. Zhang gradually understood the nature of negative emotions and realized that she needed to let go of her attachments. She emphasized the importance of persistent Fa study, and said that only through continuous Fa study can one break free from various attachments and maintain strong righteous thoughts.
Ms. Zhang realized she must let go of the attachments to fairness and justice in ordinary society to cultivate genuine compassion. She said practitioners should focus on cultivating themselves and not be swayed by worldly struggles.
She hopes practitioners will cherish each other and cultivate diligently.
The Journey to Find the Fa
Paulene was born in Taiwan and as a child was baptized as a Christian. However, as she grew older, she began having questions. She explored and practiced various religions during her university years and after she moved to the United States. However, she ultimately stopped practicing due to doubts and she once again became a spiritual wanderer.
In 2001, her sister suggested she try practicing Falun Dafa and gave her some Falun Dafa books. Paulene said the Falun Dafa teachings significantly changed her life. After she heard that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was persecuting Falun Dafa, she began calling public security officers in China to clarify the truth.
She stopped due to work pressure and high phone bills. In 2022, she resumed making truth-clarification calls. She faced many challenges, but she remained steadfast. She believes that only by studying the teachings of Dafa well and cultivating herself can she effectively clarify the truth.
During this period, Paulene experienced the loss of loved ones and the torment of illness. Through studying the Fa and doing the exercises, she maintained her righteous thoughts and eventually recovered. She realized that in cultivation, one must look inward and have faith in Master and the Fa, and only then can one overcome difficulties.
Learning to Look Inward
Joe, a Western practitioner, was a music student in college. After he began practicing, his life underwent significant changes. However, for a while, the difficulties of life confused him, and he sometimes forgot about practicing. He was involved in a car accident, but he wasn’t hurt. After he graduated, Joe moved back to his mother’s house, and their relationship became tense. He started to look inward, and realized that these tensions were opportunities to improve his character.
Today, Joe’s relationship with his mother is good. He has become more honest, tolerant, responsible, and kindhearted.
Cherishing Time and Eliminating Internet Addiction
Mr. Wu from Miami shared his thoughts on the negative impact of internet addiction. He believes spending too much time online wastes practitioners’ valuable time to cultivate, and it expands their attachments. Mr. Wu said that he was curious about current news, wars, and elections and spent four and a half hours every day on his phone. Time slipped away, and it was difficult for him to focus on cultivation and his work.
Mr. Wu emphasized the severe harm of internet addiction and reminded everyone to cherish their time and not be controlled by their cell phones. He resolved to limit his phone usage, focus on important matters, maintain righteous thoughts, and eliminate his internet addiction.
Mr. Wu emphasized the seriousness of righteous cultivation and the urgency of time. He vowed to make up for lost time and said he would diligently strive to improve himself.
Every Tribulation Is an Opportunity for Improvement
Alice shared the significant tribulations she and her husband faced. In 2020, they bought a restaurant, but due to the COVID pandemic, it remained closed for a long time. This was compounded by equipment issues, leaks, and blockages. In 2021, her husband was injured at work, forcing the restaurant to close and creating immense financial pressure. Alice realized that tribulations help practitioners repay karma and are also cultivation opportunities.
She mentioned various challenges in her cultivation. She was misled by those who distort the Fa, especially on social media. She also shared how she eliminated the internal demons caused by the desire for fame, especially after she was praised.
Alice talked about how family is also an important cultivation environment. Her competitive mindset caused long-term arguments with her husband. By looking inward and letting go of attachments, she understood the karmic relationships from past lives.
She said the desire for material benefits is another attachment practitioners should remove; she reminded everyone not to indulge themselves.
Through continuously studying the Fa and improving her character, Alice and her husband eventually overcame their difficulties. She realized that every tribulation on the path of cultivation is an opportunity for self-improvement.
To Enlighten or Not
Xiao Fan, a young practitioner from Orlando, shared her experiences of overcoming various troubles in life, such as appliance malfunctions, car accidents, fines, and family disputes, which she thought were random occurrences.
She realized that if she did not calm down and reflect on why these “random events” happened, she would not be able to overcome them. By reading the Fa she realized that there are no small matters in cultivation and that every difficulty is a test. She said that she was once misled by fame, fortune, and emotions. She ignored them and did not enlighten, believing these troubles were coincidental.
When the home alarm went off early one morning, she realized it was a reminder to get up early and study the teachings. By consistently waking up early and studying the Fa, she found her life becoming more fulfilling. Xiao Fan understood that overcoming drowsiness and laziness was her cultivation challenge, and she is determined to break through it.
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