(Minghui.org)
Greetings to Master!Greetings to fellow practitioners!
I began to practice Falun Dafa in 2010. When I first opened the book Zhuan Falun, tears streamed down my face and a profound sense of reverence welled up within me. Since that day, I couldn't help but cry whenever I practiced the exercises or read Dafa books. I don’t know why, but it strengthened my resolve to practice Falun Dafa.
For six years, I took care of a family member until he was able to live a more normal life again. I felt both relieved and fulfilled, as though I had completed an important mission. However, I was also deeply exhausted. Every night after eight o’clock, I was breathless while doing housework. Each spring, near late March, I would inevitably catch a cold that lingered for months. I had to decline invitations from friends, even though some were offended. My body was weak, and I continually felt unwell.
After I began practicing Falun Dafa, all my illness symptoms were gone. I truly believe that if I had not encountered Dafa, I might not still be alive today. I also let go of the religion I had been following.
In the beginning, I easily experienced the miraculous power of Falun Dafa. But it took me a long time to understand the Fa rationally and to maintain righteous thoughts as a true practitioner. I even made mistakes that went against Dafa’s principles. I also hesitated to participate in Dafa projects out of fear of criticism.
A fellow practitioner once shared with me that “eliminating attachments can eliminate vast amounts of karma.” Her words helped me recognize deeply-rooted human attachments I had. Another practitioner later introduced me to a Fa-validation project, for which I have always been grateful.
Over the past year, I encountered friction in my project. In my view, Mei’s actions didn’t align with the requirements of Dafa. She seemed inconsiderate, often made excuses, and pushed things forward forcefully. Her disrespectful attitude toward Dafa troubled me. One day, I gathered the courage to confront her and asked, “Why did you make remarks disrespectful to the Fa?” I felt that unless this issue was clarified, I couldn’t continue working on this project.
Mei replied, “I never said anything disrespectful.”
I responded, “Your words shocked me at the time, so I remember them clearly. But since you deny it now, it means you’ve realized it was wrong.” At that moment, I realized that I might have been overly critical of her.
Later, during a conversation, Mei suddenly blurted out, “Chen has a very compassionate heart and never blames others.” Her words suddenly made me realize that I had been harboring thoughts of blame.
During a discussion session about how to approach Mei, everyone was asked to look inward. I realized my tendency to blame others. Yet after recognizing my shortcomings, I once again found myself focusing on Mei’s actions and words.
A fellow practitioner sent me the message: “From a cultivation perspective, everything is a good thing because it is an opportunity to recognize our attachments and shortcomings, thus we can improve ourselves.” She also quoted Master’s scripture,“There are problems on both sides, then, and both have strong human attachments. When Dafa disciples join forces the power is really enormous. When everyone manages to focus their minds while sending righteous thoughts, the power is especially strong, and it’s just phenomenal. So the rotten demons are bent on interfering with you, affecting you, making you lapse into human thinking, and making you get all resentful or find certain individuals irritating. They make your human thoughts so strong that you simply can’t deploy your righteous thoughts!”(“Fa Teaching Given at the New York Fa Conference Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Dafa’s Spreading,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. XIV )
I realized that I lacked compassion. As a practitioner, blaming or resenting others is not in line with the Fa. Regardless of others’ merits or flaws, we should look inward and act with compassion. After that, I began to see Mei’s tireless efforts for others and her dedication to Dafa projects. I was grateful that she helped me see my shortcomings, and I could once again work together with her. I came to understand that she, too, is a disciple cherished by Master, striving diligently in cultivation.
Reflecting further, I realized that during an early collaboration, when mediating a dispute between an ordinary person and Mei, I was upset because it took much of my time. Had I approached the matter with compassion at that time, I could have handled it appropriately with consideration for both parties. My own desire for convenience and comfort had contributed to my displeasure. My failure to genuinely consider others revealed a shortcoming in my cultivation. Only now do I understand that it was inevitable for ordinary people to relay the complaint about Mei to me.
In the past, I always thought I had to protect myself while also seeking benefits for others. But Master taught us to achieve true purity and true selflessness. Through the incident with Mei, I learned not to blame others but to always remain compassionate.
Next, I’d like to share some experience about clarifying the truth.
While I was exercising, faces often appeared in my mind. I realized that I must clarify the truth to more people. Thus, I dedicated myself to Dafa projects to spread the truth so Master could save more people.
I often go out to distribute truth-clarifying materials. I cherish everyone I encounter. At home, I pass them on to delivery personnel and mail carriers. On trams, when the opportunity arises, I hand out Shen Yun flyers or Ganjin Shijie cards.
Before the pandemic, I introduced Shen Yun to an elderly lady, Ms. Bai. She seemed interested. After a while, when the restrictions eased, I thought, “Ms. Bai probably hasn’t watched Shen Yun yet.” I went to invite her to watch the show, but her son politely declined, “My mother has dementia, going out easily triggers agitation, so she can’t attend.” Ms. Bai didn’t recognize me either. I regretted not inviting her earlier. The urgency of helping people be saved truly sank into my heart at that moment.
A few days later, Ms. Bai mistakenly came to my door, thinking it was her home. I realized, “Ms. Bai was seeking the Fa.” That evening, I went to her home to invite her once more, but her son once again politely declined.
Still, I didn’t give up. I believed that only a Dafa disciple could help her be saved. I decided that the next time we met, I would teach her to recite the phrase “Falun Dafa is good” and to invite her to watch Shen Yun.
Soon after, I met her again. She suddenly greeted me from behind with a “Good morning!” I knew it was my chance. I went to her home, taught her the phrase “Falun Dafa is good. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good,” and showed her the Shen Yun performance. Ms. Bai expressed her understanding.
Later, when I saw her again, she could barely recognize words. That visit was truly my last chance to tell her the truth. I realized, “Helping to save people cannot wait. We must seize every moment.”
Another case is about my mother-in-law. She was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer in March of last year. One night in early June, I dreamt of her lying critically ill in bed, wearing a white mask but speaking to me with a bright and strong voice. She looked delighted to see me.
The same day, my husband called me to say her condition had worsened. I rushed to the hospital and thought, I must get her to recite ‘Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.’ I told my sister-in-law, who was taking care of my mother-in-law, to recite the phrase too. She knew about Shen Yun and Falun Dafa, and immediately agreed.
I didn’t expect that my mother-in-law’s end was near. My sorrow was overwhelming. But I reminded myself that as a Dafa disciple, I must restrain the grief over death with righteous thoughts.
My mother-in-law obediently recited the phrase for three consecutive days. On the fourth day, she began experiencing shortness of breath and passed away on the fifth day. Once again, I realized, “Helping Master Save people can not wait.”
Mr. Ding died at 59 from cancer in 2022. He often assisted in Falun Dafa activities. Before Mr. Ding passed, I visited him at the hospice center and suggested he read Zhuan Falun. He gladly accepted. After he finished the book, he passed away a few weeks later. I was heartbroken, and lost my appetite. Fellow practitioners noticed my sorrow. Then three friends who were friendly to Falun Dafa and several relatives passed away in succession. Each time, my inner resolve was shaken. At that time, even the death of a famous person I had never met would unsettle me. The anxieties of human aging, sickness, and death began to surface, along with an innate sense of loneliness. I realized that my thoughts were always held captive by emotion, and I must let go of these attachments.
I noticed that when my mindset was off, feelings of loneliness would surface. But that changed after I read Master’s teaching about loneliness. I now face death with calmness, knowing that those who pass away are journeying toward a new universe.
Over the past fifteen years, since obtaining the Fa, I have deeply felt that Master has always been by my side, encouraging me in times of sorrow and anxiety, and constantly protecting me.
Master said in the article Stay Far Away From Peril,
“It was you who wanted to sign an agreement to come to the world before the final disintegration at the end times so you could cultivate in Dafa to save the beings you represent. In other words, you used your life to sign a pledge to become a Dafa disciple because you wanted to cultivate in Dafa.”
The line “you used your life to sign a pledge to become a Dafa disciple” struck me deeply. I realized that descending into the human realm at the cost of one’s life means bearing the sacred responsibility of saving people. This is the mission I must truly keep in mind. Master cherishes us far more than we cherish ourselves. I must uphold the vow I made to Master.
Thank you, Master!Thank you, fellow practitioners!